By Nick Buglione
But not Klimkowski. The soft-spoken W.T. Clarke High School senior, who made the All County team in soccer, basketball and softball this year, can scarcely recount the details of her dominating play. "I don't know," she said. "It's just not that important to me."
While it's not unheard of for high-school athletes to earn All-County honors in three sports the same year--Clarke alumna Stacey Landini did it last year--the feat is rarely accomplished.
Still, if anyone was going to do it this year, it's fitting that it's Klimkowski, who comes from a long line of athletes.
Her mother and father are both sports-oriented, and her brother Kyle was on the 2002 W.T. Clarke baseball team that won the state championship. Meanwhile, Klimkowski's uncle Ron pitched in the big leagues for four seasons from 1969 to 1972, three with the New York Yankees and one with the Oakland Athletics.
Klimkowski was a force on the diamond this season, leading the Lady Rams to the playoffs. A four-year varsity softball player, she hit a career high .450.
"She was our offensive leader this year," said Grace Chianese, the Rams softball coach. "She had her best offensive year for us. She's always been a stable defensive player for years."
In her first softball season, Chianese stuck Klimkowski in the outfield, though she was an infielder by trade. "In the beginning the switch was hard, but with lots of practice it just came," Klimkowski said.
She played rightfield until her junior year, when she was switched back shortstop and had to re-learn playing the infield again.
One of the team's captains, Klimkowski has always been someone the other players can look up to, Chianese said. "She's a tough competitor, she plays hurt," she said. "She leads by example. The girls look up to her athletically and personally."
Klimkowski is just as tough on the basketball court, where she plays point guard for the Rams. "She sacrifices her body," said Chianese, who has coached her in basketball as well. "She gives her all on the court."
But the soccer field is where Klimkowski's real talents lie. "I had a lot goals this year," said Klimkowski, who plays midfield and has been on the W.T. Clarke varsity team since the eighth grade.
In the fall, she'll be entering Adelphi University on a soccer scholarship. There, Klimkowski hopes to study elementary education and one day be a teacher.
After all, the classroom is perhaps the only place where her athletic skills are equaled. She is graduating high school with a 96.4 weighted average.
"I started varsity soccer in the eighth grade and in the beginning [juggling school and sports] was tough," she said. "But by the time I got in high school I was used to it."
With her Clarke playing days behind her, Klimkowski said she'll miss her teammates the most. "I'm going to miss the whole team atmosphere and the girls I played all through high school with," she said.
Comments about this story? NBuglione@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
