On fall evenings at Sunset Chevrolet Stadium in Sumner, Sara Vargus can usually be found cheering on Sumner High’s football team from the sidelines. Vargus is a freshman at Sumner High School and involved in the cheerleading squad, but there’s something different about this pom-pom girl.
She pushes past the sidelines onto the field as a lacrosse player, and maintains a full extracurricular schedule.
Vargus became inspired to start cheerleading because of her sister, who is 10 years older.
“I would always be by my sister when she was cheerleading at games,” Vargus said.
When Vargus isn’t cheerleading at football, basketball or wrestling matches, she is participating in lacrosse, a sport she has honed her abilities to for the past three years. Sara started out playing soccer when she was in kindergarten, but found her passion in lacrosse in seventh grade.
In a conference matchup between the Lake Tapps girls lacrosse team and Tahoma, Vargus showed off her ability to score by sneaking a season-best five goals past Tahoma’s goalie. Vargus had 16 goals over the past season, scoring at least one goal in all but one game. The Lake Tapps girls’ lacrosse team finished tied for second in the Nisqually League, boasting seven wins over 12 games.
“She’s always been a competitive athlete, so I figured she could try it,” mother Jane Vargus said. “She just got out there and scrapped in there with the best of them in her first game. She was a good soccer player, but this [lacrosse] is definitely her sport,”
Aside from cheerleading and lacrosse, Vargus is also a member of associated student body, where she will be the assistant coordinator during her sophomore year. Vargus also considers herself as a “farm girl” and participates in FFA.
“I got so hooked after going to state [in FFA], and it was a really good experience. I’ve always loved country music and I’ve always wanted a pig, so doing FFA made sense,” Vargus said.
Jane mentioned how things can sometimes become quite hectic, but she supports Sara’s endeavors.
“If it isn’t ASB, she has something any given time. She can’t wait to get her driver’s license, which will take some of the pressure off of me,” Jane said.
When Sara has free time, she usually relaxes and hangs out with her friends. Sara also has an eclectic taste in music, ranging from country and classic rock to pop.
So the next time you are able to attend a football game at Sunset Chevrolet Stadium this coming fall, look for Sara Vargus. She is a quality individual and could make a difference in our society after high school.
