Young athletes thankful for their moms on this Mother’s Day
I have a lot in common with Larchmont resident Nelson LaBombard, one of three athletes I interviewed for this feature. Nelson is a high school wrestler, and so was I.
My mother never missed any of my matches. She sat for hours in gymnasiums and I could always hear her when I wrestled, no matter how large and crowded the venue was. She was as knowledgeable of the rules as any official and when they blew a call or missed something, she let them know it. Nobody cheered louder for me than my mom.
NELSON AND ELIZABETH LABOMBARD in Fresno, Ca.
Nelson
Elizabeth and John LaBombard’s son Nelson is a 10th grader at Harvard-Westlake High School. He wrestled varsity this year, and qualified for the Master’s Meet, which is exceptional, because California is one of the top five states in the country for wrestling.
Elizabeth was an athlete and played varsity soccer and tennis at Marlborough School. One of her best memories was traveling to China when she was 13 with her American Youth Soccer Association (AYSO) all-star team. “It was even more memorable because my grandmother came with me.”
Nelson had a similar travel experience last spring. His mother drove the two of them to Fresno where he competed in the USA Wrestling freestyle state championships.
“Having her during the long car ride, in the stands, and to talk to after matches was a great experience,” said Nelson. “Her overall toughness has rubbed off on me, exemplified especially when she gives me pre-match talks.”
“We had a lot of fun spending quality time together and bonding that weekend,” said Elizabeth.
“I’d like to thank my mom for always seeing the bright side of my sport. Whether I win or lose, or am injured, she always finds something that makes me feel better about the situation.”
ZURI AND CHERI JACOBS share a photo opportunity.
Zuri
Zuri Jacobs attended Larchmont Charter School (LCS) Selma middle school. She participated in basketball, volleyball and track. Zuri decided to continue high school at Pacific Palisades. Basketball is her focus, although she hasn’t given up track.
“I plan to continue working on shot put.”
Zuri’s mother Cheri was athletic, though not as enthusiastic about competing as her daughter.
“I was a cheerleader through high school and was at all the games,” explained Cheri. “I loved observing sports and still do.”
The recent fires have affected Palisades High students.
“We weren’t able to use our gym and facilities due to the damage the fire caused. Luckily we had other schools offer use of their gyms, so we switched from school to school to continue practices and games,” said Zuri.
Cheri’s been vigilant about giving Zuri every opportunity to improve her basketball skills. She seeks out camps and scrimmages so Zuri receives additional practice time. “Now that the school season is over, Zuri will play on a summer club team.”
“My mom is always looking for opportunities so I can get better. I always hear her on the sidelines when I’m playing. On the car rides back from the games, I look forward to hearing what she has to say about how I played and just the game overall. ”
CARROLL JENKINS with his mother, Cassey.
Carroll
Cassey Jenkins grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and as a youth, her parents insisted she play a sport each season. She was introduced to field hockey in junior high and it became her favorite sport.
“I didn’t genuinely enjoy playing sports, but I loved being on a team,” said Cassey. “I also loved wearing my field hockey kilt to school on game days.”
Cassey’s son Carroll plays outside hitter for San Gabriel Elite, a local volleyball club team, and has been a starter for LCS (High School) the past three seasons. Last year the boys’ volleyball team at LCS won the Division 4 City Section. Carroll was included on the All City first team.
“They played High Tech High in San Diego to move toward the next level of the state championships,” said Cassey. “They lost, but it was exciting to see how much they’d grown during the season.”
Carroll will play NCAA DIII volleyball for Vassar College next year.
“My mother allowed me to focus on my game without having to worry about logistics,” said Carroll. “She’s inspired me to have a growth mindset and work hard to achieve my goals. Playing club volleyball is expensive and a privilege. I’m grateful that my mom [and dad have] never hesitated to pay for the leagues, travel and other expenses associated with club volleyball.”
Category: People
