San Leandro High's "Dumb Jocks"  How some San Leandro Students are Breaking the Mold By: Katie Sowell

Many of today’s high school athletes are forced to endure unfair labels: Dumb Jocks. Ditzy Cheerleaders. Blockhead Football Players.   But student athletes at San Leandro High School are choosing to destroy those stereotypes by succeeding not only on the playing field but also in the classroom.   One of the many mottoes heard on the SLHS campus is “Expect Excellence”.   Numerous Pirates have decided to accept that motto as their personal standard; and they are achieving nothing short of excellence.

Everyone in the East Bay has heard of the San Leandro Football Team.   They were the 2000 HAAL champions, eventually ranked #2 in the whole Bay Area with a 12-1 record.  Their only loss of the season was in the NCS 4A finals to the “national champs” De La Salle.   But many people don’t look past the records and stats to discover the caliber of young men that play for the Pirates.  Senior lineman, Max Hurts, may not be the team MVP but he plays with heart and determination that deserves to be praised.   Practically in tears after the loss to De La Salle, Max described how he played: “I gave everything I could out there.  I put everything on that field”.  Max carries over that desire to succeed into everything he does.  He is the Commissioner of Senior Service for the student government, ASB.     Playing football and donating many of his free time to community services are still not enough for Max.   He also manages to maintain a 4.25 GPA.  Max is hardly a “dumb jock”.

Another of the Pirate football players who doesn’t deserve the title of “blockhead football player” is the sophomore sensation, defensive back Sam Cheatham.  This season Sam was instrumental in many exciting plays and was counted on for his outstanding abilities on both offense and defense.  Not only selected as a San Leandro Times Athlete of the Week, Sam was a HAAL All-League Second Team Defense selection.   He finished the regular season as 9th leading scorer in the HAAL with 48 points.   Achieving all this as just a sophomore, the Pirates look forward to great things from Sam in the future!     Sam proved his versatility by transitioning easily into basketball as soon as the football season ended.   Sam achieves great things in the classroom as well; he holds a current GPA of 4.0.   Currently enrolled in an advanced math class, Trig-Stat Functions, Sam plans to pursue a Math major in college.   Just like Max Hurts, Sam Cheatham was recognized by the NCS with a scholar-athlete award for football!

Football is not the only organization at SLHS that boasts successful student-athletes.   ASB (Associated Student Body-the student government) is run by excellent student athletes.   The ASB President, Melissa Beesley, senior, is a prime example of another well-rounded individual.  The 2000 Homecoming Queen manages to maintain her 3.83 GPA while planning all of the student body’s events and activities.   She is the captain of the SLHS Varsity Dance Squad, earning an All-American Award for her dance performance skills.  She has been a varsity cheerleader throughout high school.  In the spring, she runs hurdles for the track team, ultimately advancing to the NCS Meet of Champions last spring.  Not too bad for a ditzy cheerleader, huh?

The ASB Vice President, Tamiko Forrest, junior, demonstrates her leadership skills both on and off the court.   This past fall, she played well enough on the varsity volleyball team to be selected to the HAAL All-League Second Team.   She is a team captain for the varsity basketball team and is expected to help lead the Lady Pirates into the NCS play-offs.  Tamiko manages to maintain a 4.33 GPA in spite of her busy life!

These four student athletes are just a few examples of the many attending SLHS.   These teenagers are excelling both on the fields and in the classrooms.   Why are these successful teenagers constantly working so hard?   Simple, because they do not want to be carelessly labeled.  If you are one of the many people who doubt the future of today’s youth, just go to San Leandro High.  In no time you will meet one of the many smiling young student athletes there.   Why are they smiling?  Because they have just disproved the theory that all athletes are “dumb jocks”.