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Post by batman on Dec 22, 2005 21:12:58 GMT -5
Does anyone have any info on the new recruit by Hawaii.... I know she's about 6'1 and one the the top high jumpers in Cali...
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Post by fan4life on Dec 22, 2005 21:31:49 GMT -5
Here you go.
December 5, 2005
Branham’s Amber Kaufman signs with University of Hawaii
Two-sport athlete to compete in volleyball
and track & field for Warriors
By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer
Branham Athletic Director Donna McCullough remembers vividly the first time she laid eyes on Amber Kaufman.
Branham volleyball and track and field athlete Amber Kaufman signs her letter of intent to play for the University of Hawaii next fall. Kaufman will compete in both sports at the collegiate level.
During a physical education class on one of the first days of school more than three years ago, McCullough caught sight of a wiry, quiet freshman with an added feature—pink hair —who was beginning the journey of simply being a high school student.
“She was just jumping around that gym with that pink hair flying everywhere,” said McCullough.
How things have changed.
Fast forward to Nov. 9, 2005, and Kaufman—with sandy blond hair—was quietly sitting in a conference room at Branham preparing to take the next journey in her young life.
On that day, Kaufman, a two-sport athlete in volleyball and track and field for Branham, signed a letter of intent to play both sports for the University of Hawaii. The ceremony was attended by Kaufman’s parents, coaches and several teachers.
“”I want to be the best I can and do what I can for the school,” Kaufman said of her future at the University of Hawaii. “ … Who doesn’t want to go to college where people go for vacations?”
For Kaufman’s mother, Stacey Farmer, seeing her daughter sign on for a future college career in athletics was better than she could’ve imagined.
“To see Amber that happy and achieve that goal was just amazing to me,” said Farmer. “It was almost like a dream. It was so exciting.”
Following the signing, McCullough showered Kaufman with gifts to mark the occasion, including a “how to hula” DVD and a University of Georgia T-shirt (McCullough’s alma mater).
McCullough and Kaufman have formed a tight friendship throughout her time at Branham, with Kaufman serving as a teacher’s aide for the athletic director the past two years. Kaufman credits McCullough as one of the people to influence her high school life at Branham in a positive way.
“She’s kind of like my mom at school,” Kaufman said of McCullough. “She follows what I do, and makes sure I don’t get in trouble or anything.”
“I’m very proud of her, in more ways than just getting her scholarship,” added McCullough. “ … The support she’s had from her family is great. I’m proud of what she means to Branham High School.”
What she means to Branham is this: The first female athlete since the school’s reopening in 1999 to move on and play Division I sports in the college ranks.
For Kaufman, being a Branham athlete is something she regards as deeply personal. McCullough said Kaufman wants people to know she’s from Branham, no matter what the occasion.
“People have Branham pegged as some ghetto school,” said Kaufman, who also spends her time as a mentor and friend to special needs kids in a program through her school called Best Buddies. “I want to change that opinion. It’s not ghetto. We just don’t get the recognition we deserve.”
Throughout her time at Branham, Kaufman has proven to be a quick study in every phase of high school life.
The senior, who sports a grade point average well over 3.0, didn’t seriously pick up volleyball until the age of 14, when she began playing club volleyball for current Westmont girls’ volleyball coach Peter Kim.
Working hard at getting better in volleyball, track and field, as well as several other sports she was interested in, Kaufman steadily progressed to her current status.
In volleyball, Kaufman earned co-MVP honors in the Mt. Hamilton Division this year along with Leigh’s Lauryn Dowd. That announcement came after a season in which Kaufman led the Bruins to an 18-12 overall record, earning the team a berth in the CCS Division III Playoffs, where the Bruins made the quarterfinal round of play before losing to Burlingame.
Branham head coach Lynn Hall said Kaufman consistently led the team in several categories, averaging 23 kills a night. Hall added that Kaufman ranked No. 1 in kills, blocks and aces in CCS this year.
“She has dominating skills and abilities,” said Hall. “She dominates with flat out power that no kid has … She’s the best girls’ volleyball player to play at Branham.”
According to Farmer, Kaufman’s athletic abilities have been something she’s always had, even as a toddler.
“She just came out jumping as a toddler,” Farmer said. “She was like a jumping bean. … It’s just what she always did.”
Kaufman has used her natural athletic gifts to excel in track and field as well. Kaufman, who competes in the long jump, triple jump and high jump, has made it to the CIF state finals in all three of her seasons, posting a fourth place finish at the state meet in the high jump as a sophomore before placing fifth last year.
Along the way, Kaufman has set Branham records in the high jump (5 feet, 10 inches) as well as the long jump (18 feet, 11 inches). Branham head track and field coach Derrick Bell believes Kaufman can break those records again this coming season, citing goals such as 6 feet in the high jump and 19 feet in the long jump for Kaufman.
Bell added that his personal goal for Kaufman is for her to break the state record of 6 feet and 2 inches in the high jump.
“For me, Amber’s the type of athlete you come across once every 10 or 20 years,” said Bell. “She pushes herself. I like her competitive edge. She has such a will to win, so it’s fun to watch.”
Still, when the day comes for Kaufman to leave the familiar confines of Branham for the tropical surroundings of Hawaii, there will be hint of sadness for those who know her best. McCullough admits that day will be “bittersweet.”
“I’ve already spent several hours thinking about it and I’ll probably shed some tears,” McCullough said. “But, I am ready for her to make that journey.”
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Post by fan4life on Dec 22, 2005 21:47:51 GMT -5
found another article
Posted on Fri, Dec. 16, 2005
San Jose Mercury News
Volleyball first team
AMBER KAUFMAN
Branham, senior, MB/OH
Height: 6-1.
Kaufman showed her athleticism and versatility by averaging 19.1 kills, 5.1 aces, 10.1 digs and 6.9 blocks per match. The defending CCS champ in the long and high jump, Kaufman will compete in track and field and volleyball next year at Hawaii. ``It was a phenomenal experience coaching Amber,'' Coach Lynn Hall said. ``She has so much talent I think she could become an Olympian someday in either sport.''
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Post by sonofbarcelonabob on Dec 22, 2005 21:59:43 GMT -5
It always amazes me how little standardization there is in most high school sports when it comes to stat taking. Most of the time, it's the team manager or the 13th/14th/15th/16th player on the bench doing the stats. Typical match scenario goes something like this.
Girl taking stats on bench: "Oh gawd...you know...like today in 3rd period Ryan...was...just...like...you know...being a butt and sending me all these text messages...."
Other girl on bench: "Oh yaaaaa.....he's so stupid...I mean...he like doesn't even have anything to text me...but he texts me anyway....and like my mom...she was just totally pissed when she got the cell bill last month and I had like 4000 text messages on my number..."
Stat girl: "Haha...you're so dumb....4000 text messages...."
Other girl: "Nuh...uh...shut up...you're stupid..."
Stat girl: "You're stupid...."
Other girl: "YOU'RE STUPID..."
*The most amazing play of the match goes down unnoticed*
Stat girl: "Oh crap...dang...what happened? Did Brittney make the pass? Wait...like who dug the ball...was that Shelby? Oh...there was a block in there too wasn't there...."
Other girl: "Ah...who cares...coach doesn't really look at that stuff...just put a bunch of check marks down for everybody..."
Stat girl : "K....oh wait...I'm getting another text message...." (pulls out her cellphone while sitting on the bench)
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Post by BearClause on Dec 22, 2005 22:47:22 GMT -5
Wolfgang said that he watched a couple of Branham matches with his daughter and reported back here. His reports got criticism from one poster that he had no business being there if he wasn't a Branham fan or parent.
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Post by chickplay on Dec 23, 2005 4:30:39 GMT -5
i may get an interview with her...anything anybody want to know?
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Post by Wolfgang on Dec 23, 2005 23:52:40 GMT -5
Who's Amber Kaufman?
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Post by BearClause on Dec 24, 2005 0:31:02 GMT -5
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Post by Wolfgang on Dec 24, 2005 1:36:32 GMT -5
I can't explain the sudden popularity of the name "Amber."
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Post by fan4life on Dec 25, 2005 19:36:31 GMT -5
I live in the Bay Area, does anyone know what club team Amber is playing for this year?
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Post by BearClause on Dec 25, 2005 20:11:55 GMT -5
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Post by cbrown1709 on Dec 25, 2005 21:41:25 GMT -5
So she averages 31 points a match? Those are all world numbers there.
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Post by fan4life on Dec 27, 2005 10:58:00 GMT -5
Realistically how much impact can an 'average' freshman make on a top 10 D1 team?
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Post by Wolfgang on Dec 27, 2005 11:41:02 GMT -5
I read somewhere that Dave Shoji said he thinks Amber is like Lauren Duggins. I saw Amber and though I'll admit I probably don't have the eye for volleyball skills/talent as Dave and Charlie Wade, I never once saw her as Duggins. Two completely different style of play. Just imagine Amber as a wiry angry girl on springs. I mean this as a compliment.
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