Playing sports can be a hobby, outlet or a necessity for healthy living, but for Judy Thomsen, sophomore P.E. teacher, it’s all of the above plus more. “I can never remember a time in my life where I wasn’t into sports,” Thomsen said. “My dad would always play sports with my brothers and me.”

Aside from playing with her father, they would also talk about sports or attend sporting events to bond the family. “My family has season tickets to USC football games, and, initially, we would live and die if they won or lost.” With her parents getting older, however, Thomsen just cherishes the time she has with them at any football or baseball game, but will always have her heart out for USC college football.

Aside from football, Thomsen also ranks volleyball and softball in her top three favorites. “I’m highly competitive with volleyball,” Thomsen said. “Football and softball are more recreational, like on weekends or leagues with friends.” As she was growing up, Thomsen developed a love for softball, but didn’t have any opportunities to compete as a woman. “I still enjoy softball and baseball on a fan level, but I had more opportunities, memories and friendships because of my success with volleyball,” she said.

Thomsen won the Foothill League Championships all three years she was in high school at Crescenta Valley, and was MVP all three years as well. In her senior year, she was awarded Female Athlete of the Year. Continuing onto college, Thomsen played for two years at Glendale Community College and was named team captain and MVP for both years.

Thomsen’s success earned her a scholarship for volleyball at CSUN, where she and her team placed fourth in the nation, beating UCLA in Pauley Pavilion that year. She was also inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Crescenta Valley High School in 2010, and at Glendale Community College twice, once as a volleyball coach and once as an athlete on the coed championship team.

Thomsen coached volleyball at Crescenta Valley High School, Hoover High School (where she established the first all boys’ volleyball team), Glendale Community College, and at CSUN (winning the National Championship as an assistant coach). Thomsen even got the opportunity to coach and play on a team that traveled to South America and New Zealand. Other than coaching volleyball, she also coached the softball team at Glendale High School and at Hoover High School.

She won many awards for her coaching as well, including Coach of the Year in the Pacific League for volleyball, where she was recognized as the first and only female volleyball coach, coaching an all-boys sports team.

Thomsen loves both playing and coaching sports. “I think you play when you are younger because you physically can,” she said. “You coach when you’re older because you physically can’t and love the sport so much that you want to help others enjoy it on the same competition level you did.”

If she was able to, Thomsen would play sports at a high level her whole life, but because that isn’t possible, she lives that desire out in coaching her students and players to achieve their full potential.

Sports has not only impacted her as an athlete and a coach, but while playing on a team called Athletes in Action, it was a way for her to share her faith. “Our team would hand out small picture bio cards and allowed us to share with others how our faith in Christ impacted our lives,” Thomsen said. “The cards that had our picture on them, favorite Bible verse, and a little bio about us.”

Thomsen believes that sports doesn’t just award others with good health and a fun time, but also values that help each person grow. “Sports teaches integrity, fair play, honesty, and teamwork to achieve a common goal,” Thomsen said. “It also teaches the values of respect and self sacrifice.”

Most importantly, however, sports played a huge role in Thomsen’s career choice. As a P.E. teacher, she feels that she’s found something she’s good at, passionate about, and truly loves. “I enjoy what I do and it will never feel like work.”