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Busy schedule no match for Baron's dedication

Playing three sports and being student body president at SPC wasn't enough to smudge

By JOHN SCHWARB

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 26, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- If a career in engineering doesn't pan out, Becky Tapp might want to look into speaking on the banquet circuit.

She has been working the room to perfection.

On June 15, the St. Petersburg Catholic High graduate was named the 2001 Florida High School Activities Association Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year at a banquet in Tampa. She also earned additional praise for a speech delivered on thriving from adversity in sports.

A couple of weeks earlier, Tapp addressed her fellow SPC graduates as valedictorian and inspired them with advice to live with curiosity, courage and Christ.

It should be no surprise that Tapp has been able to successfully maneuver behind a microphone. For four years she thrived in a pressure-cooker environment even tougher than public speaking -- maintaining a spotless 4.0 grade point average while competing as a three-sport athlete.

But despite pulling off such an incredible feat, well worthy of honor as the Times 2000-2001 Pinellas County Girls Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Tapp politely deflects praise.

At the end of an average school day it was more important to be a solid citizen than a standout scholar-athlete.

"It's more what person you are," Tapp said. "(Classmates) respect you more for being nice to them and saying "Hi' in the hallways than being the kid with good grades."

Maintaining such a grounded perspective enabled Tapp to reach such impressive heights. Academically she was perfect, even surviving a "rough (advanced placement) English class" this year, and athletically she applied an equal amount of dedication to volleyball, basketball and track.

"I'd rather have 10 athletes that I could count on than five who were extremely talented that showed up whenever they wanted," said SPC girls basketball coach Nick Vandewalle. "Then, every now and then, you get a Becky Tapp, who's good and reliable."

Basketball was Tapp's favorite sport, and as a senior she cracked the starting lineup and was a key member of a district championship team ranked among the state's best all season. In track, she set school records in three events, including the 300-meter hurdles, which she picked up this spring for the first time just to add variety to her regular distance running events.

Through all three seasons she almost never missed a practice or a game. She also never let a homework assignment slide due to the hectic schedule.

It's doubtful she would have even known how.

"I haven't really known life without sports," Tapp said. "It keeps you so focused, you know once you come home all you can really do, besides talk to your friends, is sit down and do your homework.

"A lot of people say that when they play sports their grades are better, and I think that's really true."

Tapp also earned the trust of her peers, serving as president of the student government. Under her leadership, SPC's annual food drive netted more than 31,000 cans of food for local charities -- twice as many as the previous year's drive.

Now, Tapp is preparing for college. She will attend Notre Dame in the fall with aspirations of studying engineering or accounting. Though she remains unsure where her career path will lead ("I know I'd love to have a family and settle down," Tapp said), four years of high school proved that a level of dedication is in place suitable for anything.

Dedication other Barons would be well served to duplicate.

"Becky's a good example that if you put your heart and soul into it, you can do anything," Vandewalle said.

"She's very intelligent, but her work ethic really set her apart."

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