Fantastic Four: Temescal Canyon Athletes Are College-Bound

Student athletes aren’t fond of the letter D – not to mention that none of the four Temescal Canyon seniors that signed college letters-of-intent Thursday have ever seen one.

Yet it’s a string of D words that link Jack Kramer, Mason Parks, Michael Pounds and Lauren Thatcher. Dedication. Determination. Drive.

The four spent their lunch hour as the guests of honor at a signing party, as each declared which university they will play for next season.

Kramer will play baseball at Cal State San Marcos, Parks will join the swim team at the University of La Verne, Pounds will play water polo and swim for the University of Redlands and Thatcher will continue her stellar water polo career at the University of Michigan.

As water polo coach Damien Andrews pointed out, each of these athletes made the four-year commitment, not only on their field of play but in the classroom.

“I have all four of those kids in my advanced placement government class and they are just so bright, talented and driven to succeed,” Andrews said.

Lauren Thatcher, University of Michigan

In what has been typical of her water polo career, Thatcher had the confidence to wait for the school she wanted. While San Jose State, University of the Pacific and the University of Hawaii were practically throwing scholarships at her, she waited for Big Blue.

And she wasn’t disappointed.

“I went to visit the school and loved it,” Thatcher said. “The entire city of Ann Arbor loves them and the athletes are treated like royalty.”

Thatcher is a two-time All-CIF selection and was the Division 5 MVP this year. The Titans captured the CIF title behind their 2-meter captain. For three years, she has made the Sunbelt League all-academic team and was the Titan’s Athlete of the Year.

“She’s one of the most talented female athletes I’ve ever coached,” Andrews said. “But her work ethic matches her physical ability.”

In addition, she was a CIF qualifier in three swim events – the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay.

“She worked hard for four years for this and we’re so proud of the fact that she’s so independent and wants to go away to school,” said her mom, Valerie Thatcher. “Five minutes after she was there (in Michigan) she sent a picture of the snow and said, ‘I’m so here.’”

Jack Kramer, Cal State San Marcos

His support system – which includes his mom, dad and stepdad – are so important to him that Kramer never considered going much farther than an hour's drive away.

“The area’s really nice, it’s close to home and they have a good baseball program,” Kramer said. His mom Teresa Kim said that the athletic program puts a premium on academics and they assured her he would have study time mixed in with practice. His father Dave Patterson lives in San Diego County and is a biologist so tutoring will pose few problems.

A catcher for the Titans, who will host Hawthorne High Friday in the first round of the CIF baseball playoffs, Kramer has been a leader on and off the field.

He holds a steady 4.2 grade-point average and is one of Temescal Canyon’s validictorians this year. He will major in biology with plans to attend medical school.

Michael Pounds, University of Redlands

Not all schools allow athletes to play more than one sport, but Redlands will allow Pounds to play water polo and swim.

Even fewer allow their athletes to double-major, but Pounds plans on studying biochemistry and business administration.

“I liked the atmosphere of a small school and smaller class sizes. The students seem to really know their teachers,” Pounds said. “Plus, they have a great water polo team."

Pounds, who will likely play attacker or center in college, is considered by Andrews to have the best attitude of any player on the team.

“He has the self-discipline, maturity and desire to excel at everything he does,” Andrews said of Pounds, who was the Sunbelt League MVP last year, a CIF Division 6 team member and a three-year academic all-league selection.

Mason Parks, University of La Verne

Looking for a small campus that was academic minded, Parks found it in the University of La Verne.

His coach characterized his goalie as quiet and steady. All are attributes that will no doubt help in his next profession in law enforcement with an eye toward the FBI.

“It seemed friendly, the swim team is really good and I prefer a smaller campus,” said Parks, a three-time all-academic selection and second team Sunbelt League member.

Andrews called him a steady force on the team.

“His emotions are very steady, he doesn’t get rattled easily,” Andrews said. “We preach team defense, but in reality your goalie is the one you see on defense and he is a very steady force. His calm is special for a high school kid.”