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Summarized by Joyce Feustel
LDS High School Basketball Player Leads Team To First Championship
Los Angeles Times 29Feb00 S2
By Joel Hood
LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA --The Bonita Bearcats have a warning for its
opponents....beware of Peter McGrath!
He has deadly speed, can dribble and/or shoot from either foot with
spectacular precision, can pass to an open teammate between numerous
defenders and can spin an opponent to the ground with no more than a
head fake.
He admits when questioned that "There are times when I forget that I
have been varsity for only a season and a half. I sometimes feel like
I have been here forever. However, I have worked pretty hard to get
here."
The Valle Vista League champion Bearcats (22-4) are one win away from
their first championship match. Three years ago, the first Bonita
boys' soccer team to make it to the semifinal round lost on penalty
kicks.
Bonita second-year Coach Jason Roufs said that "Ninety percent of our
present players have never gotten this far in the playoffs. We still
make mistakes and we still get playoff jitters."
Speaking of McGrath, Roufs said "He's become more vocal, and more of
a leader but his role hasn't changed all that much. He's still out
there to take his shots and score goals. He finished the season with
12 goals, ranking second on the team and this season, he has nine
goals and is first with nine assists."
McGrath has priorities in his life, and playing college soccer is not
the top of the list. He wants to be like his two older brothers
before him by going on a mission for his Mormon church after he
graduates from high school. Greg, the eldest is on a mission in
Taiwan and Dylan will leave for his mission to Alabama next month.
"It could hurt me as far as receiving a scholarship," McGrath said.
"But that's what I really want to do. I guess I won't know until
later on."
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