By: Lucy Panicacci

News Editor

An avid explorer and nature enthusiast, senior Claire Galbo constantly searches for the next adventure, whether that be attempting to catch a pigeon, climbing a tree, or going caving. If you get to know her, Galbo’s tailbone-length hair is one the least unique traits about her.

Since the age of six, Galbo has dedicated herself to basketball. Standing at 6’1, Galbo is difficult to miss on the court. After making varsity sophomore year, Galbo excelled on the LGHS Girls’ Basketball Team. As a captain and starter junior year, Galbo aided her team to an undefeated league championship with her critical defensive abilities and consistent offensive contributions. In the current undefeated league season, she continues to dominate with her blocks — achieving five blocks in one game — and strong post abilities. Beyond these skills, Galbo brings a positive attitude to the game, always lifting up her teammates by cheering them on or, at times, breaking out a dance move. Galbo reflected on the environment of the LG team, stating, “It’s overall just really fun. [I love] just being able to go in the gym and play basketball… and the team is super supportive.”

In addition to her athletic skills, Galbo finds great interest in nature. Galbo’s passion for the outdoors started with her mom: “We would go outside all the time…and then, as soon as I was old enough to not die, she let me just go out there by myself.” A resident of the Santa Cruz mountains, Galbo has explored the woods throughout her life, stating, “I just walk places because it’s just open woods. Sometimes, I build random stuff like tree houses.” In her free time, she watches nature documentaries and researches to understand more about her surroundings and animals in general. One of her favorite animals is a deer: “I just like deer, man. Like, honestly, you just enter a field and there’s just a deer there. That’s just a perfect moment, you know?”

At times, Galbo’s adventurous spirit and mountain lifestyle gets her into interesting situations. One time, Galbo found herself stuck at the bottom of a twenty foot hole of a cave in Santa Cruz as her three friends observed from above. She described her terror, “I look around and I can’t see any way back up. So I’m like, how do I do this? Then, I tried to climb the rope but it’s covered in mud, so I just keep sliding back down. I was genuinely thinking I was gonna die down there because it took me forever to get back up. And my friends were just like, playing music at the top and just being stupid. And I was like, I’m gonna die guys.”

In the future, Galbo intends to pursue an environmentally-related career. Continuing her interest in exploration, she wants to become a wildlife biologist, working in the field and studying animals. 

At the age of seventeen, Galbo has already led an intriguing life with her unique survival skills, interesting stories, and stellar athletic abilities. If you ever happen to bump into her, ask her for an animal fact. She always has one up her sleeve.