Dolphins of a Different Color

Andy Megee and Kristabel Doebel-Hickok Earn Post Cups for Super Senior Seasons

Neither Andy Megee nor Kristabel Doebel-Hickok was all that surprised when they heard each other’s names announced as winners of the Post Cup Award last Friday night during Palisades High’s Senior Awards Program in Mercer Hall. After all, they’ve known each other since kindergarten when, as Megee recalled, “Kristabel was the fastest girl,” and, as Doebel-Hickok remembered, “Andy was always playing ball.” Twelve grades later, not much has changed. As outstanding senior athletes at Palisades High, they now have more in common than their 4.0 GPAs and a tireless commitment to their sports’and they have matching plaques to prove it. “When I heard Andy’s name I was really happy for him because I know what kind of person he is and what he means to his team,” Doebel-Hickok said. “He is so well respected on campus.” Megee fully expected Doebel-Hickok to win the girls’ award. “It’s no surprise at all,” he said. “There was no doubt in my mind Kristabel would get it. I would’ve picked her too.” A First-Team All-City shortstop, Megee has been the heart and soul of the Dolphins’ varsity baseball team over the past three seasons. Not only did he excel at the most demanding position on the diamond, he also became Palisades’ most potent hitter. “I’ve always played shortstop. It’s where I’m most comfortable,” said Megee, who lives in West L.A. and played in the West L.A. Pony League growing up. “I want the ball hit to me with the game on the line. I like being at the plate with two outs in the last inning.” It’s not that Megee lacks confidence in his teammates–he doesn’t. He simply thrives on pressure and, more often than not, he comes through. He led the team in hits and runs and was second in RBIs this season. He could even be counted on to pitch when the Dolphins were in a jam. Megee referred to last month’s 9-8 victory over Roosevelt in the quarterfinals of the City playoffs as the most memorable of his high school career. “That game meant so much to me because I wanted another crack at Chatsworth,” said Megee, whose older brother Jeff was a senior on Palisades’ 2003 team that won the City Invitational championship at Dodger Stadium. “Baseball has always been my love. It’s taught me that when you start something, you finish it.” Doebel-Hickok also understands there is value in finishing what she begins. Nerve damage in her right leg caused her to miss the track season this spring but she persevered because she loves to run and lives to compete. “Running teaches you to be dedicated,” said Doebel-Hickok, who lives in Marina del Rey. “You get out of it what you put into it. The harder I’ve worked, the better the results have been.” All-City in the two-mile and three times in the mile, Doebel-Hickok qualified for the state cross country meet as a junior and again as a senior. Her goal last fall was to finish in the top 10 and, sure enough, she finished ninth. “I like testing my limits to see how far I can go,” Doebel-Hickok said. “But I’ve also learned that as much as I want to push it there are times I have to take it easy too.” Like her fellow Post Cup winner, Doebel-Hickok attended Paul Revere Middle School for three years prior to entering PaliHi as a ninth-grader. She showed potential as a freshman, setting a City record in the mile. Her brother Monte was a senior on the baseball team when Megee made varsity as a sophomore. “Monte played left field,” Megee recalled without hesitation. “Chatsworth beat us in the quarterfinals but it was a close game. That’s one of the big reasons why I was so pumped to get a second chance at them this year.” Palisades lost to Chatsworth, 11-1, in the semifinals on May 30, but Megee was back on the field the following week and led the City to a 5-1 victory over the Southern Section in a CIF all-star game at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa. In individual sports such as track and cross country, Doebel-Hickok said actions speak louder than words. “I just try to lead by example. If one person runs a race in 17 minutes and another does it in 22 minutes, what really matters is that both of them gave their best effort.” Megee cited AP English as his favorite class at PaliHi while Doebel-Hickok picked AP Biology. Neither has decided on a major, but both are crystal clear about one thing: they want to be student-athletes in college. Megee believes he will get the best of both worlds at Yale’a challenging academic environment and an opportunity to play Division I baseball. His goal is to win a starting spot on the Bullodgs’ roster next spring. “I looked at the lineup they have coming back,” he said. “And think I have a realistic chance.” Doebel-Hickok, meanwhile, picked Vanderbilt over UCLA and Cal mainly because of her confidence in Commodores Coach Steven Keith, who offered her a full athletic scholarship. “When I went to visit the campus we clicked right away,” she said. “He has a lot of good recruits coming in so we should compete on a national level.” Both Cup winners have busy summers ahead. Megee’s off-season workout program consists of lifting weights three days a week and running three other days. He has even agreed to sacrifice some of his “down” time as a Sports Mania camp counselor. Doebel-Hickok is equally focused on staying fit. Her routine includes three days of weight training and running 45 miles a week. While anxious to begin the next chapter in their lives, Megee and Doebel-Hickok must engage in one last high school activity: tomorrow night’s graduation. “I loved Palisades High and I’m going to miss my friends,” Megee said. “But I’m also ready to take the next step.” Doebel-Hickok agreed: “I’m excited for both of us. We have big, bright futures to move on to.” Do they ever.