Adam Duvendeck, left, and Todd Rogers, right, address the San Marcos student body on campus. (Presidio Sports Photo)
San Marcos High sent three athletes and a coach to the Olympics this year in Beijing, accounting for a gold and a silver medal.
Not bad, Royals.
Indoor track cyclist Adam Duvendeck (2000) and beach volleyball superstar Todd Rogers (1991) spoke at an assembly Thursday in the school’s amphitheater, with both receiving standing ovations from the student body.
Rogers came home with the gold medal and Duvendeck had a strong showing by making it out of qualifying in the men’s team sprint competition at Laoshan Velodrome.
Not present was Terry Schroeder, who coached the USA Water Polo team to a surprising silver medal in China before losing to Hungary on the afternoon of closing ceremonies.
Mark Warkentin is still in China with his wife, taking a well-deserved vacation after finishing a solid eighth in arguably the most grueling of all Olympic events, marathon swimming. His sister Kara, the girls tennis coach at San Marcos, represented her brother.
Duvendeck spoke briefly about his time at San Marcos and said the school holds a special place in his heart, while Rogers urged students to pursue their dreams no matter how impossible they seem. He held up his gold medal as a literally shining example. Both he and Duvendeck were presented with makeshift gold medals that displayed “SM” and were swarmed by autograph and photo requests after the event.
Rogers also extended an invitation to all of his fellow Royals to come and say hi or give him a high-five as he plays in the AVP Crocs Cup Shootout on West Beach this weekend.
The assembly was emceed by San Marcos teacher Aaron Solis as well as senior Julia Solomon. County Supervisor Janet Wolf was also in attendance and said a few words.
Solomon and fellow commissioner of school rallies Hayley Martin expressed a sentiment that much of the female students seemed to share.
“Adam Duvendeck is really hot,” said Martin.
“He’s a very good-looking man,” added Solomon quickly.
He’s the big man on campus, just eight years too late.
Thats great stuff, I went to this school back in the glory days!