Ramona junior Edmonston focuses on school, tennis and 4H

Sam Edmonston is one very busy and organized individual.

Asked to prioritize her interests, the Ramona High junior replied: “I’d say school, tennis and 4H —in that order.

So far, school is going well for the 16-year-old as she has a 4.25 GPA which includes nothing but “A’ grades.

Tennis is moving right along as well as she is 15-6 overall in singles and doubles play in leading the Bulldogs to a 5-2 record after downing El Camino 12-6 last week on the road.

Coach Troy Romero mixed things up a little, with Edmonston joining Phoenix Nelson to sweep the doubles matches 6-1, 6-0, 6-0, after playing singles most of this season. Not that Edmonston is unfamiliar with doubles as she paired with graduated Avery Clowers to finish second in the Palomar League last year after placing third with Clowers as a freshman.

Losing several of the top singles players, Romero slipped Edmonston into singles.

“She is a very hard-working player—perhaps the hardest on the team—coming to practice early and staying late,” said Romero. “She has been working with a tennis pro and she has absolutely improved her game.

“Moving to No. 1 singles was a lot of pressure, but she easily accepted that challenge. She hits the ball harder than most and at 5-foot-9, she’s not a small player. Opponents aren’t used to seeing the ball coming at them that fast and it can be intimidating. She also has a powerful serve.”

As if that weren’t enough of a test, she is a team captain, something she takes very seriously.

“My goal as captain is to make sure everyone feels good about themselves before matches or practice,” said Edmonston. “I get to practice early to set things up and for matches I’m responsible for making sure everyone has their equipment.”

Is she a vocal or quiet leader?

“Both,” said Edmonston. “I’ll cheer from the sideline for my teammates when I’m not playing and the thing about this team is when I’m playing, my teammates are all cheering for me. That, and having the community behind us, is something that makes Ramona special.”

Romero agrees.

“Since she’s the first one here and last one out, and practices on Saturday morning, you could say she leads by example,” said the coach. “Going for our fourth straight league title is a lot of pressure, but she has taken it upon herself to be a good captain.”

Ramona opened reorganized Palomar League play on Tuesday at Mission Hills and will face Sage Creek and San Pasqual plus newcomers San Dieguito and Fallbrook.

She does have a little more time now that she has raised and sold her steer, Harvey, as part of the 4H program.

“The past three years I raised pigs,” Edmonston said. “I wanted to try a steer, and I got one last November when he was eight or nine months old from Matt Parker and raised him the last 10 months. It’s a big responsibility but my brother Ty, who as a Ramona senior is also in 4H, and I each had steers.

“There were times when I had other commitments, and he’d feed Harvey for me.  Then I’d help him the next morning (on the family’s nearly 10-acre farm). We have to get up at 6 a.m. to feed them and make sure they’re fed again before 7 p.m.”

Edmonston entered Harvey in the Junior Fair at the Ramona Rodeo Grounds. First, he was judged for showmanship and then marketing leading up to the auction on Saturday.

“They’re entered by size and Harvey was auctioned off at 1,507 pounds,” said Edmonston. “We got third or fourth overall and I was able to sell him for around $6 a pound. People in this town are very generous and the people who raise steers are extremely competitive, so I thought we did well.

“The thing is, you can’t get too close to a steer because you know why you’re raising them (the steers are sold for meat). We raise them with a show stick and halter, showing off their frame at the auction.

“It teaches you patience and it’s much more fun than raising pigs.”

Edmonston has a few weeks off before she gets another steer to raise and she plans to do it again during her senior year.

“My parents are very supportive,” said Edmonston. “It provides me with balance and it’s fun.”