Naples senior Valentina Lee competes in the triple jump during a recent track meet in Schio, Italy, near Vicenza. Lee is a three-sport standout who will be performing in the European track and field championships this week, her final athletic event in DODDS-Europe. (Kent Harris / S&S)
SCHIO, Italy — There aren’t very many female athletes who achieve the kind of success that Valentina Lee has had while attending high school in Europe.
Lee, a Naples High senior who will be competing in the DODDS-Europe track and field championships Friday and Saturday in Germany, can seemingly do well in any sport she takes up.
"She’s an all-around athlete," track coach Dean Williams said. "She can do about anything."
Except maybe grow a few more inches. The 5-foot-6 Lee isn’t ruling that out, though.
"Just a few more inches," she said with a smile at a recent track meet, acting almost as if she could will herself to achieve that goal. "I might still be growing. I think I am. I really do!"
Her father, David, a retired petty officer first class who has called Naples home for a decade, laughs at the idea. He’s 6-1, a former All-Navy basketball player, and his daughter clearly is following in his athletic shoes. But her Italian mother, Brunella, is 5-3.
Even if more height isn’t in her future, basketball certainly appears to be. Lee, a two-time All-European selection in hoops, hopes to play at Valdosta State in Georgia next year. There’s also the possibility of playing professionally in Italy. She’s practiced regularly with the local Naples team that participates in Italy’s top league.
Though she’s slight of build, she’s not afraid when it gets physical. After all, she’s at a disadvantage in regular games of one-on-one with her father. "I did block his shot once," she said. "He’ll never admit it, but I did."
She might be surprised. Her father isn’t shy about praising his only child’s achievements. The two play a variety of sports together.
"Basketball. Tennis. I can’t run with her any more, though. She’s too fast," David Lee says.
Valentina Lee began the school year by teaming with Kate McCormick to finish second in doubles in the European Division II tennis championships. It was only her second year of playing. Then came basketball and her second selection to the girls All-Europe second team.
Track, her first love, is the focus this week. She qualified for six events in the European finals: long jump, triple jump, 100 meters, 200, 4x100 relay and sprint medley relay. Lee can compete in only four, though.
Lee might not be the favorite in any of the events. She knows the competition will be tougher than what she’s faced in Italy during the season. Like Naples boys’ standout, John Markman, she believes that more competition during the regular season would help her improve.
"I think that if I were growing up in the States, I would have had more opportunities," she said. "I’m pretty sure I’d get better in all my sports."
Aviano track coach Laura Corder-Chavez, who has followed Lee’s basketball career, said that’s she’s been a pleasure to watch.
"She’s not selfish. She’s willing to help others and that’s really impressed me," Corder-Chavez said. "She’s helped to push the other girls in the league along so that she can have some more competition."
Asked for a list of sports she doesn’t excel at, Lee doesn’t have to think very long.
"I don’t play volleyball," she says. "I’m not a big fan of the ball hitting my arms."
And although she and her father agree that she might be better suited for longer distances in track, Lee says she’s going to run the longer races only when she has to in physical education classes.
"I’m pretty good at Frisbee," she says, continuing the sports discussion. "I can throw a football as well." She points off in the distance to indicate her arm strength.
The conversation has to stop, though, as Lee runs off to compete in another event, her smile turning into a more serious look as she gets ready for a race.
"I’m pretty competitive," she says. "I hate to lose."
