Standout Husky freshmen take the field

From basking under the glory of Friday night lights and dancing the night away at prom to waking up early for grueling two-a-day practices and facing opponents who are faster, stronger and better than they've ever come up against [HTML_REMOVED] this is the abrupt change that the UW's freshmen athletes have had to embrace in just a few short months.

This fall, the Washington football, soccer, volleyball and cross country teams have welcomed some of the top prep athletes from around the state and across the nation. Some recruits are already regular starters, while some are still training and preparing to make their arrivals felt.

Even though they play for different sports, all of the freshman athletes have one thing in common: tremendous passion for the sports they play, which makes them ready and enthused to take the field.

On the gridiron, freshmen linebacker Austin Sylvester and quarterback Ronnie Fouch each have a leg up on their fellow classmen. Although Fouch is behind sophomore starter Jake Locker and senior Carl Bonnell on the depth chart, he was able to get a head start practicing with the team last spring by graduating from Redlands East Valley High School early. In doing so, Fouch has been able to get extra learning time on both the offensive and defensive sides.

Hailing from Reno, Nev., Sylvester is the only other freshman member of the football team who got a spring start. In one year of high school, Sylvester compiled 79 tackles, 12 sacks and 15 tackles while rushing 307 yards as a fullback.

The already hot men's soccer team, despite some later additions, recruited six members of the freshman class, half of whom are now regular starters. Matt Van Houten, Brad Keller and Taylor Mueller have adjusted to the more physical demands of intercollegiate soccer and are the freshman starters on the roster.

"At first, it was really overwhelming and hard to keep up," Mueller said. "After two-a-days I think most of the freshmen caught up to college-level speed and physical play. I consider our class very strong, and I am very happy to be training and in the presence of my fellow freshmen."

Sometimes, the fact that they are competing at the college level is still surreal for freshmen athletes.

"My whole life I've played soccer knowing that at one point I wanted to compete at this level, and realizing that that time is now is crazy," Mueller said.

Freshman Ellis McLoughlin was a highly touted recruit and is expected to have a great impact on the team. However, he had a late start because of competing in the U-17 World Cup in Korea.

Due to injuries, other freshmen have also had a chance to shine. Freshman goalkeeper Stephen Fung had to step in during the middle of a game against the University of New Mexico and was able to preserve a shutout.

Although the number of freshmen on the volleyball team is lower, there are a few standout athletes who have already earned praise from coaches early on in the season. Freshman outside blocker and middle hitter Kindra Carlson is an example. A native of Eaton, Colo., she was a four-time all-conference selection and a two-time all-state tournament pick, and she received an All-State honorable mention in 2002.

"Competitive, quick and powerful are just a few of the things that come to mind when I think about Kindra Carlson," coach Jim McLaughlin told gohuskies.com. "She learns every day and made significant progress this spring. She is performing the movements we want her to use with more regularity, and as a result, her numbers are getting better and better."

This season, the cross country team has brought in a plethora of standout runners who also intend to compete for the track team later this year. Isak Bergman, Max O'Donoghue-McDonald, Marie Lawrence, Lauren Saylor, Charlie Williams and Cameron Quackenbush are a few notable standouts expected to boost an already high-riding track program at Washington come winter. Bergman and Williams were among the nation's top 10 prep middle-distance runners. Williams' best time in the 5K race is only slightly more than 15 minutes, and one of his goals is to continue to improve on his 8K time as well.

After five years of running cross country, Williams anticipates his first year competing at the college level to go smoothly.

"Being a freshman feels good. I am able to look at those who are better than me and watch their work ethic to make choices that will allow myself to become a better distance runner," he said.

This season's freshmen possess a praiseworthy work ethic as well as countless accolades for their past achievements. Husky Athletics has a promising future ahead with high school standouts ready to make names for themselves in college.

[Reach reporter Sheena Nguyen at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.]