The Woodlands Christian Academy
GAMES
RANKINGS
The Shark: TWCA's Calamani Growing In Talent; Voice
ZOE CALAMANI’S RUNNING CAREER DATES WAY BACK TO THE SECOND GRADE. SURE, SHE COULD COLOR IN THE LINES, AND CUT AND PASTE, BUT IT WAS RUNNING THAT SET HER APART.
“Remember the game Sharks and Minnows?” she laughed. “I could dominate. That is when I realized I could run.”
In elementary school and junior high, she just kept running.
“I was terrible in sports with a ball or any hand-eye coordination sports,” she said. “The kids that didn’t have that skill set went straight to cross country. That’s how I ended up here.”
Over time, she has turned into one of the state’s most lethal sharks on the running scene.
“Zoe is pretty quiet by nature,” coach Tom Earle said. “She was a co-captain as a sophomore and became more of a leader, but now she has found her voice.”
Calamani is now the star of one of the most recognizable running brands in TAPPS.
“When I was a freshman, I was terrified,” she laughed. “My teammates had to tell me that it was okay to pass a senior teammate. I didn’t know what to do. My confidence has been building over time.
“As a junior, I did well but was just running comfortable. I wasn’t really pushing myself. Now, I’m doing the little things to get better. I’m in the weight room more and am focused on my sleep, which is pretty important.”
And to think that cross country is not even Calamani’s best sport.
“I’m really trying to run track in college,” the 400 and 800-meter star said. “I run cross country to build my endurance for the track season. That’s really my passion.”
So, what balances the junior when she’s not training, doing homework or watching her favorite show – Criminal Minds?
“I’m a pianist,” she said. “I’ve been doing it before I started running. I’m trained in classical piano. It keeps me balanced and focused. I really do it for myself and for volunteer work. I might play at an assistant living facility or just at my house. It’s really important to me.”
The Constant: Four-Year Starter Overcomes Hurdles to Become Leader in the Locker Room
JORDAN BOOTH HAS BEEN A CONSTANT WITHIN THE WOODLANDS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY VOLLEYBALL LOCKER ROOM SINCE HER FRESHMAN YEAR. BEFORE THAT TOO, WHEN SHE HUNG AROUND THE VARSITY SQUAD WHEN HER OLDER SISTER, RYANN, PLAYED.
“Volleyball has been a huge part of my life as long as I can remember,” she said. “These are my best friends, my family."
“It started to hit me in the summer. This is it, the last season playing the sport I love with the people I love. It’s sad to think about but I have been just cherishing every practice, bus ride and game all season.”
The four-year starter looks back on her career with fond memories and a piece of advice for her younger self.
“I would have told myself as a freshman to have fun,” she laughed. “Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. I definitely did. I wanted to be perfect, but as a freshman you aren’t going to be perfect. You are going make a bunch of mistakes.”
As she got her legs under her, the all-district accolades began to pile up. She developed into a leader and will leave a lasting legacy at TWCA.
“TWCA has been a great experience,” she said. “It’s such a small, tight-knit community that you literally know everyone in your grade. You become friends with everyone. The teachers are great and really take the extra-effort with you. It’s a family.”
As her career wraps up, she looks to the future with pinpoint focus.
“I’d like to go to Texas A&M or Baylor,” she said. “I want to become a nutritionist and help people with their diets and overall health.”
That field of study hits close to home for Booth.
At 12-years-old, Booth stopped eating and dropped weight that she couldn’t afford to. Her family took her to several specialists, and she was eventually diagnosed with Crohn’s disease – which causes the swelling of tissue in the digestive tract.
“I remember being at a volleyball tournament in junior high and couldn’t move because of incredible stomach pain,” she said. “I was trapped in a sitting position and my dad had to pick me up in that position and carry me to the hotel. I couldn’t move.
“I never really wanted to talk about it with my friends. It was kind of weird and I didn’t want people to make fun of me, honestly. I finally just let me guard down and just accepted it. I still have flare ups every now and then, but it's under control and I can talk about it now.”
The senior hasn’t let Crohn’s disease define her over the years, however, her personality, perseverance and play have.
“Our volleyball team has really leaned in to learning how to put other people before yourself,” Booth said. “It’s about the good of the group, before the good of yourself. It’s really a powerful life-lesson that I will take with me when I leave and always try and practice.”
QUICK TAKES
If a movie was made about your life, what actress would you want to play you? Sadie Sink
Who has been your biggest influence? My mom. She’s the most selfless person I know.
If you didn’t play volleyball, what sport would you have played? I’m not good at it but gymnastics. It looks really fun.
What do you do outside of volleyball? I like to read. I’m a Hunger Games type of girl.
What music does your team play before a game? We have a big speaker and just play and dance to party music.