Back-to-School Brings "Green" Tips
NEIRAD enilno edition
The Number 23 is the amount of times Julius Caesar was stabbed in his lifetime; the amount of chromosome pairs found in the human body, and the title of a Jim Carrey movie. It is also the jersey number worn by junior laxer Olivia Taylor. She can be found counting down from this number before games as a way to relax.
Olivia Taylor—nickname OT—is known at DHS for her stellar athletic ability in both volleyball and lacrosse. Her talent for sports has made her a key contributor to both programs. OT has been a varsity player on the volleyball team since her freshman year, as an outside hitter, and made the varsity lacrosse team last year as a sophomore. What she enjoys most about playing lacrosse is the fast pace and high energy in the game. “The game is always evolving and changing, so it never gets boring and you can always learn new tricks, moves, and plays,” OT said.
OT has been playing lacrosse since the fourth grade, and her dedication has paid off. She originally started the sport because her sister was a lacrosse player who made it seem fun and exciting. Olivia’s sister, Ally (now a 20-year-old sophomore at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania) was also a former volleyball star at DHS.
Playing the position of low defense on the lacrosse field, OT has helped the girls get off to a great start for the season. The team remains undefeated against FCIAC competition. According to a recent posting on laxpower.com, the Darien girls’ lax is ranked 10th in the nation.
Olivia’s hard work has impressed both her teammates and coaches. “She is an intelligent hard worker on the field. She is progressing each day and is challenging players that are starting over her. My hope for her is to become a starter by the end of the season,” head coach Lisa Lindley said.
OT has begun to prove herself as an important player by giving them a strong defensive force. OT continues to work hard and strive for improvement. She is looking to use this season as a time to become a more aggressive defender and overall, more confident in her playing. Olivia views Wilton, Greenwich, and New Canaan to be the Blue Wave’s hardest competition in the FCIAC this year.
Taylor not only brings her athletic talent to the field, but she also adds levity with her great sense of humor. “OT brings so much laughter to the team every day, and it’s so much fun to have her around,” sophomore teammate Amanda Sommi said, “I’m lucky enough to play with her in both volleyball and lacrosse…she's awesome at both, and just makes everything so enjoyable.”
OT’s enthusiastic attitude is just one reason she has been named co-captain for the 2010 girls’ volleyball team. 2009 volleyball captain and senior lacrosse player Corinne Sommi said, "OT is a great team-player and works hard every day." It seems as if the teams would not be the same without OT’s presence.
Top 5 Movies
1. "Million Dollar Baby"
2. "Friday Night Lights"
3. "Dead Poets Society"
4. "Sixteen Candles"
5. "The Notebook"
OT’s love for lax goes further than just the action on the field. “I really get along well with all my teammates. In addition to being great lacrosse players, they are all just really nice people. This year, the girls are all getting along really well, and the upperclassmen are friends with underclassmen,” Taylor said. She has had some amazing experiences with this team. One of her most memorable moments so far this season was their 16-9 victory over tough competitive rival Wilton in mid-April.
When asked what her proudest moment in lacrosse has been, OT was unable to come up with just one example. Instead, she chose her entire experience in the Darien lacrosse program.
“It is such dominant program in Connecticut, and to be able to be coached by the coaches, and to play with these girls is really in my mind as an accomplishment in itself,” Taylor said. “Lisa (Lindley) does such a good job, and all my teammates are really amazing players, with many of them going off to Division 1 schools next year…so just getting the chance to play with them makes me a better player.”
One thing is certain: the future for OT is shining brightly. She is unsure of which sport—volleyball or lacrosse—she will continue to pursue at the college level. But, she definitely wants to continue to play at least one, maybe even both. Whatever OT chooses, it can be sure she will use her natural ability, work ethic, and positive attitude to succeed.
