Catching up with a couple of DODDS alums from Kanto Plain-area schools who've gone on to shine in their respective collegiate sports:
-- Elliko Heimbach, Yokota Class of 2004, earned two individual and two team gold medals in the Western Athletic Conference swim championships at San Antonio. Heimbach swims for Hawaii, which was fifth after three days in the team competition with 340 points; first-place Nevada had 442. The Rainbow Wahine captured the 800 freestyle relay in 7:18.76 with Heimbach swimming the lead leg and won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:32.91 with Heimbach as anchor. Heimbach won the 50 free in 23.16, edging Northern Arizona's aptly named Rachel Foe by .06 seconds, and also won the 100 butterfly, her signature event, in 53.29.
-- Travis Ekmark, Nile C. Kinnick Class of 2006, playing basketball at the University of Dallas, was named Association of Division III Independents player of the week and North East Athletic Conference student-athlete of the week for the week of Feb. 16. Ekmark averaged 16.7 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2 blocks per game for the Crusaders, who went 1-2 that week and finished the regular season 8-17.
Anybody else out there making the Kanto Plain -- and other areas of the Pacific -- proud? Shout it out!
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On behalf of Elliko...
I would like to thank you for giving her this recognition. After a decent freshman year at the University of Hawaii (UH), Elliko reached a plateau where she pretty much remained for two years. Back in Japan the summer after her junior year, she trained full blast with Hosei University and headed back to Hawaii with a renewed attitude and renewed workout plans in and out of the pool, and she reshaped her body, finally shedding the "freshman 15." Her hard work and perseverance paid off at the WAC Championships where her winning time of 53.29 in the 100 butterfly established a new UH record; her previous best time in that event had been over 55 seconds. I am really happy she closed her college career on a high note. If any high school athletes are reading this... you can continue to enjoy competing in your sport after high school. Please know that what your coaches are telling you is 100% true, there are no shortcuts, you've got to put in the work and never give up in your efforts to reach your goals.
-Elliko's dad