Oct. 22, 2012
BERKELEY - In the Golden State, a great debate wages over which part of California is the best - Northern California or Southern California. With all but four members of the California women's soccer team hailing from California, CalBears.com polled the Golden Bears on their opinions. The Bears' hometowns are in parentheses so you can see if their upbringings affect their choice or NorCal or SoCal.
Lauren Battung (Simi Valley, Calif.) -
NorCal. As a native SoCal girl, I found Berkeley and the Bay Area's largest appeal to be that it offered a culture and an environment that was different from Southern California, or at least the Los Angeles/Hollywood area. I particularly enjoyed the slower, more casual lifestyle and people's laid-back demeanors. Not to mention, I hate the heat.
Celeste Boureille (San Francisco) -
SoCal has a higher number of well-trained youth soccer clubs, better weather for sports and fantastic beaches.
Jenna Brennan (Broomfield, Colo./Sonoma, Calif.) -
NorCal because that's where I'm from. We moved from NorCal to Colorado when I was in seventh grade, but my family has relocated back to NorCal.
Taylor Comeau (Los Gatos, Calif.) -
NorCal is better than SoCal because San Francisco and Santa Cruz are in NorCal, and the water is cleaner.
Genessee Daughetee (Huntington Beach, Calif.) -
SoCal! Because of the beaches, of course.
Mekenna DeBack (Clayton, Calif.) -
NorCal is better! The weather, the people, and the environment makes NorCal the perfect place to live. I grew up in the Bay Area so I have been surrounded by outstanding academic programs, beautiful cities and exceptional athletic teams. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. And, Cal just makes NorCal that much better.
Kelsie Dickerson (Poway, Calif.) -
SoCal. I love the heat and the sun year round! It rains a little bit too much for me up here.
Kaitlin Dickmann (San Clemente, Calif.) -
Southern California! Some of the best beaches, and it's where I'm from.
Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick (Pleasanton, Calif.) -
Have to say Nor Cal because I grew up here so I've got to represent and stay true to my roots. The best part about NorCal is that the soccer girls don't tuck their shorts into their sliders or wear their pony tails on the sides of their heads.
Betsy Hassett (Auckland, New Zealand) -
NorCal because Samantha Walker and Amanda Glass live there.
Lauren Hein (Tustin, Calif.) -
SoCal. I grew up there - home is where the heart is. But I absolutely love the Bay Area, as well.
Lorin Hom (San Francisco) -
NorCal. It's so pretty, I love the weather and we have better water.
Elliott Gentile (Long Beach, Calif.) -
Southern California! The beaches are amazing and it's warm year round.
Amanda Glass (Danville, Calif.) -
I was born in Pomona, Calif., but moved up here when I was about two-years-old. I have lived in Danville ever since, and I have really grown to love what we call "the bubble." Don't get me wrong, SoCal is great and I love visiting down there, but NorCal is obviously way better. We have San Francisco, Tahoe, Napa, Santa Cruz, and best of all, Berkeley!
Karly Graf (Santa Barbara, Calif.) -
I'm from SoCal so at this point I'm going to have to say SoCal, but we'll see after I've lived here for a little longer.
Emily Kruger (Woodside, Calif.) -
NorCal because we have the most diverse landscapes and the chillest people. We have beaches, woods, snowy mountains, lakes, big cities, small towns and farmland. Not to mention that we have it all within a relatively close distance.
Kory Lamet (Martinez, Calif.) -
NorCal is DEFINETELY better. We have San Francisco, clean air, better water, less traffic, more to do, etc.
Sandra Ley (Cupertino, Calif.) -
NORCAL! We are simply just more awesome!
Emi Lawson (Seattle) -
Neither. Washington!
Grace Leer (Danville, Calif.) -
NorCal is the best...just because.
Ariana Martinez (Moorpark, Calif.) -
I've always been a SoCal girl - born and raised. I love everything about it mainly the beaches. However after one semester at Cal, I'm defiantly starting to love NorCal.
Celeste Martore (Castro Valley, Calif.) -
NorCal! I love the rich culture of the Bay Area, specifically our diversity and our music.
Rachel Mercik (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) -
I am a NorCal girl at heart - I was born and raised up here. But, every time I go to the beaches down in SoCal, I fall in love. It's a close call for me, but I think if I had to choose where to live, it would be SoCal!
Ifeoma Onumonu (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) -
Since I am from SoCal, I believe that that's the place to be. I prefer the housing, the beaches and the people. Although the best part of NorCal is the weather because it's never really too hot or cold.
Samantha Walker (Concord, Calif.) -
NorCal because that is where my family is from and I could not imagine a better place.
Samantha Witteman (Redondo Beach, Calif.) -
While I really like both, I will always be a SoCal girl because of how beautiful the beach is and how nice the weather is in the summer and just simply because it's home.
