Sports have always been a fundamental part of math teacher Daisy Renazco’s life. “Over the years, I’ve played three sports: soccer, softball and lacrosse,” she said. “Soccer has always been my one and true love, though.”

Renazco has played soccer since she was five years old and continues to play over the summer in an adult soccer league in San Jose. “I think sports have really kept me mentally focused on my health and on the importance of being a team player,” Renazco said. “It’s always been a self-motivating experience.”

Coaching has also been a key part of Renazco’s participation in sports. “I coached lacrosse for two years, soccer at a few places and I also coached Gunn soccer for two years,” she said. This is the first year that she has not coached soccer at Gunn.

Renazco likes being active because it keeps her fit. She is currently training for her first half marathon. “I was always running for my own fitness,” she said. “I figured, ‘Why not?’ because it would help me train for something and keep me motivated.” Whether it be for soccer, lacrosse or softball, the most important aspect about being an athlete is to work as a team, according to Renazco. “The biggest thing for any sport is the strength of the team bond because you should go out and play for others and not just for yourself,” she said.

—Stéphanie Keller-Busque

Aside from teaching economics and being a coordinator for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and staff development, Dawna Linsdell stays active.

Linsdell, an avid triathlon participant, initially got involved in the sport through the non-profit organization “Team in Training,” which raises money for children diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma. Not only does the organization provide coaching, but it also encourages the athletes to raise money. Linsdell has raised thousands of dollars by participating.

Linsdell does not stick to a strict training schedule and instead prepares by doing anything she can outside of the house. “I choose to go for the swim, for the bike, for the run, for the strength training or whatever it is, even if I don’t want to that day,” Linsdell said.

One of her biggest accomplishments is competing in and finishing the Ironman Australia, after which she could not refrain from smiling. “You can see every single tooth in my finisher’s photo because I was smiling so big,” she said.

It seems difficult for one to balance work and triathlons, but Linsdell has it all figured out. “It requires planning, organization and lots of discipline,” Linsdell said. “It also means making hard choices sometimes.”

—Sasha Guttentag