Jenna LeNay
Occidental’s women’s cross-country team kicked off their season Sept. 2 at the Pomona-Pitzer Tri-Meet, competing against Pomona-Pitzer and the University of La Verne. Occidental placed second overall with a score of 34, just seven points behind Pomona-Pitzer.
Jenna LeNay (sophomore) was Occidental’s top finisher. LeNay secured second place in the 4-kilometer race with a time of 14:56.00, only six seconds behind the winner.
LeNay’s strong start to the cross-country season follows her track success from last Spring. LeNay received All-Region honors after running the 5-kilometer race with a time of 17:29.82. LeNay said her performance was a highlight of the meet, hinting at a promising season ahead.
According to LeNay’s teammate, Jordan Deemer (junior), LeNay’s success was a result of her hard work.
“Honestly … I was just not surprised because she’s such a hard worker and so fast, it was kind of like, ‘Oh, yep, that checks out,’” Deemer said.
According to Deemer, most of the women’s cross-country team wasn’t surprised when LeNay made All-Region either.
“She just constantly shows up in that kind of way,” Deemer said. “I think her attitude and effort speak for themselves. When she got that award, I don’t think anyone was like, ‘Oh, wow, really? She did that?’ It’s Jenna — like she just is … so fast.”
According to LeNay, her goal for this season is to go to the Division III Nationals. LeNay said that she wasn’t able to perform her best last semester because she was sick, but that her main challenges are often mental.
“I know I physically can do it,” LeNay said. “It’s just the mental side that can get me sometimes.”
Although cross-country is an individual sport, LeNay and Deemer said they feel that camaraderie within the team is a significant part of the sport. According to Deemer, being able to trust your teammates is incredibly important because of how demanding cross-country is.
“You have to kind of be vulnerable out the gate because you’re in a sport where you’re on the brink of passing out like all the time … which makes you really close to your teammates,” Deemer said.
LeNay said she feels camaraderie between teammates is key to overcoming personal challenges.
“It’s helpful … remembering that I am still part of a team,” LeNay said. “So I just try and run for my teammates instead of myself.”
As a returning athlete, LeNay said she takes on the responsibility of helping first-year members adjust to the new team.
“We don’t have set leaders on the team like team captains,” LeNay said. “Everyone kind of contributes and helps to form a team dynamic in that way, but I have tried to be more involved to … help [the first years] adjust.”
According to Deemer, it’s not only the new athletes who look up to LeNay. Although she is a year older than her, Deemer said LeNay’s kindness, dedication and hard work are a source of inspiration.
“I look up to her, she’s just so tough,” Deemer said. “I think that’s the main takeaway.”
Zane Derrod
The men’s water polo team had their first win of the season Sept. 2 against the University of La Verne, scoring 20-9. Zane Derrod (first year), a utility player for the men’s water polo team, scored two goals, made one assist and six steals during their match.
Zane Derrod said that after their loss against Loyola Marymount University earlier that day, the team came together to fix problems in their playing.
“We started to realize what we need to do … and what people’s roles are and how to fulfill those roles,” Zane Derrod said.
According to Zane Derrod, his goal in the first quarter energized everyone on the team.
“It felt great. After scoring that goal, I was really excited because it put us up two,” Zane Derrod said. “I think that it was good for our team because … we were all really excited after that goal. And then we just kept going and going.”
According to James Derrod (junior), Zane Derrod’s brother and goalie for the men’s water polo team, Zane Derrod was able to display his strengths in their match against the University of La Verne.
“As a player, he’s very fast, he’s intelligent,” James Derrod said. “He knows when to make a move, when to help back on defense, he knows the flow of the game.”
According to James Derrod, Zane Derrod’s persistent defense is what allowed him to get six steals in the game with La Verne.
“Sometimes players will be anticipating offense, and not come back to take the ball at the end of the possession,” James Derrod said. “[Zane is] committed to defense, and I think that helped him get that many steals because he’s always going to be coming back, not stopping to get the ball.”
James Derrod also said Zane Derrod’s throwing arm is one of his strengths. According to Zane Derrod, baseball used to be his main sport, but he eventually made the switch to water polo.
“I like the physical aspect of water polo,” Zane Derrod said. “I [also] like how fast-paced it is compared to baseball because there’s more opportunity for me to get playing.”
According to Zane Derrod, the biggest challenge the men’s water polo team faces this season is that they are a young team. According to the Occidental men’s water polo roster, more than half of the players on the team are first years and sophomores, with only one player being a senior.
“There’s going to be some mistakes that we’re going to be making because we’re younger,” Zane Derrod said. “I think that we can definitely overcome those mistakes just by playing together and working hard, and just really pushing each other in practice.”
James Derrod said he is excited to be able to play with his brother for the next two years.
“I’m very happy that he came here,” James Derrod said. “I’m proud of how far he’s come and how well he’s doing in both water polo and academics.”
Contact Sabastian Luyen at luyen@oxy.edu
