Concordia Lutheran High School
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Ava Zindler, Concordia Lutheran
TAKING THE LEAD: Ava Zindler will set pace as leader in 2021
AVA ZINDLER HAD A BREAKOUT SEASON IN CROSS COUNTRY IN 2020, HELPING LEAD THE CRUSADERS TO SILVER AS A TEAM AT THE TAPPS STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEET
The junior finished 15th overall and looks to carry the proverbial baton in 2021 as the captain of the team. Zindler has an easy-going demeanor but don't be fooled, she's as competitive as they come on the course.
VYPE caught up with the three-sport athlete this spring.
VYPE: Concordia Lutheran had a tremendous finish in cross country this year. Were you surprised?
ZINDLER: I was expecting to have success. We were training for so long and our coaches pushed us along the way. We were hoping to do great things and the hard work paid off.
VYPE: How important was chemistry to the success of your season?
ZINDLER: It's so important. Sometimes you might be having an off-day or your teammate is having an off-day. You have to rely on your other teammates sometimes and you can't be selfish if you are the one slowing down the team. We pick each other up and that is so key.
VYPE: What is it that drew you to the sport of cross country?
ZINDLER: There is such satisfaction at the end of a race that you were able to complete that feat. It takes heart to compete in this sport and you learn a lot about yourself.
VYPE: What does it take to be an elite long-distance runner?
ZINDLER: It's very mental and a lot of times it hurts, but you just have to push through it. When you are in the middle of the race and you have a mile to go, you just have to really focus and it really goes pretty fast.
VYPE: Outside of cross country and track what do you do? What does the future hold?
ZINDLER: I'm also on varsity tennis, so the seasons don't really overlap. It's pretty easy to time manage it. As far as the future goes, I'd love to run in college. The communication is going really well with that.
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Sean Fitzpatrick is verbally committed to Arkansas
THE SOUTHPAW: Fitzpatrick the Constant in Roller-Coaster Season
IT WAS A YEAR OF DRASTIC LOWS AND TREMENDOUS HIGHS FOR THE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN BASEBALL PROGRAM.
The low was the loss of legendary coach Rick Lynch, who passed over the winter. Lynch built the Crusaders into a state power in TAPPS.
The high? Dedicating the season to coach Lynch and reaching the TAPPS state final.
While the 'Saders fell in a heartbreaker, there was one constant that returns for another year and that is Sean Fitzpatrick.
The Arkansas-commit showed why he is one of the top recruits in the country as the ace of the staff. He also threw a no-hitter this season.
"We just wanted to keep his (Lynch) legacy going," Fitzpatrick said of his fallen coach. "His thing was to get onepercent better every day. We played for him with that in mind. As well as just holding yourself accountable."
Fitzpatrick is just next in a line of star baseball players at Concordia Lutheran following the likes of Ke'Byran Hayes (Pittsburg Pirates) and Shane Baz – the 12th overall pick by Pittsburgh in 2017.
"It's a huge honor to play here," he said. "Being able to come play for such a prestigious high school baseball program has been a great experience. That's why I'm here."
Fitzpatrick has been able to develop at Concordia and looks forward to the next level in due time.
"I think I'm good at a little bit of everything," he said. "I don't throw the hardest, but I do throw pretty hard. I mix up my pitches and hit my spots. That's kind of my thing. My ultimate goal is to keep getting better and hopefully put myself in a position to get drafted and see what happens next."
He has options. Arkansas, which just won its first SEC Championship, is another tremendous opportunity if he doesn't head the MLB route.
"The coaching staff at Arkansas is what sold me," he said. "Coach 'Dave' VanHorn is a legend in college baseball and Coach 'Matt' Hobbs has a great philosophy for pitchers. I'm really excited for that and ready to improve."
While he has adult decisions ahead of him, Fitzpatrick is still a teenager.
"I play golf, hunt and fish, play with my dogs and hang out with friends," he said. "I also lift weights a lot."
Who have been his greatest influences?
"My first favorite player was Lance Berkman," he said. "But now, I really like Clayton Kershaw. He's had such a great career and he's a lefty."
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