GALT, CA (MPG) - Galt High Athletic Director John van den Raadt announced the athletes of the year at the Galt graduation ceremony.  

“This award goes to male and female athletes that encompass what it means to be a warrior,” said van den Raadt. 

“Our female athlete of the year goes to an individual that is a four-sport athlete, participating in golf, track and field, cross country and soccer, and CIF Dale Lacky award winner for the SVC. Doing all this while graduating with a 3.9 and serving countless hours as a volunteer for our community. She was also a captain and earned all-league awards. In the fall she will be attending Jessup University to continue her athletic career. Without further ado, please congratulate Hope Garten.”

Garten played varsity soccer and varsity golf her freshman year.  She added track and field her sophomore year along with the others. Then her senior year she added cross country and played four varsity sports her senior year. This is an accomplishment that only a few former athletes can boast. 

It is a good thing Garten went out for track her sophomore year, as that decision would affect her future.  She will run track for Jessup University in the fall. 

“I found my love for track my sophomore year and enjoy running every day,” said Garten. “It is a blessing to be able to get up and run each day supported by the team at Galt High.”

Garten played many sports growing up, including softball, basketball, club soccer and boxing throughout elementary school. 

“I have been team captain for all of my sports and love being able to help younger athletes below me find the sport they love and grow into the athletes they are meant to be.”

Garten had a busy senior year, including being crowned homecoming queen. She also received the CIF Dale Lackey Scholarship along with being a scholar athlete all four years. She was given the tri-sport athlete award at Senior Awards night and fourth and fifth in the Galt High record books for the 100m, 200m and 400m races. 

“Growing up I have always been motivated to keep working hard and pushing myself every chance I got,” explains Garten. “It is important to me to be advanced in the sports I am involved with. It is also important to me to be a caring teammate for the teams that I would play for. I am very competitive in anything I am involved in. From FFA weekends to the track or field, I love giving it my all. There were many losses throughout my seasons, but I used it to make me a stronger athlete along the way. It was hard to get through some of the battles, but I had my coaches, friends, teammates, family and my mom right by my side to keep pushing me.”

Not only was Garten a leader in sports, but a leader in the school community. “I also love to be involved within the whole school,” said Garten. “If I was not at a sporting event, I could be with the leadership class planning school events, doing community service or spending time with my pig and Ag friends.”

“Next year I will be attending Jessup University in Rocklin on a track scholarship,” said Garten. “At the beginning of my senior year, while at my sprinting lessons, my coach explained to me how she attended Jessup and thought it would be a great fit for me. The next day the coaches contacted me, and I knew it was the perfect match. I would be able to follow my path of faith, while running the sport I love. While running track, I will be pursuing the career of nursing. After I graduate from Jessup, I would like to be a pediatric nurse. Thank you to everyone that has helped me along the way to reach my goals. To my mom, thank you for driving me to every practice or game no matter the distance. I would not be the athlete I am today without her love and courage.”