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Take a bow: The Olympian's All-Area fall players of the year

The Olympian shines the spotlight on the stars of the fall high school season, calling attention to 5 who stole the show

By Gail Wood | The Olympian • Published December 12, 2008

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OLYMPIA – They were always the ones on center stage.

They were the fall attractions.

They were the ones scoring the winning goal in soccer, doing a flip turn in the pool for a dramatic finish in swimming or coming from behind to win in cross country.

In swimming, it was Olympia's Clara Heffernan, the determined sophomore who reached the 4A state podium in two events.

In cross country, it was Tumwater's Steven Acosta and Chehalis' Caroline Austin rising to the challenge and placing among the top five at state.

In volleyball, it was Tumwater's Amanda Warner, slamming shots to the floor for a point winner.

In soccer, it was Olympia's Kelsey Fuik, coming back from two broken wrists to lead the Bears to the 4A state playoffs.

They are The Olympian's All-Area athletes of the year for their sport in the fall season.

It was a season of championships. A season of fulfilled expectations. Tumwater won its first state title in volleyball, finishing with an undefeated record. Olympia and Black Hills both advanced to state in volleyball.

And Olympia advanced to state in soccer, overcoming injuries and adversity to reach the playoffs.

Clara Heffernan, Olympia swimming

It's 5:30 a.m. and Clara Heffernan is already in the pool, swimming lap after lap.

Six days a week, she swims, doing as many as 35,000 yards a week. Three times a week she's swims twice a day, hitting the pool for the early morning workout before school and again for an afternoon practice session.

She swims year around.

"I've grown used to the smell of chlorine," Heffernan said. "You get a whiff of it and you're at home. You feel comfy."

The 15-year-old Heffernan catches a ride to her morning practices with her dad, Mike. Her mom, Rebecca, drives her to the afternoon practices.

"My parents are awesome. They support me 100 percent," Heffernan said.

Three years ago as an eighth grader, Heffernan joined the Evergreen Swim Club and began swimming year around.

The two-a-day workouts paid off this season, her sophomore year. She advanced to 4A state in two events for the second straight year, placing fifth in the 200-yard freestyle and eighth in the 500 freestyle. Her personal bests are 1:54 in the 200 and 5:04 in the 500.