Athletes of the Week: Blanca and Julie Fromm

At a first glance from the stands, as the team waits patiently, but anxiously, for the starting whistle to blow, it is hard to discern one Fromm from the other. But as soon as the clock starts, Blanca and Julie eliminate any possibility for on-field confusion.

In what seems like a state of constant acceleration, Blanca streams down the left flank with grace and blistering speed, leaving defenders literally in her dust.

"After watching her play, it's easy to understand why Blanca's nicknamed the Energizer Bunny," said captain Jill Rubenstein, DC '98. Meanwhile on the opposite side of the field, Julie's tireless scrappiness keeps her opponents on their toes. And while her spontenaity keeps them guessing, her boundless energy simultaneously wears them down.

Just when you're convinced that Blanca won't be able to run another step, she'll prove you wrong. And just when you're absolutely sure that the ball is going out of bounds, Julie, in a blur of blue and white, is suddenly there negotiating a ball that seems to be velcroed to her cleat.

Head coach Rudy Meredith is thankful most for the traits they share--an unbelievable work ethic and intense dedication to the game.

"Blanca and Julie work as hard as any athletes I know." he said. "They are 120 percent effort from start to finish. In practice and games and scrimmages and of course school, you can feel confident that they are giving you all they've got."

Both Fromm girls began playing youth soccer in California and have taken the sport and their year-round commitment to it very seriously ever since then.

The dedication has paid off, for themselves and for Yale. Julie was fourth in scoring with 3 goals and 2 assists her freshman year and contributed 1 goal and 1 assist while starting as a right midfielder in 18 of 19 games last fall.

Blanca's long list of accolades includes back-to-back 2nd team All-Ivy honors and back- to-back seasons as the Bulldogs' second leading scorer. She finished her junior year with a career high four goals and fell just four assists short of breaking the Yale record for assists in a career. Considering that she tallied seven in '96, Blanca will most likely own the title of Yale's most prolific passer by the end of the fall '97 campaign.

--Lauren Anderson

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