As published in the May 19, 2008 Issue of West Of
By Editor Lorne Chambers
Amber Caparas signs with the College of Charleston to run track. WAHS Principal Mary Runyon are joined by Coach Jeremy Morris, Athletic Director Richard Luden, and Amber's father Wayne Caparas, also a volunteer coach.
One of the most decorated student-athletes in West Ashley High School history will be staying close to home following graduation this year. Senior track, cross- Country, and swimming athlete Amber Caparas recently accepted a scholarship to the College of Charleston where she will run track for the Cougars for the next four years. She will likely be a part of the school’s 4×400 relay team and run the 400 hurdles, which is probably her strongest event. “I’m very excited to be running track at the College of Charleston,” says Caparas, who is currently one of the best intermediate hurdlers in the state. “It is just an honor to be a collegiate athlete.” While at WAHS Caparas set personal records of 60.54 (400-meter), a school record 1:06.84 (400-meter hurdles), and 2:28 (4×800 leg). She also shares the school record in the 4×400, 4×800, the shuttle hurdle relay, and the 4×100. WAHS girls’ track coach Jeremy Morris had high praise for Caparas. “She’ll be successful whatever she does. She is a very determined young lady,” says Morris, who knows that Caparas brings more than athletic talent to a team. Her outgoing personality is inspiring and helped meld the WAHS girls’ track team together as arguably the best team in school history. But despite the All-State honors and four gold medals at the Region Championship, Caparas says it is that team atmosphere that she cherishes most. “We established a character as a team that was infectious,” she says. “Amber’s personality and positive outlook excites our staff,” says CofC track & field head coach Amy Schuckert. Other than her achievements in the athletic arena, Caparas will graduate in the top three of her class, maybe even number one once all the final grades are tallied. She was also a South Carolina All-Star cast honoree while a theater major at Charleston County School of the Arts, where she attended until her senior year. While only a student at WAHS for one year, she participated in Wildcat athletics throughout her high school career. “We finally got her to come over here this year,” jokes WAHS athletic director Richard Luden. Many at WAHS will probably remember Caparas as the girl who played guitar and sang in the school library’s café, a job she was hired to do. In addition to earning six varsity letters over her career and all the extracurricular activities, Caparas is also the student leader of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at WAHS. “I think the secret to Amber’s success is that she’s made a genuine effort to honor God through her high school experience, especially during her senior year and especially in her personal life,” says her father Wayne Caparas. “She stays really busy doing things that really matter. She blows me away.” An obvious workaholic, Caparas is excited about making the transition from a Wildcat to Cougar. In fact, she’ll start her college training regiment this summer before she even sits in a college classroom for the first time. While Wayne Caparas is thrilled to have his daughter close to home. CofC coaches are equally pleased to have such a talented and outgoing person on their track team. “Coupled with a tremendous amount of potential to improve on her already impressive marks, we look forward to her being an integral part of our 4×400 relay as well as being very competitive in the 400 hurdles,” says CofC’s Schuckert.
Amber Alert: The High School Achievements of Amber Caparas
1. 2008 All-State Honoree
2. Seven time All-Region honoree (Most ever for a Wildcat in any sport)
3. First Wildcat ever to win Region Championship in all four of her events in a single season
4. Nine time County Champion
5. Five-time State Finalist
6. Holds school record in the 400 meter hurdles with elite time of 66.84
7. Holds school record in the 300 meter hurdles with elite time of 48.84
8. Holds school record in the 4×400 relay(with Amami-Antia Obong, Amber Campbell, and Nodia Robinson)
9. Holds school record in the 4×800 relay (with Nodia Robinson, Lauren Bass, and Ashley Wescott)
10. Holds school record in the 4×100 relay (with Germetria Forrest, Morghan Blake, and Breanna Grant)
11. Junior Olympics State Champion in 100-meter intermediate hurdles and 400-meter low hurdles as a freshman (IG Class, freshman and sophomores)
12. Earned six varsity letters over her career and was a three-sport letterman as a senior (Track, Swim team, and Cross Country)
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