Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Tory Manchester

Barry Faulkner

Though she has sacrificed so much for so many years to put herself

in the enviable position she’s in, Newport Harbor High senior Tory

Manchester appears awe-struck over finally being situated where others

would like to be.

Clearly, however, her humility is as genuine as her talent, which has

helped propel the Newport Harbor High girls soccer team into a battle for

the Sea View League championship.

“Mainly, my whole life has been soccer and school,” said the

17-year-old midfielder, who has been serious about the game now for a

dozen years. “I’ve always wanted to play in college and maybe even

further. I just love the sport.”

Her teammates and coaches have much to love about Manchester, a

two-time All-Sea View League performer and four-year varsity starter who

personifies leadership as much with her consistent approach and attitude

as her recent clutch scoring skein.

Manchester scored a goal in each of the Sailors’ crucial 2-0 Sea View

victories over Laguna Hills (Jan. 15) and Woodbridge (Jan. 17) to earn

Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week laurels.

She also scored the lone goal in a nonleague victory over Back Bay

rival Corona del Mar (Dec. 5) and is, admittedly, enjoying her finest

offensive season with five goals.

“I scored six goals last year, but most of them were in the

preseason,” Manchester said. “Our coach (Jason Sorrell) wants me to take

more shots outside this year and being aggressive in the box has been a

big part of our game. After you get a couple goals, you start to look

more for scoring opportunities, instead of letting them come to you.”

But Manchester’s contribution to the Sailors (9-6-3, 2-1-2 in league),

ranked No. 6 in CIF Southern Section Division II, transcends scoring

skills.

“More than her scoring, she’s just leading by example,” Sorrell said.

“She’s working extremely hard and is always very consistent with her

effort. She is very committed and dedicated to the game and she has a

tremendous amount of passion for it. She also has a huge desire to win,

which is obvious even when we play little scrimmages in practice. She’s

always trying to win.”

Competitiveness and passion have driven Manchester through a

procession of club programs, leading to her current affiliation with the

Arcadia-based Santa Anita Strikers. She is also playing on the elite

Southern California team (girls born in 1984) in the Olympic Development

Program. Her ODP squad won a western regional tournament Sunday and will

advance to the nationals, scheduled March 9-11 in Texas.

A virtual year-round soccer calendar, which now includes a 100-minute

commute for club workouts, has squeezed out track and field and field

hockey, both of which she flirted with and enjoyed while at Harbor. Her

soccer commitment, which includes daily drilling and/or conditioning

outside of the high school season, has also put a strain on her social

calendar.

But, staying focused on school (a 4.3 grade-point average), and

soccer, have produced rewards, including a future at Brown University,

where she will combine academics and athletics in what she termed “the

most wonderful place I’ve ever been.

“I’ve tried to be very disciplined about soccer,” said Manchester, who

acknowledges sacrifices made in other areas of her life, but has no

regrets. “Soccer has always been a no-brainer for me. As I think back, my

soccer experiences have been so much more worthwhile.”

Manchester said her ODP experience is one she will continue to savor.

“Making this (ODP) team is the best thing that ever happened to me in

my life,” she said. “It’s the best team and it has really helped me with

college and the recruiting process.”

Manchester said the recent regional tournament in Las Vegas was

physically trying, especially right in the middle of her Newport Harbor

season.

“It is a lot, sometimes, but I just deal with it. It’s such a

privilege to go on an extra trip with ODP.”

Manchester, whose physical play helps her win the majority of balls in

the air, both at midfield and around the net on set plays, also considers

it a treat to be receiving individual recognition. But it also makes her

uncomfortable.

“It’s just kind of amazing to me,” she said of her increasing time in

the spotlight. “It’s such a good feeling, because I’m usually not the

person people talk about. It’s nice to have some individual success, but,

for me, it’s mostly about the team.”

With Manchester’s leadership, the Sailors look to better last year’s

CIF playoff run, which included the school’s first two postseason wins.

Such success would give future Harbor teams something -- as well as

someone -- to look up to.