Catharina Ausfahl and Meredith Tutun Named Lions Club Athletes of the Month
By Christopher Urban
For exhibiting amazing character, leadership skills, and grit, Catharina Ausfahl, senior captain of the Rye High School Girls’ Tennis team, was named Lions Club Athlete of the Month for October. She has played first and second singles for the Garnets throughout high school. Emerging as the frontrunner of one of the best teams in New York State (NYS) Class A, Ausfahl led the team to two league championships and an undefeated season to clinch the Section 1 Final in 2018. She was within a game of making the NYS tournament last year after making the quarterfinals of the Sectional doubles tournament. Ausfahl made the quarterfinals of the Sectional tournament all three years prior, each year with a different partner.
She was undefeated at No. 1 singles this October and finished the season 4-1 at that spot, losing (8-6) only to the best player in the Section from Scarsdale. She and her sister made it to the NYS Regional tournament in doubles in 2020, coming up just short in a third set tiebreaker to Scarsdale.
Head Coach Tony Campbell remarked that, “Overall, Catharina is just an amazing example of sportsmanship, hard work, and patience. Just the kind of dedicated, humble, gracious athlete we want all of our kids to be.”
Catharina Ausfahl has a bright future, having committed to play for the Johns Hopkins University Women’s Tennis team next year.
Meredith Tutun garnered the Rye Lions Club Athlete of the Month for November. Senior captain of the RHS Girls’ Soccer team, Tutun is a four-year starter for the Garnets. She led the team to four League titles, including two undefeated seasons, two semifinal Sectional appearances, a Section Finals appearance, and a Southern Westchester Large School 2020 bid.
This season, Tutun was counted on to play all positions on the field. Her impressive field vision, outstanding touch, speed, and craftiness provided the Garnets with three goals, nine assists, and an outstanding 11-1-1 record.
Head Coach Rich Savage noted, “Meredith was the ultimate team player this season. When our team was in need of an offensive push, she would be moved up to the front line, and she would be pushed back to defense when we needed to strengthen our defense. At the end of the day, she could always be counted on to make the big play for the team.”
Meredith Tutun will continue her illustrious soccer career at Williams College next fall.
