Kaela DeCou

Position:
Goalkeeper
Height:
5-7
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Irvine, Calif.
High School:
Woodbridge H.S.

FRESHMAN (2004): DeCou did not appear in any games.

HIGH SCHOOL: DeCou was a first-team All-Sea View League player as a sophomore, junior and senior at Woodbridge and a second-team All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) pick as a sophomore. The Warriors were the Sea View League runner-up from 2002-04 and advanced to the CIF semifinals in 2002. She was voted team defensive MVP her sophomore and junior year and was the Coaches Award recipient as a freshman, junior and senior. She played for the U-16 Irvine Strikers and played up on the U-19 team her sophomore through senior seasons for West Coast Football Club before returning to the Strikers in 2004 and advanced to the semifinal round of Nationals. DeCou selected Colorado over Pacific and San Diego.

IN THE CLASSROOM: The open option major, who is also interested in political science, economics and criminal justice, received Woodbridge's Honorary Warrior Award as a junior, an award that all teachers approve as it combines achievement in the classroom and out. After college she would like to pursue a career with the FBI.

PERSONAL: The first member of her family to attend college out of state, Kaela Ruth Catherine DeCou was born Dec. 28, 1985 in Newport Beach, Calif. She is the daughter of Timothy and Cathy DeCou of Irvine and has three brothers, 20-year-old Bill (a junior at Irvine Valley College), 16-year-old Pat (a junior keeper on Woodbridge's soccer team that advanced to ODP Nationals in Spokane, Wash.), and 11-year-old Scott. She admits as the lone daughter in the family that she's a tomboy. Her hobbies include snowboarding at Mammouth. Her volunteer work includes Meals on Wheels, the Irvine Games (for elementary school-aged children), and the Choe Hospital. She is a member of the National Charity League and since sixth grade has volunteered more than 500 hours.