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Capra is 'real deal'

The sophomore with great jumping ability has started for Seven Rivers since seventh grade.

By BRIAN SUMERS
Published September 22, 2005

Somehow, between leading the Seven Rivers Christian team and attending classes, Rachael Capra found time to choreograph a new dance routine.

Now when the Warriors serve an ace, they huddle in the middle of the court, where they spend three seconds clapping and stomping to a Gwen Stefani song.

"This ace is Bananas - Ba-Na-Na-S."

Capra, a sophomore, created the pop music routine to bring more fun to the court. While she has started on the varsity since seventh grade, Capra recently began acting as a vocal leader for Seven Rivers (7-4).

First-year coach Tim Bowman, who asked his most talented player to take a more active leadership role, gushes about Capra's jumping and passing ability.

"She's just a dominant player," Bowman said. "It's like she jumps and she almost can stay there a second. She's the real deal."

In Tuesday's match - a 3-1 victory over Belleview - Capra recorded 16 kills, using her ferocious left hand to batter the opposition. She also passed nearly flawlessly.

"She's always been superb," said Kenzie Rowda, 15, her teammate since fifth grade. "We joke that when she has kills, we call them "Capra Kills.' "

Capra, 15, has progressed quickly despite not playing until the summer before fifth grade, when she attended a camp at Seven Rivers Christian.

She says she was awful in the beginning but started excelling in sixth grade.

"She came here with nothing," said Bowman, who also teaches physical education. "I would love to take credit for her, but she's a natural."

Capra understands her physical gift, yet credits camps at the University of Florida for improving her skills. She has attended since the summer before eighth grade and wants to play at Florida or Florida State.

Capra, who also competes in varsity basketball and track for the Warriors, knows she has some unusual ability - especially when it comes to jumping. It also helps that she is 5-foot-9.

"I've got a little bit of hangtime," Capra said, smiling.

Still, she's not sure where it comes from.

"I don't know," she said, shaking her head. "It's kind of weird. Both my parents, they're not really athletic."

Bowman says his star player may have a shot at playing in college. But for now, he likes her low-key attitude. And if that means Capra will spend part of practice working on a dance routine, so be it.

"She can get goofy," Bowman said, "just like all my girls."

[Last modified September 22, 2005, 01:03:19]