The 2012-13 Gatorade State Player of the Year, the 5-foot-7 senior right-handed pitcher has led the Bulldogs to a 28-2 record and a berth in the Southern Section, Division IV tournament final against Torrance High, scheduled for June 5. Garcia had posted
Garcia has maintained a weighted 3.44 GPA in the classroom.
An accomplished guitarist, she has volunteered locally at Valley Oasis, a shelter for abused women and children, and as a youth softball coach for the City of Palmdale. Also a math tutor for her teammates, she helped create the Golden League Gives Back, a
G: What is your team motto?
RG: My team motto is "finish stronger than you started!"
G: What one piece of advice do you have for freshman about being a successful high school student athlete?
RG: My advice for freshman to become a successful high school student athlete is to be a good, reliable teammate, keep up your grades and to COMPETE.
G: What is your favorite highlight from this year?
RG: My favorite highlight is our team competing to get to the CIF finals for the first time ever in Highland High School history and hopefully bringing home the championship.
G: What training habit has the most impact on your performance?
RG: This past season I have stepped up my training by getting more work in outside of my regular practices. I have added more running into my daily routine. I live in the desert of Southern California and I get out there with my teammate Dolly Stevens who is also a cross-country athlete. We help push each other and get out there and run up hills and trails a few times a week. I try to get in some additional cross-fit and watch my diet. I feel much stronger and faster and this has really made an impact in my game.
G: What have you learned from your coach that you will never forget?
RG: I have learned how to stay grounded, be mentally tough, to never give up and to always compete.