Members of Agoura track and field team raising funds for Australia trip
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers DOWN UNDER THUNDER- Eleven members of the Agoura High track and field team, along with their coach, will travel to Australia this summer to compete in the Down Under International Games. Pictured in the back row, from left, are Nick Haraden, Patrick Rohn, Lewis Kindeleit, Daniel Taniguchi, Kim Sharp and head coach Tracy Spencer. Bottom row: Roman Kennedy, Chris Williams, Nami Taghavi, Louis Bartuzik and Sophia Ferrone. Brendan Poutier isn't pictured but plans on making the trip.

Last August the Agoura High boys' water polo team took a trip to Europe to play some of the best competition in the world. Four months later, the end result was a CIF-Southern Section Division IV championship.

Now the AHS track team is hoping a trip overseas can produce similar results.

Eleven members of the Agoura track and field squad will be joining head coach Tracy Spencer on an 11day trip to Australia and Hawaii this July as part of the Down Under Sports program.

While there, the squad will train with teams from across the world, compete in a two-day track meet and see the sights and sounds of Brisbane.

Expected to make the trip for Agoura are Louis Bartuzik, Nick Haraden, Brendan Poutier, Patrick Rohn, Kim Sharp, Daniel Taniguchi, Chris Williams, Nami Taghavi, Sophia Ferrone, Roman Kennedy and Lewis Kindeleit.

Spencer said when he first received information from Down Under Sports in the mail he was skeptical and thought it was just another solicitor. It wasn't until Spencer talked with Down Under Area program director Chris Pella on the phone that he was sold on making the trip happen.

"Most of these kids won't ever go to the Olympics, so I decided to give them an opportunity at a 'mini Olympics,'" Spencer said. "It's something that will open their eyes to the rest of the world and make them want to compete at a higher level."

Rohn, who will also be attending as a football player- Down Under Sports holds a football program at the same time- said he's excited about the upcoming trip. Former and current NFL players such as Jake Plummer, Ahman Green and Rob Morris have participated in the football league in the past.

"The furthest in the world I've ever been is Mexico, so this will be something else," Rohn said.

"It's going to be awesome competing with other kids from different countries, and hopefully I can build some friendships with some of those people. It will be nice to see the lifestyle outside of the U.S. as well."

To make the trip happen, each athlete must raise $3,000. Sharp said raising the money has been difficult, but help from her family will eventually get her to her goal.

"I sent a lot of letters to relatives, and thankfully I have a really big family," Sharp said. "My mom's hotel workers have also helped."

Sharp said the trip will be a chance to meet new people, learn from the best athletes and, hopefully, learn to surf. The junior also said the trip will make her Charger teammates more motivated the following spring.

"The trip is going to help give us more incentive to do better in the Marmonte League and at the state level," Sharp said. "After Australia, we're going to want to prove that we're a highly competitive team as well."

Anyone interested in making a donation for one of the Agoura members should contact Spencer at (818) 231-4504.