Role models: Who do O.C. athletes look up to?

Who are your role models? OCVarsity.com decided it was time to ask Orange County's athletes that question. It's probably not a surprise that some athletes were mentioned numerous times – think Kobe Bryant, Tim Tebow and Tiger Woods – but it was pretty interesting to see the reasons given for some of the choices. Click through the slideshow to take a look at the professional and Olympic athletes that O.C. athletes look up to.

Connor Deneen, Beckman, baseball

Athlete he looks up to: cyclist Lance Armstrong.

"I'm going to go with Lance Armstrong for the way he doesn't let anything get in his way," Deneen said. "The way he approaches life daily is something I admire, not to mention the way he carries himself both in and off the bike.

"My favorite quote of his is 'Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. That surrender, even the smallest act of giving up, stays with me. So when I feel like quitting, I ask myself, which would I rather live with?' "

TEXT BY TIM BURT, OCVARSITY.COM

Jordan Scheftz, University, baseball

Athlete he looks up to: former Angels infielder David Eckstein

"He is always hustling everywhere," said Scheftz, a pitcher/infielder for the Trojans. "He is a hard-nose baseball player and is a blue collar."

TEXT BY TIM BURT, OCVARSITY.COM

Ojo Weiss, Northwood, baseball

Athlete he looks up to: Tampa Rays outfielder Sam Fuld

"He's an exciting player to watch with his great speed," Weiss said. "He's fearless in the outfield and plays the game the right way, giving 100 percent all the time. He has also overcome a lot in his life after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 10. Now, before every game, he must inject himself with insulin, but he does not let this get in the way of his goals. Fuld continues to give back to the community in a big way by hosting a baseball camp for kids with Type 1 and helps them battle the obstacles they are presented with. Fuld portrays the type of man I would like to be one day."

TEXT BY TIM BURT, OCVARSITY.COM

Alex Shenasi, Beckman, baseball

Athlete he looks up to: St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina

"I think for what he does, he is one of the best in the game," said Shenasi, who plays catcher for the Patriots. "He blocks everything, he hits like a beast. And he's just an absolute cannon behind the plate, throwing guys out, picking them off of first. I really respect what he does."

TEXT BY TIM BURT, OCVARSITY.COM;

James Kaprielian, Beckman, baseball

Athlete he looks up to: New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera

"I don't feel like I compare to him quite yet but Mariano Rivera is one of my favorite baseball players," said Kaprielian, a pitcher for Beckman. "He's a guy who can flat out close. He's the best closer in the game and he's confident with whatever pitch he throws at any time and the thing is, everybody knows it's a cutter coming but he has so much control of it that he's able to fool everybody every time. The confidence that he displays on the mound is something that I try to also display. I like the Angels and Yankees so I'm watching all of those games."

TEXT BY TIM BURT, OCVARSITY.COM

Alex King, Northwood, baseball

Athlete he looks up to: New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow

"I admire his passion for the game of football, as well as his desire to win while remaining humble," said King, a first baseman-pitcher for the Timberwolves who is also an outstanding football player. "He stays true to himself and his beliefs and refuses to let other peoples' opinions sway him."

TEXT BY TIM BURT, OCVARSITY.COM

Beau Hossler, Santa Margarita, boys golf

Athlete he looks up to: golfer Phil Mickelson.

"I just like his mentality on the course," said Hossler, who is the No. 2 junior player in the nation. "He is aggressive, but he is always gracious with everything, especially his fans. He plays the game different than everyone else. And he has a really good short game."

TEXT BY DAMIAN DOTTORE, OCVARSITY.COM

Blake Barens, Orange Lutheran, boys golf

Athlete he looks up to: golfer Zach Johnson

"He has the perfect life in my opinion," said Barens, a junior. "He won the Masters, he is a great Christian leader, and he has a stable family life that he keeps very private and under the radar. He is never in any sort of media trouble and he is always respected."

TEXT BY DAMIAN DOTTORE, OCVARSITY.COM

Camden Price, Mater Dei, boys golf

Athlete he looks up to: golfer Sergio Garcia

"I don't know what it is about him, but (I've been a fan) ever since I started golfing," said Price, who won the Herald Invitational. "It could be the flashy clothes he wears. He kind of says whatever he wants, but it's like what he actually feels. He's not afraid to release anything. He is always out there trying his hardest. I try and copy that (Garcia's skipping down the fairway at the PGA Championship in 1999) sometimes."

TEXT BY DAMIAN DOTTORE, OCVARSITY.COM

Andrew Namkoong, Mater Dei, boys golf

Athlete he looks up to: golfer Tiger Woods

"I look up to Tiger Woods because of how he handles pressure. He is great under pressure," said Namkoong, a senior who won the Ayala tournament. "He has done it in the past, and I believe that he will do it in the future, too. I would like to copy his putting style. His posture and how he makes all of the clutch putts at the right time."

TEXT BY DAMIAN DOTTORE, OCVARSITY.COM

Marcus De La Rosa, Mater Dei, boys golf

Athlete he looks up to: golfers Hunter Mahan and Bubba Watson

It's no surprise that the freshman, who shot a 6-under 66 during the JSerra Invitational at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course earlier this year, picks Mahan – they are cousins – and Watson just won the Masters with one of the most memorable shots in Augusta National history. "Hunter Mahan is my favorite because of the way he carries himself on and off the course. Hunter has a way of pushing himself to make sure that he is the best that he can be and that's why I look up to him so much. On the other hand, I also look up to Bubba Watson because of the way he can paint his way around the course. He can make the golf course fit his eye the way he likes by hitting shots most wouldn't."

TEXT BY DAMIAN DOTTORE, OCVARSITY.COM

Tyler Smith, Servite, boys golf

Athlete he looks up to: golfer Tiger Woods

"I like him because of his focus and the way that he carries himself on the course," said Smith, a senior who has been one of the most consistent medalists for the Friars this season. "I try to carry myself on the course like that. He has a high standard. He has always been my favorite since I was a little kid."

TEXT BY DAMIAN DOTTORE, OCVARSITY.COM

Kethan Reddy, Villa Park, boys golf

Athlete he looks up to: golfer Tiger Woods

"I just like that he is very dominant in what he does," said Reddy, the defending CIF-SS Individual champion. "Being a golfer it's pretty admirable ... not his recent things ... but what he did in the past. It's not his character, but his motivation and his talent. A better role model would be Corey Pavin. But as far as for the way he plays, it's Tiger. I like watching his swing and how he tries to rip it."

TEXT BY DAMIAN DOTTORE, OCVARSITY.COM

Mike Moorhead, Corona del Mar, boys golf

Athlete he looks up to: golfer Tiger Woods

"He is fun to watch. Streaky. Explosive," said Moorhead, a senior. "I am a fan of the new Tiger and the old."

TEXT BY DAMIAN DOTTORE, OCVARSITY.COM

Jake Knapp, Estancia, boys golf

Athlete he looks up to: golfer Luke Donald

"He had a great Amateur career and was an exceptional student at Northwestern. He shows exceptional character both on and off the course and has an artistic side as well. On the course his consistency and poise are a great example for any player to follow."

TEXT BY DAMIAN DOTTORE, OCVARSITY.COM

Raymond Gonzalez, Mission Viejo, boys golf

Athlete he looks up to: Phil Mickelson

"He's a lefty and I am a lefty. Well, that and he's pretty good ... well, really good. He's like the No. 1 lefty. He's got a good short game, and I like his flop shots. I try and do those sometimes. He has been my favorite since I started."

During one week for the Diablos, Gonzalez posted a 1-under 35 at Mission Viejo Country Club, a 4-under 31 at Marbella Country Club and a 2-under 34 at Laguna Woods. He had 38 putts in those 27 holes.

TEXT BY DAMIAN DOTTORE, OCVARSITY.COM

Sammy Schwartz, San Clemente, boys golf

Athlete he looks up to: Ben Hogan

"You could tell that he was working on stuff early in his career, sacrificing time in order to have something better later on. I like his story. How he got in a car crash and still came back. It kind of seemed like he was tougher than everyone else and willing to put in more work. He has definitely impacted what I do on the course. My parents and my golf coach have done a good job making sure I knew all of the greats from a long time ago."

TEXT BY DAMIAN DOTTORE, OCVARSITY.COM

Brad Tapfer, Newport Harbor, boys golf

Athlete he looks up to: Bubba Watson

"It's just how he goes about his business. He has never taken a lesson. He kind of feels everything. I definitely respect the way that he plays golf. I try to (move the ball as much as Watson does) but I don't accomplish it. It (Watson's victory at the Masters) gave me hope. My confidence went up after that. I am kind of the same way because I feel shots out too, so seeing him win was big for me. I like his imagination around the greens. It's really impressive. I try to replicate that, but it's really hard."

TEXT BY DAMIAN DOTTORE, OCVARSITY.COM

Robbe Simon, Sage Hill, boys tennis

Athlete he looks up to: tennis player Rafael Nadal

"They're fans of his work ethic, style, shots and patterns," Lightning coach A.G. Longoria says of the player who is looked up to by Simon and two of his teammates, Alex Manolakas and David Kim. Meanwhile, junior Sam Sherman likens himself to Andy Roddick and his unorthodox playing style, power game and overall fierceness.

TEXT BY BRIAN WHITEHEAD, SPECIAL TO OCVARSITY.COM;

Caryl Hernandez, Troy, boys tennis

Athletes he looks up to: tennis player Roger Federer and Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose

Hernandez admires Federer on the tennis court and Rose on the basketball court. With a compact frame and explosive all-around game it's easy to see why Hernandez would admire the drive, resolve and competitiveness of the Bulls' point guard. Meanwhile, his teammate Chetan Munugala looks up to Rafael Nadal and Kobe Bryant, saying he admires Bryant for his composure under pressure.

TEXT BY BRIAN WHITEHEAD, SPECIAL TO OCVARSITY.COM;

Chaz Downing, Corona del Mar, boys tennis

Athlete he looks up to: tennis player Roger Federer

Downing, a freshman, admires Federer's footwork. "It's as if he's floating around the court," he says. Another CdM freshman, Henry Gordon, looks up to Bulls guard Derrick Rose for the point guard's ability to stay composed no matter the situation. Meanwhile, the most colorful inspiration comes from Sea Kings sophomore Josh Kliger who admires lefty tennis player Fernando Verdaso because, "he always has the most beautiful girlfriends."

TEXT BY BRIAN WHITEHEAD, SPECIAL TO OCVARSITY.COM;

Jack Ventura-Cruess, El Dorado, boys tennis

Athlete he looks up to: sprinter Usain Bolt

"There's just something about him; his spark and his fire. You need to have that as an athlete," Ventura-Cruess said of Bolt. He also listed Roger Federer as one of his inspirations, saying, "In tennis you want to tone it down a little bit, but you still have to play with that kind of passion."

TEXT BY BRIAN WHITEHEAD, SPECIAL TO OCVARSITY.COM;

Jayson Amos, El Toro, boys tennis

Athlete he looks up to: tennis player Roger Federer

"He greatly admires how well he plays and also how he conducts himself on the court," Chargers coach Karen Amos says of Jayson Amos' admiration for Federer. "No matter what happens he's always in control."

TEXT BY BRIAN WHITEHEAD, SPECIAL TO OCVARSITY.COM;

Thomas Smith, Edison, Fr., swimming

Athlete he looks up to: New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow

"As a person, Tebow is definitely a role model," said Smith. "... He has done so much more off the field than people know about ... I want to try and apply that to my life."

TEXT BY DAN ALBANO, OCVARSITY.COM

Marina Spadoni, Mission Viejo, Sr., swimming

Athlete she looks up to: Late swimmer Jessie Rees, a 12-year-old girl who fought two brain tumors before dying in January

"She's a fighter. She's my role model. I look up to her," Spadoni said. "... She didn't give up."

TEXT BY DAN ALBANO, OCVARSITY.COM

Zach Ridout, Capistrano Valley, Sr., swimming

Athlete he looks up to: Mission Viejo Nadadores swimmer Ashley Twichell

"She always trains really hard. She's always there for all of us if we need anything," Ridout said. "... She always ... pushes us to try harder in practice."

TEXT BY DAN ALBANO, OCVARSITY.COM

Corey Okubo, University, So., swimming

Athlete he looks up to: U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte

"He was always second place behind Michael Phelps but then he's been training really hard," Okubo said. "Right now, he's at the top of the world. That's motivation for me to keep trying."

TEXT BY DAN ALBANO, OCVARSITY.COM

Billy Gaudreau, St. Margaret's, track and field

Athlete he looks up to: U.S. 800 champion and Olympian Khadevis Robinson

"He inspires me because he believes that everyone has the potential inside them and all you have to do is tap into that through hard work and maintaining a positive attitude," Gaudreau said. "I love listening to his post race interviews because they are always positive and upbeat, even when he doesn't perform well, which isn't often."

TEXT BY JASON EICHELBERER, OC VARSITY.COM

Victoria Rische, Foothill, track and field

Athletes she looks up to: Olympic gold medalist Stacy Dragila and Olympic hopeful Keinan Briggs

On Stacy Dragila: "Stacy Dragila is my biggest role model," Rische said. "Not only does she exemplify a well-rounded pole vaulter and break gender barriers in the sport, she is a welcoming and dedicated coach. ... I have been fortunate enough to stay at her house with her family and train with her. She is positive, always happy, enthusiastic, and puts all her effort into bettering the sport."

On Keinan Briggs: "He is positive, always encouraging, and exemplifies the dedication and passion needed to reach the next level of athletics."

TEXT BY JASON EICHELBERER, OC VARSITY.COM

Gianna Lowery, Capistrano Valley, track and field

Athlete she looks up to: Olympic legend Jesse Owens

"He never let masses of people or complete ridicule and discrimination stop him from doing what he wanted," Lowery said. "There was no other person in the world who could honestly relate to the experiences he went through and he did it with class, dignity and humility. When professional athletes are humble, like Owens was, my respect for them increases tremendously. My admiration of athletes stems greatly from how humble they are, and it is easy to see those that are by noting who lose with grace and respect."

TEXT BY JASON EICHELBERER, OC VARSITY.COM

Melissa Eisele, San Clemente, track and field

Athletes she looks up to: Jenny Simpson and Meb Keflezighi

On Jenny Simpson: "An athlete that inspires me is Jenny Simpson. She won the gold medal in the 1500 at the Track and Field World Championships in Daegu, South Korea in 2011 and was the first American woman in 27 years to win a distance event at either the World Championship or Olympic competitions," Eisele said. "Jenny was the classic underdog, not even the fastest American in the race. She came from behind on the last curve and willed herself to victory. She showed me that nothing is impossible and that with hard work and dedication anything can be achieved. I also learned from Jenny that talent and dedication are only as good as your desire to give 110 percent.

On Meb Keflezighi: "Another athlete that inspires me is Meb Keflezighi. He won the US Olympic Trials Marathon and will be representing the USA at the Olympics this summer. I was fortunate enough to listen to one of his talks when I was at a distance camp in Mammoth Lakes, and he talked about how much he had to sacrifice and how much work he had to do to be where he was today. Hearing Meb talk and meeting him in person made me realize these athletes are normal nice people, but that they found something inside themselves that most never understand."

TEXT BY JASON EICHELBERER, OC VARSITY.COM

Laura Hollander, Marina, track and field

Athlete she looks up to: Lakers' Kobe Bryant

"I admire his work ethic and the fact that he doesn't solely rely on his talent to be the best," Hollander said. "He puts in a ton of extra time and effort into his training, and even though he is already one of the best he continues to work on different aspects of his game to help himself improve every day. He puts in the extra time, is extremely dedicated, and works harder than anybody else, and that is very inspiring to me. Also, he plays through numerous injuries all the time, and fights through a ton of pain, and that is another characteristic that I greatly admire about him."

TEXT BY JASON EICHELBERER, OC VARSITY.COM

Jackie Chasteler, Mission Viejo, track and field

Athlete she looks up to: former U.S. soccer player Mia Hamm

"She is so tough and put her all into the way she played," Chasteler said. "I am reading a book called 'Mind Gym' and she has a bunch of quotes in there that help me get mentally prepared for what I do. Her quotes show how to be competitive and to push yourself further.

TEXT BY JASON EICHELBERER, OC VARSITY.COM

Amar Dholakia, Esperanza, track and field:

Athletes he looks up to: his uncle and Steve Prefontaine

"My uncle Milan Mali was my biggest inspiration because I didn't know much about running and he really pushed me into the sport and convinced me that I could be something. ....A professional athlete that I look up to would be Steve Prefontaine because of the way he approached his races. He was so confident, knew what he wanted, and did what he thought was right. He used that strong mentality to allow him to come out on top, which is how I like to approach things."

TEXT BY JASON EICHELBERER, OC VARSITY.COM

Julia Northcutt, Northwood, softball

Athlete she looks up to: New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow

"I really admire what Tim Tebow accomplished last season," Northcutt said. "He was the underdog and when called upon, he came out and performed. No matter how much his critics tried to put him down for having an unorthodox style or being a Christian, he came out and won. He shows you don't have to be ashamed of your faith and if you continue to try hard, you can make it." Northcutt, a senior, has signed to play softball at Fairleigh Dickinson University, a private Division I university in New Jersey.

TEXT BY TIM BURT, OCVARSITY.COM: PHOTO COURTESY NORTHWOOD HIGH

David Fletcher, Cypress, baseball

Athlete he looks up to: Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia

"First of all, I'm a big Red Sox fan. Dustin Pedroia is a little guy, like me, and he plays hard all of the time." Fletcher is a junior shortstop who committed to Loyola Marymount.

TEXT BY STEVE FRYER, OCVARSITY.COM

Ty Moore, Mater Dei, baseball

Athlete he looks up to: New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

"Derek Jeter is a natural-born leader. No matter how things are gong, he always gives it his all, he'll always continue to perform. He is Mr. Clutch, and that's the kind of player I want to be." Moore, a pitcher/outfielder, signed with USC. He was Orange County player of the year last season.

TEXT BY STEVE FRYER, OCVARSITY.COM

Cody Nulph, Orange Lutheran, baseball

Athlete he looks up to: Angels shortstop Erick Aybar.

"I really like the way he plays the game. Every time he's in the field, every at bat and every time he's running the bases, he's always hustling." Nulph is a senior shortstop and is batting .333 at Lutheran, where is a four-year starter. He signed with Pepperdine.

TEXT BY STEVE FRYER, OCVARSITY.COM

Ralph Cabiltes, Ocean View, volleyball

Athlete he looks up to: Jeremy Lin

"He shows how hard work also can lead to success and not only relying off talent."

TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM

Taivasa Alama, Ocean View, volleyball

Athlete he looks up to: Tim Tebow

"Although being surrounded by a secular environment, he still manages to stay grounded. Also, he's just an amazing player overall."

TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM

Calvin Vang, Ocean View, volleyball

Athlete he looks up to: Jeremy Lin

"He's the first Asian American to make a name for himself in the NBA."

TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM

Adam Wills, Ocean View, volleyball

Athlete he looks up to: Kobe Bryant

"I admire his dedication to the game he plays."

TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM

Kyle Langley, Ocean View, volleyball

Athlete he looks up to: Tim Tebow

"He is a humble guy and has respect for his team as well as his teammates."

TEXT BY DAMIAN CALHOUN, OCVARSITY.COM