Barry FaulknerRecent graduate Karleen Curran, a three-year...

Barry Faulkner

Recent graduate Karleen Curran, a three-year varsity contributor in

tennis, soccer and softball, has been named Estancia High’s Girls

Athlete of the Year.

But coaches who have watched Curran earn the respect of teammates,

opponents and others during her athletic career, believe she is

destined for success far beyond that obtained on the court and

playing field.

“She is a great person who is going to be a big-time contributor

to her community,” said Estancia softball coach Marc Rodig, who

relished Curran’s presence on his team, despite her lack of supreme

personal achievement.

Softball, in which she earned honorable mention for All-Pacific

Coast League honors as a junior outfielder, was Curran’s least

productive sport.

Soccer, in which she will compete as a collegian at Concordia

University in Irvine, and tennis were two sports that allowed Curran

to display more than mere intangibles.

She was a second-team All-Golden West League soccer honoree as a

senior, splitting time between sweeper and midfield.

“She has such a great presence on the field,” first-year coach

Nadine Rajabi said. “She was the captain of our team and somebody

everyone looked up to. She could also dominant on the field. She had

great skill and she knew what to do with the ball.”

Rajabi, like girls tennis coach Rachel de los Santos, felt

compelled to recognize Curran’s blend of attitude, leadership, work

ethic and ability. Both presented Curran with the Coaches’ Award at

their respective postseason banquet. In fact, de los Santos said she

created the award specifically to honor Curran, who played both No. 1

and No. 2 singles as a senior.

Curran, who graduated with a 3.95 GPA, was a co-captain on the

tennis team, helping the Eagles finish second in league and advance

to the CIF Southern Section playoffs. She won her first-round singles

match at the Golden West League finals, before being eliminated and

de los Santos said she consistently competed at a high level.

“She always had a really good attitude and was always eager to

help her teammates out,” de los Santos said. “She was a coach’s

dream.”