SuburbanOneSports.com recognizes a male and female featured athlete each week. The awards, sponsored by Univest, are given to seniors of good character who are students in good standing that have made significant contributions to their teams. Selections are based on nominations received from coaches, athletic directors and administrators.
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Female Athlete (Week of Nov. 7, 2012)
Stefani Ruzic was the undisputed leader of a young and inexperienced defense for her field hockey team this fall. Although a first-year varsity player, the Council Rock North senior earned the respect of her teammates. “She really stepped up and was the emotional leader on the field,” coach Heather Whalin said. “You could hear her the whole time, directing the girls, and that’s something I really needed. We lost Courtney Titus, who was such a good back and really saw the field and would direct everybody. Stef just stepped into that role and really became a huge emotional leader on the team.”
Ruzic, according to her coach, has a style all her own, and her approach to sports is as unique as it is refreshing. The Rock North senior was relegated to playing for the jayvee as a junior. Some might have been impatient biding their time on jayvee, but Ruzic isn’t in that number. “They were better than me, so they played because they earned it,” Ruzic said. “I was happy to be part of the team.” She has brought that same positive approach to the varsity where she anchored the defense. “Whenever the ball came to Stef, we never worried,” Whalin said. “Her stick skills this year really improved, and there were so many games where she started our offense from all the way in the back. When I needed someone in the circle to make a stop, she definitely did that.”
Playing field hockey is just one small part of Ruzic’s life. The Rock North senior is a member of the Student Executive Board – a branch of Rock North’s student government – as well as the Model UN. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Rho Kappa (a social studies honor society) and the Spanish NHS. She is an officer with SHARE, a student group that is involved in community service. One of her passions is working at Camp Discovery, a camp for youngsters ages eight through 11 who have been abuse victims. Ruzic has been a counselor at the came for the past three summers.
When it comes to her future plans, Ruzic is undecided. “I don’t know where I want to go, I don’t know what I want to major in, but it’s cool,” she said. “This is what it’s supposed to be like. I’ll figure it out. I just have a lot of passions.”
To read Ruzic’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/stefani-ruzic-0029916
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of Nov. 7, 2012)
Peter Truman is a quiet leader who lets his actions speak for themselves. The Springfield senior was a captain of the soccer team, and as the team’s center midfielder, the offense pretty much ran through him. His job was to direct the attack and spread the ball around. “Our offensive creativity went through him,” coach Dan Meder said. “He’s not the most dominant athlete on the field, but he combines athleticism with intellect.” Trueman led the team in scoring while also racking up assists. “Peter is the kind of guy that when the ball is coming to him, he’s not just thinking, ‘What am I going to do with it,’ but ‘How do I get it to my teammates?’” Meder said. “He’s very much a setup player for us. He’s very clever.”
Trueman was integral to Springfield’s success. The team won more games than the previous three years combined and earned a berth in districts. “It means a lot,” Trueman said of his team’s improvement. “The best part is winning. Everyone is happier. It’s much easier to have fun and make friends. People aren’t just going through the motions because every game means something, every game matters.”
Trueman, an excellent student, is uncertain of a career path but most likely will be attending either the University of Pennsylvania or Princeton. In the meantime, he’ll continue to be heavily involved in his church where he teaches Sunday School classes and also operates the soundboard during sermons. Trueman, whose faith is central to his life, went to New Orleans in 2009 on a mission trip through his church where he helped in the rebuilding effort after Hurricane Katrina. “It was a sobering experience,” he said. “I kind of think we forget how blessed we are to live in an area that’s not prone to that type of storm – until this past week. We have to accept that some things aren’t in control.”
To view Trueman’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/peter-trueman-0029915
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