Oswego East Student Athlete of the Week-Julia Carranza

Dance has been a part of Julia Carranza’s life since she was two. Although dancing for Oswego East and an outside group means many hours of practice, there is nothing that makes Julia feel more free and allows her to express herself than when she is dancing. As a member of the OE dance program, Julia has battled injuries to continue doing what she loves, and combined with her skill and passion for the sport, Julia’s resiliency have helped her earn the distinction of Oswego East student athlete of the week.

Dance has been, and will always be, a part of Julia’s life. Her mother, Kelly Drysch, remembers fondly of Julia dancing at a young age, saying, “I can still picture her in the her ballet outfit (at age 2),” says Kelly. She goes on to add, “that was when her love of performing started.”

Her love of performing has only grown from there. Julia participates in dance at both Oswego East and an outside studio, which has only grown more rigorous as she has gotten older.

Dance has always served as an outlet for Julia because it’s been something she has always been innately drawn to. Her family describes why Julia dances as, “an outlet to express her emotions in a healthy and positive way.” Her head coach, Alex Raber, says, “Dance is [Julia’s] outlet, and you can tell that for her it isn’t just a sport, it’s her way of life.”

When an injury sidelined Julia early in the season, she did not let the injury demoralize her, in fact, she used it as an opportunity to help her teammates who would be dancing in her role. “Though injured, [Julia] showed up to practice willing to do whatever she could to help me and her fellow dancer,” says Raber. She goes on to add, “she even stayed after and came early to help her teammates learn her position in the dance and made sure they were comfortable going into our next competitions.” This past Sunday Julia was back in the lineup, and her and her teammates earned the highest score in school history with a 85.73.

Outside of the dance studio, Julia exhibits much of the same characteristics as a student and family member as she does as a dancer. “Julia is compassionate, friendly, engaged, and dedicated,” says Kelly. Julia’s grandparents understand how dance has helped Julia become more of a risk-taker, saying, “Julia has a willingness to try new experiences and strives to reach new goals.”

Despite a dance schedule that seems never ending, Julia etches out time and prioritizes school. With challenging classes such as Advanced Placement Spanish and Language, Pre-Calculus, and Forensics, Julia is preparing herself for her intended major of chemistry, and entering the cosmetics profession post-college.
Her Forensics and Chemistry teacher, Erik Korczak, says, “[Julia] has a very positive attitude even when she is overwhelmed with dance competitions, practice, homework, and projects.” He goes on to add, “Julia would be successful in anything that she chooses as her future career, as she seems to always achieve what she sets her mind to.”

The dance team is hoping to use their passion to help fuel a push towards a program first state tournament birth. Julia offers advice to future Wolves, saying, “make sure you get off to a good start freshman year, because it counts just as much as other years.” We wish them best of luck next Sunday when they travel to Stagg High School in just their second to last competition before sectionals.