by: Tori Schubert, Lila Zamansky
People Editor, Media Production Editor

Senior Leighton Ozawa flourishes in various athletic and academic fields while setting the course for a successful future. Ozawa, a three-sport athlete, participates in field hockey, soccer, and lacrosse, is enrolled in five AP classes, and is involved in a multitude of extracurricular activities.

In the fall, Ozawa played on the field hockey team, proving to be a crucial element on the defensive and midfield lines. Starting her career as a freshman, Ozawa would never have predicted the impact field hockey would have on her life. Looking back on the values she gained from the program, Ozawa described the rigor and discipline: “I learned just how much effort and time you have to put into things to actually see a difference.” Carrying her defensive and athletic abilities with her throughout the year, Ozawa is a crucial member of the LGHS soccer team. She has been playing competitive soccer since the age of seven with Los Gatos United. She showcased her love of the two sports on both fields, along with the strong team dynamics, resulting in a Central Coast Section championship for field hockey as well as soccer.

Adding on to her sports repertoire, Ozawa is the team captain of the Los Gatos Girls’ Lacrosse team. Beginning as a freshman, she has thrived in the sport as a defensive player, bringing intensity and positivity to every game and practice, striving to uphold a strong team spirit. Describing her experience as a captain, Ozawa elaborated, “I try to push people to do their absolute best. Our team chemistry is really special. We have a lot of different age groups, and we have gained a really strong bond.” Her athleticism, dedication, and leadership have not gone unnoticed as she earned the Ed Howell Award: Outstanding Three Sport Athlete, following her success in field hockey, soccer, and lacrosse, all four years of high school.

Ozawa further triumphs as a student, taking a variety of rigorous courses, including AP Government/Honors Economics, AP Psychology, AP Biology, English 12, AP Spanish, and AP Calculus AB. Ozawa holds the greatest passion for her math course, although she noted that it is also her most challenging class. Her course load and love for STEM influenced her decision to commit to the University of Wisconsin-Madison after recently visiting the campus. She plans to pursue environmental science. Ozawa’s enthusiasm for the subject developed during her junior year AP Environmental Science course, explaining, “I have always felt very connected to nature, as a lot of my activities are outdoors, like sports, surfing, walking, and basically everything I do.”

Her leadership skills extend beyond athletics, as Ozawa takes part in the National Charity League. She is currently serving as the Vice President of Culture for her final year in the organization. Overall, Ozawa proves herself as a role model through her outstanding work ethic and determination, emphasizing the importance of both athletic and academic drive.