Scholar Athletes: Northwood High
Northwood High’s scholar athletes are golfer Erica Chean, track athlete and tennis player Melissa Kan, track athlete Christa Kondru and soccer player and runner Aviv Lazar on the girls side and water polo player and swimmer James Hartshorne, football player Bryan Pione, baseball and soccer player Kyle Purzycki and baseball player Zack Weiss.
Chean was named the Sea View League most valuable player in golf as a junior last year and first team all-league as a senior this past season. At Northwood, she earned the most improved golfer award, team MVP in 2009 and served as the team captain.
Kan was the 2009 Sea View League champion in doubles for tennis and was named all-league first team twice. For four years running, her team won the league title. Kan has gone to CIF each year in singles and once in doubles, and served as team captain as a senior. In track, she was twice the Orange County Champion in the triple jump and once in the long jump. She is the school record holder in both the triple jump and pole vault and was named the 2008 and 2009 athlete of the year in the jumps events.
Kondru earned four varsity letters in track and played for three years on the basketball team. She is a two-time league champion in the shot put and was the 2010 League champion in the discus. Kondru is a three-time CIF placer and was ranked No. 22 in the state this past season. She maintained a 3.8 grade point average and will be attending UCI next year to continue her track career.
Lazar has earned seven varsity letters in cross country, track and soccer. She went to CIF three years and was named first Team all-league twice in cross country. She was also the team captain this past season. Lazar was also named the Orange County Girls Jewish Athlete of the Year. She earned a 4.27 grade point average and will be attending UCLA in the fall.
Hartshorne was a three-sport athlete in water polo, swimming and volleyball. He was a four- year varsity water polo player, serving as team captain the past two years and was one of the best goalies in the state. Hartshorne was named all-city twice and all-league and all-CIF every year. He was named an All-American three times, placing as high as fourth, and was named USA Water Polo Academic All American twice. Hartshorne was also a three-year letterman in varsity swimming and a one year varsity letterman in volleyball.
Pione enjoyed playing football and was named first team all-league this past year. He also served as the team captain and won the Most Inspirational Award. Pione earned the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award this past year. He was also a four-year varsity wrestler at Northwood. Pione completes his high school career with a 3.5 grade point average.
Purzycki excelled in soccer and baseball. He played two years of varsity soccer and was named all-Sea View League and second team all-CIF. As a three-year varsity starter in baseball, he was named all-league this year and is expected to be named All CIF. He closes out his high school days with a grade point average of 3.3.
Weiss has been a standout pitcher on the Northwood baseball team. This year, he played on the Orange County All-Star team, was named all-Sea View League and all-CIF. Weiss, who has signed to play at UCLA, was also recently picked in the 10th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his free time, he helped found the Zion Society club for Jewish students and served as Junior Class President. Weiss completes his high school career with a 3.98 grade point average.
