Female Athlete of the Year: Marchbanks magical

All of a sudden it just hit me, Lauese said, that I would no longer be coaching Mercedes. I tried to hide it (tears). So I walked out of the locker room because I didn't want anyone to see me. I did my best to pretend I was tough.

So what could make Lauese, a burly 6-foot-2, 270-pound grown man, well up with tears? Losing an extraordinary talent and person in Marchbanks, a quiet, unassuming athlete who was a four-year, all-league varsity standout in three sports: volleyball, basketball and track and field. As an outside hitter who averaged over 10 kills a match, the powerful and athletic 5-foot-8, 140-pound Marchbanks led Sequoia's volleyball team to one of the greatest seasons in school history.

The Cherokees finished 27-9, including a perfect 16-0 in the Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division, and advanced to the first round of the section playoffs for the first time since 1999. Marchbanks then led Sequoia's basketball team to a fourth-place finish in the PAL South Division the Cherokees' highest finish in recent memory by averaging 14 points per game playing point guard. She capped off her career in fine fashion, advancing to the California Interscholastic Federation State Meet in the triple jump for the second consecutive season.

For her outstanding athletic achievements, Marchbanks is the Daily Journal's Female Athlete of the Year.

Playing sports keeps me focused, she said. That's what I'm going to miss most about school. I can't imagine a life without sports. It's given me so much and it's been such a great influence in my life. I notice with some of my friends who don't play sports, that they probably get in trouble a little more or worry about boys a little more.

With a busy year-around schedule and a work ethic that would make Cal Ripken look lazy, Marchbanks is the poster-gal for dedication and all-around excellence. Yes, she will be attending University of California in the fall and compete for Cal's track and field team and also try out for the basketball squad. But Marchbanks was accepted into one of the world's top public universities strictly on her academic proficiency, not on her athletic endeavors. Her 3.8 GPA and numerous extra-curricular activities had the senior California dreaming.

I always wanted to go to Cal for its academics, Marchbanks said.

Academics have always been a high priority in the Marchbanks household. Mercedes' mom Morgan is a former teacher and the Sequoia High principal. Mercedes took a liking to school early on, and her interest never waned. Then again, her pride was at stake.

I was expected to study and I did it partly on reputation, Mercedes Marchbanks said. It wouldn't look too good if the principal's daughter had bad grades. But either way, I've always been focused.

And driven.

From the moment she played her first organized basketball game in the second grade, Marchbanks has been set on maximizing her talent. In volleyball, Marchbanks' awe-inspiring vertical leap allowed her to literally rise above her competition and power down kills with lights-out ferocity. On the basketball court, she could hit the 3-pointer and drive to the basket with sheer elegance. In the triple jump, it seemed like there were no limits to her virtuoso efforts. Marchbanks went on to set five personal-records this season, capped by a jump of 38 feet, 7 inches at the state meet, good for a 12th-place finish.

I'm just glad it's all over my legs are dead, Marchbanks said. I never thought entering my freshman year that I would make it to state two times.

Marchbanks channels her energy into world interests as well. One of her community service activities she totaled more than 150 hours in all included a program called Sojourn to the Past, where she visited various states in the South to retrace the steps of the Civil Rights Movement. The trip lasted 10 days, but the 17-year-old senior received lessons to last a lifetime along with a spiritual revival.

We visited historical sites, met up with activists and it was fun meeting people or seeing places we read about in our textbooks, Marchbanks said. How many of us ever get to do that? After I got back from the trip, I started to go to church more often. One of the people I met during this time was a priest who was a part of the movement. He told me that the church was his guidance and gave him direction through his struggles, and that he was able to find comfort in it. It's really an important part of my life now.

Marchbanks is also a member of Sequoia's Advance Dance team, a 50-member squad who performs during the school's boys' basketball games and school rallies. Whether she was jumping high off the floor for a kill, shaking defenders on the hardwood, or exploding off the runway, Marchbanks made all the right moves. Her artistry extended to every facet of her life. Marchbanks' personality differs from her on-court persona.

I think my friends would describe me as loud and outgoing, she said. They'd probably call me a geek, too. On the court, I want to lead more by example. A lot of girls take constructive criticism the wrong way, and I try to avoid tension so the team can keep that special bond. Because that's what our teams had a certain connection that was special.

In a small way, Marchbanks was a cerebral assassin, an athlete who beat you with as much as her mind as her physical gifts. No one appreciated Marchbanks' brilliance more than Lauese. When asked to single out one shining moment, Lauese hesitated before saying, That's tough. She had the drive, the passion, the ability. And the thing no one understands is that she played out of position all four years.

Her natural position is the 3 (small forward), but she's so darn athletic that we had her play the point. She sacrificed a lot and everyone respects her because she doesn't brag about anything. I hope we have another girl like her come through this school, but I don't think that's going to happen. For her to excel in three sports and maintain a 4.0 is simply incredible. What stands out? There were so many great moments, so I can't pick out just one. That's too hard…

His voice trails off, and we know why. Marchbanks' performances over the last four years left everyone breathless.

2004-05 Highlights

Qualified for State Meet in triple jump and long jump

CCS appearances in volleyball, basketball and track and field

PAL long jump and triple jump champion

Volleyball

Went 16-0 in winning Ocean Division championship and first CCS appearance since 1999

Averaged 10 kills per match

Basketball

14 points per game

Fourth-place finish in PAL Southern Division best in four years

Track and field

Set personal record in the triple jump five times, including mark of 38-7 in at the State Meet