The graduating class of female student athletes of 2019 from Analy and El Molino high schools will be remembered for their many accomplishments, both on the field and in the classroom.
The athletes selected in this issue were among the shining stars of their class and all had one thing in common — they represented their school and teams with tremendous talent, dedication and sportsmanship.
Although there were too many seniors to list, we congratulate the athletes for their accomplishments and pay tribute to a few with words and pictures. The following is the first of a two-part series.
Next week: a salute to the boys.
Photo David Aires
Longevity — El Molino’s Lily Dittman was among the best soccer players on her team during a stellar, four-year varsity career for the Lions. A consistent scorer, Dittman emerged as one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the league, helping her teams to yearly trips to the North Coast Section playoffs.
Photo Greg Clementi
Toughness — Analy’s Makayla Kraemer was a mainstay in the lineup in four star-studded softball seasons for the Tigers, making huge contributions with her bat and glove. A solid catcher, Kraemer was among the best in the Redwood Empire. She was just as good with the bat, where she averaged better than .375 each season, helping Analy to a league title and NCS playoffs each year.
Photo Michael Lucid
Athleticism — El Molino’s Grace Anderson was as gifted as they come in multiple varsity seasons on Lions’ volleyball, soccer and basketball teams. An agile volleyball libero, she was her team’s best defender. Anderson was equally strong as the starting point guard on the basketball court, excelling as a ball-handler, scorer and defender. A scholar/athlete, she also earned varsity letters in soccer prior to the move to the winter season.
Photo Michael Lucid
Endurance — Sierra Atkins enjoyed a tremendous athletic career at Analy, earning multiple varsity letters in cross country, basketball and track. A gifted trail runner, Atkins spent a couple of fall seasons as one of her cross country team’s top runners. She was an all-league caliber guard on the basketball court, emerging as a team leader on offense. Atkins had her best moments on the track, where she shattered the 1,600-meter school record and medaled at the North Coast Section Meet of Champions to earn a coveted trip to the CIF State Championships this year.
Photo Greg Clementi
Versatility — El Molino’s Bridget Niclaes never met a sport she didn’t like in multiple varsity seasons on tennis, soccer and softball teams as one of her school’s top scholar/athletes. Earning an “Iron Lion” award playing three sports each year, Niclaes was a strong contributor on the fall tennis team. During the winter, she used her agility to develop into one of the league’s top goalies. Softball may have been her best sport, holding down the third base position while swinging a reliable bat.
Photo Rob DeVenuto
Tenacity — Analy’s Tannin Klunis logged a stellar, four-year all league soccer career for the Tigers, leading her teams to multiple Sonoma County League championships and yearly runs in the North Coast Section playoffs. Excelling at multiple positions, Klunis was equally effective scoring goals on offense or preventing them as a stringy anchor of the defensive line.
Photo Greg Clementi
Power — El Molino’s Erika Olson was simply the best softball player on the team in four star-studded seasons for the Lions. A former pitcher, Olson spent three years on the mound before morphing into a reliable position player. The one constant in her game was her ability to hit, leading her teams in most offensive categories each season.
Photo Greg Clementi
Talent — Analy’s Isabel Housman will be remembered as one of the best natural athletes of her graduating class, with the rare distinction of earning varsity letters in soccer and basketball in the same season. A tenacious soccer player, Housman helped the Tigers to multiple league titles. Her best moments may have come on the basketball court as a potent scorer, rebounder and defender.
Photo Greg Clementi
Effort — El Molino’s Chloe Kliegl was among the best athletes of her class, excelling in multiple seasons on Lions’ basketball and soccer teams. Choosing soccer when the sport moved to the winter season, Kliegl was a mainstay on competitive teams, helping the Lions reach the postseason each year.
Photo Michael Lucid
Power — Analy’s Claire Rudderow put the final wraps on a tremendous, four-year varsity volleyball career last fall, finishing up among the top players in the program’s history. A powerful and consistent outside hitter, Rudderow wreaked havoc on opposing defenses each season. She was a perennial first-team all league selection at her position, leading her team to a league title and yearly runs in the postseason.
Photo Michael Lucid
Consistency — El Molino scholar/athlete Jackie Martinez was as versatile as she was athletic in a standout, multi-year career on Lions volleyball and track teams. A skilled defensive specialist on the volleyball court, Martinez had the ability to keep a rally alive. She was equally strong on the track, as a speedy runner and relay team member.
Photo Greg Clementi
Leadership — Analy’s Samantha Caughie gave the Tigers all she had in three stellar varsity seasons on the softball team, emerging among the best all around players in the Redwood Empire. Along the way, Caughie landed on multiple all league teams and helped Analy to both a Sonoma County League title and perennial trips to the North Coast Section playoffs.
Photo Greg Clementi
Heart — Analy’s Carson Rasmussen was the ultimate competitor in four varsity seasons on the softball team, leading the Tigers with her arm and bat. A consistent starting pitcher, Rasmussen was one of the most successful hurlers in the program’s history. She was equally strong at the plate, carrying a high school career batting average of close to .400.
