Chimacum grad aims for shark waters

Posted

Chris McDaniel

cmcdaniel@ptleader.com

Coming from a family of diving enthusiasts, Delana Horner dreams of a day when she can study the migration patterns of Great White Sharks around the world.

“I want to go into shark genetics,” she said. “I grew up loving sharks and there is so much more we need to know about their family trees and why they migrate where they do.”

Horner, 17, graduated from Chimacum High School with a 3.0 GPA and will attend the University of Hawaii at Minoa where she plans to major in Marine Biology and minor in Zoology.

The Chimacum native is the daughter of Brian and Kristina Horner.

“I have a feeling I will probably end up in Southern California, but I would love to study abroad in either Australia, New Zealand or South Africa,” Horner said.

Those locations are near Great White hot spots, she said.

While many may fear the Great White, Horner has a soft spot for them.

“They are actually really sweet. I call them puppies of the sea.”

During a trip to the Isle of Guadalupe, which is 189 nautical miles off Ensenda, Mexico, Horner got a glimpse of the future she’s planning. During the trip, she, her mother and her grandfather went down in shark cages to see Great Whites up close.

“My first time in the cage, I looked up and it was peacefully swimming toward me. The way they swim is so graceful. I wasn’t scared at all.”

She was told not to look them in the eye because they may perceive them as a threat, but Horner could not help doing so.

Basketball

Since she was in the eighth grade, Horner has played for either the junior varsity or varsity basketball teams at CHS.

“My eighth grade year, they didn’t have enough JV players, so the coach brought up four of us,” she said. “I actually refused at first. I am not the greatest player. I caved in eventually.”

That was the right choice, she said.

Horner is not tall by hoop standards, but still ended up playing power forward during much of her career.

“Funnily enough, we are a team of small short girls,” she said. “I am a terrible shooter. I will admit that. However, I will forever love the game.”

Even though she does not shoot the lights out, Horner said it was the camaraderie she enjoyed most.

“It is the family aspect of it. These girls are my family. I cannot say that enough. We will always be backing each other, no matter where we are at.”

Last season, the team went undefeated in their league.

They made it to district finals, but lost both games.

“It was hard,” Horner said.

Horner intends to play intramural basketball at the college level, but nothing more than that, so she can focus on her studies.

When asked what many people don’t know about her, Horner said she has a great fondness for poetry.

“I love poetry and writing poetry.”

With sharks, basketball and poetry, Horner is well pleased.

“That is all you need,” she said.