![The cross country team poses for the camera after finishing the district meet. The varsity boys, JV boys and JV girls all placed third and the varsity girls placed fourth. “Coach put in the right training for us for this season, so I think we will be peaking this week and the next couple of weeks,” varsity runner and junior Nathan Kukla said. “The chances of making it to state are very high, but we don’t settle for the lowest and there is always going to be that chance, so [we] race for the best.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Heidi-831-1200x900.jpg)
![Sucking in a breath of air, freshman Lily Pope competes in the 200 yard individual medley. On Oct. 25, the swim team competed in the AISD Swim Invitational. Overall, the girls team took second place and the boys team came in eleventh. “My favorite stroke is butterfly because I do the best in that stroke,” Pope said. “I feel like [butterfly] can test how [your ability] to convince yourself to keep going. The hardest part of swimming is convincing yourself to stay strong and keep pushing during a hard race [when] everything is tired.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/POPE-1200x804.jpg)
![Smiling at the camera, Author Ehigbor Okosun, members of Page Turners, and other students reflect on the author's visit. “I thought the visit was great,” Senior Amia De Leon said. “It was interesting talking to her and [getting to know] her process and her thoughts and books in general. But I think the reason it went well [was that] people got to ask questions. I'm glad that she said so much in response to the questions and it wasn't just one and done. [The author’s responses] felt very articulate.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sebastian-5-1200x800.jpg)
![Standing in front of the field at a freshman football game, cheerleader freshman Jacob Gaudreau along with teammate freshman Bella Gibson pose for a photo during halftime of game. “[Cheer has] definitely given me a much more outgoing personality,” Gaudreau said. “I used to be very introverted, so it's definitely made me more extroverted towards people.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ingrid-204-1200x800.jpg)
![Holding a wooden pizza toy, senior Taylor Peterson plays with small children in Bucaramanga, Colombia. During the summer, Peterson traveled to Colombia to help build an elementary school that only had two classrooms but five or six grades with one teacher. “We add[ed] two more classrooms,” Peterson said. “It’s kind of hard when you have two or three grades in one classroom and you only have one teacher. It’s very hard to actually get some beneficial learning. [The extra classrooms will give the students] a better quality of education because they’ll actually have a place specific for their learning.” Photo by Taylor Peterson](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Taylor-P.png)
![Swinging with his arm extended, senior Nolan Park hits the ball smoothly over the net and to the opponent’s side. Park is one of four varsity tennis captains and helped the team win district championships. “Winning district champs was a pretty awesome feeling,” Park said. “We had lost to Liberty Hill a couple of weeks before, but when we played them [again], we came out and really took care of business. We took them out and it was just a really awesome night.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kassidy-419.jpg)
![Standing proud, varsity senior athletes Rafael Escobar, Griffin Jacobs, Jakob Martin, and juniors Jackson Springer and Jack Morris pose with their newly earned medals. The varsity team finished third out of 14 teams on Sept. 25. “The team's primary goal is to win the district championship,” head coach Cody Price said. "We're confident that with our action plan in place, we can accomplish this mission. [For the next tournament], our preparation involves assessing our strengths and weaknesses, celebrating milestones and creating individual development plans." Photo courtesy of Cody Price](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/golf.jpg)
Steam from the players rises up into the dark sky as the game continues. The ball gets thrown into the air, heading straight towards the huddle of players. One distinct player runs straight through, stealing the ball away from the crowd heading straight to the goal. At this point, it’s a one v. one to determine the game winner.
Since she was three years old, junior Meredith Koltz has played her favorite sport, soccer. Since freshman year, Koltz has been on the Varsity team and her only con would be the six a.m. morning practice.
“At first it was hard; the level of soccer was not my issue though,” Koltz said. “I found myself mainly struggling socially during my freshman year. I feel that now I have truly found a family of people and a great team to be with.”
Koltz is a forward striker, whose main objective is to create space and is responsible for scoring goals.
“My favorite [position] to play is forward/winger,” Koltz said. “That’s mainly because I love the freedom to run and be creative up top.”
As well as for the school soccer team, Koltz plays for the Sting Austin ECNL Club. The league plays on the national level and in order to be a part of the team, players have to try out. The league offers high-level training and hosts games and tournaments for players to be scouted at.
“I train everyday, whether it is high school or club soccer; I make sure I grow as an athlete every day,” Kotlz said. “Playing for my team motivates me the best. I work for them, I go the extra mile for them. Any and every sacrifice is for the team I represent and work for.”
The girls varsity soccer team is currently 7-2-1 with six district games left in the season. The next home game is tonight at 7:15 p.m.
“I think this team is full of amazing individuals who all have the same goal of wanting to compete with the best and play our best soccer,” Koltz said. “I have high expectations for this team and I know with our chemistry and worth ethic we can get just about anything accomplished.”
After high school, Koltz plans on attending college and hopes to play soccer for whichever schools she attends.
“I am currently working very hard on getting seen by college coaches and going through the recruiting process diligently,” Koltz said. “I want to play for a school that I can have an impact on and that will set me up for success both on and off the field.”
Koltz has had her fair share of awards as well. Last year, Koltz won the 5A District Most Valuable Player, THSCA Super Elite Team, Academic All-District Award, Texas Girls 5A All-State Team, Cedar Park High School Most Valuable Player and the Top Goal Scorer in our District (5A Region 4).
“[The awards] make me proud,” Koltz said. “It is not easy proving yourself day-in and day-out, but if it makes the team better, I believe it is worth it.”
Whether it’s bruises, breaks or tears, Koltz has been through lots of injuries. However, she said setbacks do not bring her down.
“The biggest effect [injuries] have had on me would be the state of rest [they put me in]—I do not like sitting out or resting so if I am hurt sometimes my lack of rest further induces my injury,” Koltz said. “Through communicating with my coaches and physical therapist, I have found my recoveries take place faster and prevent more injuries.”
Koltz said that the best part about being on the soccer team is that she is never alone. The whole program represents the same beliefs as her and always strives for the best of her playing ability.
“My favorite memory would have to be any and every goal scored by our program,” Koltz said. “Whether I am scoring or someone else, the energy is amazing. We are hugging, screaming, jumping and cheering for one another with such passion. It allows me to escape any mistake previously made and truly embrace the passion we all have for the game.”
Jidi • Feb 28, 2024 at 5:29 pm
First Class…making of a champion and still modest!