Erik Boal
Robert and Linda Smiland are no strangers to planning
down-to-the-minute itineraries when it comes to watching the sporting
events involving their children.
With 17-year-old twins Scott and Tim both competing in their
final season for the St. Francis High football team, 15-year-old
Kelly playing her first varsity season on the Flintridge Sacred Heart
Academy volleyball team and 12-year-old Will competing in La Canada
Junior All-American football, trips to the gas station are a regular
occurrence and family dinners are usually limited to once a week.
But as scheduling conflicts and difficult choices go, it doesn't
get any tougher than tonight.
That's because tonight is both a parent's dream and a parent's
nightmare.
Faced with the challenge of watching Kelly compete with her Tolog
teammates against L.A. Marymount in the CIF Southern Section
Division IVAA final at 7 p.m. at Cypress College, as well as
supporting Scott and Tim when the Golden Knights travel to Compton
Dominguez for their Division III opener at 7:30 p.m., Robert and
Linda are poised to pull off the impressive double.
"That's what happens in the life of parents with multiple kids,"
Linda said.
"Our goal is to go watch Kelly play and then try to catch the tail
end of Scott and Tim's game, but we'll just wait and see.
"If it wasn't [potentially] Tim and Scott's last game, then it
wouldn't be as big a deal. We've always had lots of conflicts, but
this is the ultimate."
*
When it comes to the ultimate experience, it would be hard to top
Kelly's debut season at the varsity level.
Faced with the task of replacing News-Press All-Area first-team
selection Jaclyn Cuevas as the Tologs' second outside hitter opposite
senior Jillian Davis, the 5-foot-10 talent responded by recording 95
kills, 211 digs, 23 blocks and 18 aces entering tonight's contest,
earning her recognition as the team's most improved player at the
school's fall sports banquet Thursday night.
"It's been a really amazing year and it's been really great to
have had this experience," said Kelly, who tallied 38 kills and 98
digs in 10 Mission League matches.
"I'm excited that we've made it this far and I don't want this
season to end. If we're going to win CIF, this is going to be the
year."
Said Flintridge Sacred Heart Coach Nancy Tinkham: "I was concerned
about filling the other outside spot opposite Jill, but Kelly has
been improving in every match and I'm really pleased with what she's
done.
"To be put in this type of high-pressure situation as a sophomore,
