May 2016 Athletes of the Month: Ferrari Girouard and Biniam Tesfaghaber
Ferrari Girouard
Senior Ferrari Girouard has played softball since the second grade. Her dedication to her chosen sport and her academics has proven that with hard work and commitment, one can accomplish their goals. As this year’s team captain, Ferrari has been on the varsity team all four years. Last season she earned the honor of being named the most inspirational player. She also serves as the senior class president and has been on the Associated Student Body for four years. She has done all this while maintaining a 3.91 GPA and serving as the student representative for the Edmonds City Council this year.
Ferrari plans to attend the University of Washington in the fall and will either play slow pitch or play on an intramural softball team. “I will study some sort of biology, either focused on the environment or anatomy and physiology,” said Ferrari. “I have always loved helping people and animals, so I could see myself pursuing a career as a paramedic or veterinarian.”
While Ferrari has played volleyball and ran track in the past, she says there is just not a comparison to softball.
“Softball requires more mental strength than other sports I've played. That is probably where I have struggled the most; I've had to learn to just believe in myself and trust my abilities,” said Ferrari, who adds that her favorite part of the sport is that one wins and loses as a team. “Our team is strong because we all hold each other to high standards, and if a teammate is struggling we put in the extra effort to help them improve...As teammates, you need to bring out each other's strengths.”
Biniam Tesfaghaber
Eighteen-year-old Biniam Tesfaghaber has competed in both cross country and track for the last four years. “I have also been given the amazing opportunity to compete with my team at the State Cross Country Championships my junior and senior years,” said Biniam.
Being involved in sports requires a great commitment, but when one considers all that Biniam is involved in, they have to wonder how he does it all. He is a full International Baccalaureate candidate, the Vice President of the Associated Student Body and maintains a 3.7 GPA.
Biniam shares that one of his biggest challenges he has encountered is to continue to train throughout the offseason. But it was the knowledge that it would benefit him during the season that kept him going.
In the fall, Biniam plans to attend the University of Washington where he will study business administration with an emphasis on finance and economics as well as entrepreneurship. “I believe this would give me the necessary tools in order to achieve a childhood goal of mine which is to start my own clothing line and/or to own a recording studio,” said Biniam, who also hopes to join an intramural sports team at the University.
Biniam is grateful to his coach who taught him that nothing is given. “You must always work twice as hard if you want to succeed and be in the position that you want to be placed in,” said Biniam.
