This week’s Athletes of the Week are senior Grace Watkins and sophomore Ashlynn Reid. Watkins plays volleyball, both at Oak Park and for a club team, and Ashlynn plays for the Oak Park girls’ golf team.

Watkins explained her love for volleyball and what the sport has added to her life.

“I just love the sport and the team environment and the competitiveness,” Watkins said. “It’s gotten me a lot of new friends and opportunities.”

Girls’ volleyball head coach Kendall Bilbruck explained her nomination for Watkins.

“After our second round in CIF (California Interscholastic Federation), she is now the #1 all-time girls’ single season assist leader in Oak Park history with a 920. She will finish 3rd of all-time with 984,” Bilbruck wrote to the Talon.

Watkins expressed gratitude for her Athlete of the Week nomination.

“I’m so thankful for my team and my coaches to give me this opportunity and it’s just a good feeling,” Watkins said.

Reid has been playing golf for the past eight years and enjoys the outdoor and professional aspects of the sport.

“I love golf just because, you know, you get to go out and have a great time in a beautiful place,” Reid said. “It’s a social sport and it’s very professional.”

Reid was nominated by girls’ golf head coach Donn James for her second trip to CIF Regionals.

“[Reid] is a first team All-League selection for the 2nd time. Ashlynn averaged 36.8 over the entire season and set a school record as the match medalist in 11 of 17 rounds this year,” James wrote to the Talon.

Reid’s explained that she was surprised to hear of her nomination.
“I was kind of shocked when they told me that I was going to be Athlete of the Week and it’s kind of cool because a lot of people don’t really think golf is an athletic sport,” Reid said.