US Team Handball Women's National Team

Ever since she was a kid, Sarah Gascon has excelled in sports and has been known as a fierce competitor. As a youngster growing up in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, she played both Boy's Little League Baseball and Boy's Basketball.

 

Sarah began her major athletic accomplishments at Mary Star of the Sea High School in San Pedro, California, where she was an All-CIF first-team selection in three major sports.   She starred as a point-guard in Basketball, outside- hitter in Volleyball, and shortstop in Softball.   Sarah earned a starting position on each squad as a freshman, was an all-league selection 12 times in the three sports, including five team MVP's, and league MVP in softball and basketball.   She graduated as the most accomplished athlete in the school's history.

 

At Southeastern Louisiana University, Sarah was again a multi-sport athlete at the Division 1 level.   She was a four-time All-Southland Conference softball player, playing third base.   She was also a two-time All-Southland Conference volleyball player.   Sarah broke nearly every school, conference, state, and NCAA record for defensive digs.   In 2003, she set the all-time NCAA record for digs, and dig average.   As if two sports weren't enough, Sarah also played soccer during her last semester in college.

 

Most athletes would have been happy to have so many feats in their career. However, that was not enough for her. In 2004, Sarah was selected as a member of the first ever United States of America Women's National Baseball Team.   The starting centerfielder, Sarah also played shortstop.   Her season was capped by driving in the game-winning run in the Gold Medal Game of the first Women's World Cup Championship.   She also threw out a Japanese runner at the plate with a perfect throw from centerfield in the first inning.   During the course of the season, Sarah hit .300, with an average of .333 in the World Cup.

 

In 2005, Sarah went back to her high school alma mater and served as the head coach of the Girl's Varsity Volleyball Team. She was also a personal trainer for Bally's Total Fitness and taught hitting. It was during a tryout for USA Volleyball when Sarah found out about Team Handball. She was itching to play sports again. Soon after, head coach Christian Latullipe contacted her and she went for a tryout. Immediately drawn to the excitement and intensity of the game, Sarah wasted no time in relocating to Cortland, NY to train full-time with the Women's National Team and pursue her Olympic dreams.