***2006 DyeStatCal
Featured Meets***
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March 24, 2006
Exeter/Monarch Relays Meet
Info
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Amber Kaufman
(Branham, San Jose) Interview
March 8th, 2006
Doug Speck
Hawaii-bound Volleyballer / Trackster 5-10.25 early!
Volleyball photos Kaufman family - HJ Margaret Gallagher
To play opposite Amber in Volleyball - eating the ball
is not much fun!!
High Jumper surprises with 5-10.25 early in all-comers action this year!!
One of the state's top returning High Jumpers with a
fifth place in last June's statewide competition, Branham of San Jose's
Amber Kaufman is also a top volleyball player. As you can see
in the pictures above those playing opposite her have a dangerous
assignment! On the Track & Field side Amber surprised with a
5-10.25 HJ clearance in a mid-winter all-comers at Los Gatos HS. During
this all she signed to compete for the University of Hawaii next year,
which we hope you are aware of is also one of the NCAA volleyball powers
(ranked #6 nation-wide this winter before falling to #8 ranked Missouri
in NCAA Regional Semi-Finals), with an amazing tradition.
Amber took the time from her busy schedule to answer
some question for us below and it is always interesting to hear from
a top athlete, hear how she combines and feels about the different
sports she is in, and how she looks to the future.
Thanks Amber and best of luck
Doug Speck
- DyeStatCal.com
1) Wow, 5-10.25 - how did that happen? How much high jumping had
you been doing lately and what were you looking for as
a goal coming in at the all-comers meet where you cleared the 5-10.25?
--I had been training volleyball for a month and track for
three weeks. My goal was 5’8”...but I just wanted to get
a couple of jumps under my belt early. I was very pleasantly surprised
with the
results.
2) How have you split your year up at the high school level with your
volleyball and track and field careers? (is there any overlap of one
on top of the other and how does that go?)
--The overlap occurs with Club Volleyball and track. I travel
EVERY weekend with either City Beach Volleyball Club or track. Luckily
I
have really cool teammates, so I don’t feel like my social life
suffers at all.
3) Explain how, if you do, think that the training for volleyball and
high-jumping work with or against each other?
--I think they work very well together. Both very explosive. Volleyball
tends to spend a bit more time on technique, so Coach Bell adds extra
conditioning to my track practices. :(
4) Do you see other girls who limit themselves only to volleyball who
could be good track and field atheltes also? explain--
--Not really. There are many who do both. The club level volleyball
is full of incredible athletes. Best example is my old coach Ashley
Ivey. She did both volleyball and the high jump four years in college
at Stanford. She was quite successful athletically and academically.
She is still my role model.
5) How much weight training have you done, and is weight and strength
training considered an important part of the sport of volleyball in
preparation for that activity?
--Okay, if I am being honest... I haven’t hit the weight
room much at all. My coach, Derrick Bell throws fits regularly to get
me
in there. I know when I get to college they are going to lock me in
there and throw away the key. Strength and conditioning is as important
in volleyball as in track. In volleyball you have to work upper body
too.
6) How did you arrive at your choice of the University of Hawaii to
continue your athletic career at?
--It was my first choice. They were ranked #1 in the country
in volleyball when I was being recruited and I didn’t think I
had a chance. They asked me and I quickly gave my verbal commitment!
Interesting
fact. Most schools that approached me for volleyball did not want me
doing track. I still can’t believe I get to go to school in a
place most people choose for a vacation.
7) What are some of your goals for the spring track and field season?
--My first goal is to stay injury free. Last
year I had surgery on my thumb and if you can believe this, it kept
me out of both sports
for 6 weeks. I missed most of track season and several important volleyball
tournaments. After that my only goal is to clear 6’ in a meet.
I have done it in practice but—so far no luck in meets. (Cross
your fingers for me on this one.)
8) What advice could you offer for an athlete who was new to track
and field and the high jump event?
--It is so nerve racking when you are new to jump with the big jumpers.
Just remember, we were all in your shoes. We are ALL nervous. Hang
in there, you will jump higher and higher every year. And you never
know, it may be your good day. Every jumper has that one day when
it all falls into place.
Thank you for asking me these questions! They were fun to answer. Sorry
I took so long.
Amber
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