Lancers Illustrated 2016-17

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Our Mission:

ACS Athens is a student-centered international school, embracing American educational philosophy, principles and values. Through excellence in teaching and diverse educational experiences, ACS Athens challenges all students to realize their unique potential: academically, intellectually, socially and ethically - to thrive as responsible global citizens.

ACS Athens Philosophy of Athletics:

In accordance with the ACS Athens Mission Statement, the Athletic department’s intent is to provide students with athletic opportunities that will challenge them and will further develop each student’s educational maturity. The athletic program will always be in conformity with the general objectives of the school and at no time will the educational curriculum be placed in a secondary role.

The fundamental principle of sports, particularly competitive athletics, is to augment the education of the young.

Athletics should both promote and supplement the regular curriculum at the school. The athletic department’s concern is the personal development of each athlete.

It is however necessary for the student who elects to participate in Athletics to understand that he/she is voluntarily making a choice of self-discipline, self-responsibility and commitment.

www.acs.gr Publisher: ACS Athens Director of Athletics: Annie Constantinides Photo credits: Vangelis Stolis, Valia Efstathiou, Vasilis Politis, Leo Alexandropoulos Concept & publication design: Leda Tsoukia Copyright©2016-17 All rights reserved. No part of this magazine (text or images) may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher

Dear Athletes, Coaches and Guests, I would like to welcome all of you to the 2017 Athletic Banquet! Every year this event brings all the student athletes together to celebrate their accomplishments, honoring each and every one of them for their participation and success. We are once again holding this major athletic event on our campus, where ACS Athens has been providing its students with a holistic, meaningful and harmonious educational experience based on the American educational philosophy, principles and values for 72 years.

Educating the whole person is a central tenet of our philosophy of education. Teaching and learning takes place, not only in the classroom, but during activities, assemblies, community service work, group projects, sports activities, and through the hundred of formal and informal encounters that take place between members of a learning community each day. Our athletes have competed throughout the year in a number of sports competitions – both local as well as international, which have opened a world of cultures and opportunities for them. We hope the student athletes not only value their memories from these experiences, but that these experiences have also enhanced their character via the principles and values acquired through these; sportsmanship, ethos, effort, dedication, perseverance, team work, discipline and leadership.

It is important for the athletes to reflect on what they have experienced and to take the time to thank their coaches and parents for their dedication, hard work and support throughout the year.

At this time, I would like to commend all the coaches who have devoted their time and energy to coaching, but more importantly for their love of coaching, mentoring and guiding all the student athletes. Without you, the coaches, we would not be able to offer all the opportunities we do to our students.

Best wishes to all of you for a wonderful summer and to all Seniors best wishes for a great college life. Remember to enjoy this new chapter in your lives.

Sincerely, Stefanos Gialamas, Ph.D. President

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ACS Athens Athletics “10 Commandments” • Never underestimate your opponent.

• Work on your weaknesses until they become your strong points.

• Remember that a great effort is usually the result of great attitude.

• Win with humility, lose with grace.

• Ignore those who discourage you.

• Remember that how you conduct yourself off the field is just as important as how you conduct yourself on the field.

• Talent is God-given – be humble.

Fame is man-given – be thankful.

Conceit is self-given – be careful.

• Don’t ask to be deprived of tension and discipline- these are the tools that shape success.

• Do what has to be done, when it has to has to be done, and as well as it can be done.

• Always give your best!

EFFORT RESPECT DISCIPLINE MOTIVATION SPORTSMANSHIP PRIDE

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Welcome!

Captured Moments Another year of Athletic events is behind us and, if anything, one can say that it was certainly a fulfilling and “rich” year! Fulfilling because, as an observer. I could see through our athletes’ eyes and actions the effort and commitment needed to successfully engage in any kind of undertaking. It was also a “rich” year because the efforts of our athletes and their coaches, in many cases throughout the year, resulted in personal and team superb achievements!

ACS Athens is a firm believer of holistic education; education through which our students grow intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically through many avenues; athletics is one of these avenues and ACS Athens provides unique opportunities to the student athletes in the sports “arena”.

Athletics is not just about results; while sports are competitive in nature, the lessons learned every minute, every hour, every day, every season are unique in that sports create the athletes’ memories and in some cases sports can even change the lives of the students!

With this publication, we are celebrating the ACS Athens athletes’ and coaches’ achievements as well as their commitment and love for sports. You will read manifestations from coaches, athletes and friends of ACS Athens that clearly portray a different outlook and showcase the unique culture of ACS Athens Athletics.

Throughout the year sports “moments” were captured through someone’s photo lens; photos are descriptive and can certainly be powerful. They say a photo is worth a thousand words; a photo can bring out so many things all at once: exhilaration, disappointment, happiness, celebration, effort, agony, sportsmanship, motivation, anger, humility, empathy and pride.

The Lancers Illustrated is about the stories of our athletes; it is about capturing THEIR moments.

Enjoy!

Annie Constantinides, Director of Athletics

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There was a goal on their mind‌ By Annie Fesl / Girls Varsity Volleyball Coach

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here are many words that could describe the ACS Athens Girls Varsity Volleyball team, but the one word that seemed to define them is Dedication. The ladies had a strong passion and love for the game that drove them to want to succeed and excel. On one of the first days of practice our captain spoke to the girls about the goals for the season and the amount of effort and dedication it would take to achieve these goals.

Balancing school, applying for colleges, other sports, and volleyball is never an easy task. The girls did their best to commit to our three practices a week, but it was not always a full practice. Then a senior stepped up and approached the team with the idea of morning practices. The girls all agreed. The girls were motivated and passionate enough about this team to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to come to a 7am practice. The dedication extended beyond the normal school week, we also came in on Saturdays for the occasional friendly or a long, intense practice. The team was especially enthusiastic in the mornings and on Saturdays. The girls loved to push each other and themselves. They would persevere through the toughest drills always encouraging each other and motivating one another to become stronger as a whole.

Throughout the season the girls’ desire and dedication never wavered. From the first week of practice to the last, the girls maintained high energy, hustle, and a positive attitude. There was a goal on their mind for every practice and they were going to put their maximum effort to make sure they were prepared to achieve that goal. The team was persistent in keeping

each other committed and disciplined. Their love for the game and dedication to each other and the sport allowed them to have a successful season. They truly played for each other and with each other in the last match of the season to end on a high note, by earning the bronze medal in the ISST tournament!

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“The only thing that counts is your dedication to the game.

You run on your own fuel; it comes from within you.”

(Paul Brown, Coach)

DEDICATION

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DRIVE

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They were willing to learn And improve

By Ria Pateraki / Girls Junior Varsity Basketball Coach

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ost athletes at a young age are usually full of enthusiasm, love for the game, and passion; however our Junior Varsity Girls Basketball team was also characterized by drive, an element that is hard to find in such a young age.

Since I started coaching the team, I knew that my players wanted to make a difference. Despite their young

age, most of the girls were eager to win every scrimmage, every official game and every tournament; they were willing to do everything possible to overcome all the obstacles. Their exceptional character can only be defined as driven since everyone showed motivation, work ethic, passion and discipline.

Throughout our season, there were a lot of ups and downs but since the team was working towards a goal, finding a solution came out of everybody’s personal drive. Every time the girls stepped on the court they were willing to learn, to improve and to compete.

Most of them were not practicing and training themselves only during our practices, but also on their own; during breaks or after school.

The girls’ drive to become better improved all of them as a team and gave many promises for the future. As it is said “Success is almost totally dependent upon drive and persistence. The extra energy required to make another effort or try another approach is the secret of winning”. This is a phrase that summarizes the character of the team, despite the final tournament’s results.

In conclusion, I am very proud of what every player brought to our team and I cannot wait to see their success and growth in the upcoming years!

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There are no secrets in reaching success

By Angelo Dimitropoulos, Boys Varsity Volleyball Coach

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uccess is an elusive concept to define. According to the business dictionary, success is the “achievement of an action within a specified period of time or within a specified parameter”. Although success is not necessarily measured by what you accomplish, individuals need to have the courage, the determination, the will to do their best and beyond. There are no secrets in reaching success. Aim for the three P’s: Preparation, Patience and Persistence; these values make an unbeatable combination for success.

For many people success is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure. The Varsity Volleyball team’s road to success over the last three years was paved with many failures; individual and collective ones.

Luckily, we managed to gain wisdom through our

failures and did not give up. Our greatest success came after big disappointments. Not only we dreamt of success, but we worked hard at it. Mark Twain once said “the dictionary is the only place where success comes before work”.

During the last two years, we modified our practice goals: we still had to work hard in every practice, but as coaches, we always kept in mind that teenagers also need to be happy and have fun when participating in an activity.

Although many people believe that success is the key to happiness we proved that actually, happiness is the key to success. We simply loved what we were doing and felt successful. The results were a matter of time.

In the last three years, the team managed to play in 3 ISST finals. The first one (2014) in our home

court was a disappointment. We did not give up; on the contrary we came back stronger in Dusseldorf ( 2015) and earned a promotion to Division 1 after a remarkable season.

Finally, in the tournament in Paris (2016), we were the Division 1 Volley-

ball champions, the best position ever for an ACS Athens volleyball squad in the last 16 years.

Winning the title was not an end in itself. Our team had made a choice. We pursued happiness and found success.

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Success is no accident; it is hard work, perseverance, learning, sacrifice and most of all, love for what you are doing or learning to do (Pele, Professional Soccer Player)

SUCCESS

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ETHOS

A characteristic that is vital in athletics

By Vasili Mikros, Boys Junior Varsity Soccer Coach

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thos is defined as “the set of beliefs or ideals about the social behavior and relationships of a person or a group.” Ethos is a characteristic that is vital in athletics. A player must show an understanding of ethos before he/she

can even begin to learn about any specific sport in detail. In team sports especially, ethos goes far beyond winning games.

This year the JV boys’ soccer team exemplified the true meaning of ethos, on and off the field. With

a much younger team in comparison to previous years, the season was very demanding. Despite the challenges, the players demonstrated on all levels, what I call the “Ethos Pyramid”: showing respect to parents, teachers, coaches, officials, teammates and opponents.

Through sports, players learn about sportsmanship, teamwork, respect and effort. Sports offer skill-building, and most importantly, work ethic development. Athletes must learn to win with humility and accept the losses. In order to accomplish this they should not focus on the “unfair” moments or things that are out of their control; instead they need to focus on what they can control and that is effort

and attitude.

In many cases, sports often mirror life situations.

There are certain behaviors that characterize us. Terms like “fair play” or “good sportsmanship” in the sports arena can be easily interpreted as demonstrating honesty, integrity, respect and appreciation towards ourselves and others in our every day lives.

These are the virtues that we focused on developing through our practices and games. The future for the ACS Junior Varsity Boys Soccer team looks promising. Our young players possess a lot of talent and a good understanding of why ethos is important.

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GRIT

courage, resolve, strength of character and spirit

By Labrini Rontogiannis, Girls Junior Varsity Volleyball Coach

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nvolvement with a Junior Varsity team at this level makes for a unique experience as a coach. When faced with a young, inexperienced team, one is faced with a series of worries and doubts: Will they enjoy the sport? Will they learn enough to have a successful season, or will they be discouraged by defeat? How do you keep their heads up? How do you keep them from tearing up? How do you keep them from walking away from the sport? Aside from the mix of ages and ability levels, one is also faced with the challenge of getting players to love the process and committing themselves to it. When encouraging players to love the process, they may experience feelings of boredom, or are discouraged by the challenge. So, when your final roster is complete, and you realize that your team is made up of seven sixth graders, one eighth grader and a loyal tenth grader, those worries begin to really surface. And when you realize that seven of your nine players have never played volleyball before, you know that there will be more than just the transference on of skills; you are going have to inspire them to love and appreciate the game before anything else. The challenge is getting them to acquire GRIT: courage, resolve, strength of character and spirit.

This group of young girls has demonstrated more grit than one could imagine. They faced their opponents with courage and pride. They were ready and did not give up, no matter the points on the scoreboard. They celebrated every point as a win, and did not let any loss defeat them, their game or their pride. It was just all the more reason for them to keep on fighting. It was all the more reason to come back to practice the next day…to learn more, to play more. It was all the more reason to play volleyball at lunch, or with a friend or sibling. It was all the more reason to find ways to play more volleyball.

Focusing on progress rather than winning was key. We measured success in more ways than just wins. As a team, the girls were prepared to settle for small specific goals and successes every practice and game. “Today we succeeded in hitting three balls before putting it over.” The next practice was about focusing on another goal: “Today, we got four serves in a row over the net.”

Setting up game moments during practice was essential. During actual games, we focused on specific skills.

“In today’s game, let’s focus on consistently getting the ball to the setter.” We celebrated our successes both in practice and in games.

Teaching students the basics of a sport and how to demonstrate sportsmanship is only half the battle.

The other, more intense, part is in learning to believe in themselves, and their skill-sets. Seeing success not only as points on the scoreboard, but growth can help them acquire the characteristics to make them well-rounded, disciplined athletes with determination.

Growing into mature players with skills and grit.

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True Grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be done (unknown)

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Tenacious Determined Committed

By Lyndi Henderson & Nick Naoum, Girls Junior Varsity and Varsity Soccer Coach

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enacious. Determined. Committed. Resolute. Diligent.

Both the junior varsity and varsity girls’ soccer teams had winning seasons this year and the key to their success

was persistence. Both teams fought hard to improve their skills and find better, stronger ways to play the game. Both teams took the time (for some players it has been months, for others years) necessary to really learn the game and how to defeat their opponents; and those opponents were not always easy targets, often times being older, taller, and more practiced than ACS Athens. Year after year, however, the teams kept trying, kept practicing, kept improving. And this year their persistence really made a difference.

The JV team started their season with a tie game and that made them realize that this season might be different than those of the past. This realization fueled their drive to succeed and their next game was victorious – the first win in years! When the time came for the end of season local tournament, the girls knew they had a chance to earn a ranking higher than last place and then once again their persistence paid off. With two wins (one of which with an amazing last minute goal) and a tie, ACS Athens had effective-

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ly clinched the 1st place title, an unprecedented achievement for the JV team. They wore their medals proudly and took many, many photos with the trophy. It was a day to be remembered and the energy will hopefully carry over into next year, whether players are once again on the JV team or make their way to the var-

sity level with Coach Nick.

Either way, the players persistence to succeed proved to them they could win, even as the underdogs of the group.

The girls varsity team also showed a great level of persistence throughout their season. The team won all of their regular season games, including

a win against a university-level team! Even with all the other demands of their time such as school work, other sports and activities, and for some girls IB work, the team showed great improvement from years past. When the time came to travel to London for the annual ISST, the girls were ready to show off their skills.

Many teams they competed against in London were groups of girls who play soccer both in the Fall as well as the Spring, and most of the teams frequently battled against each other during the regular season, but not ACS Athens. They were the wild card of the group and no one really knew what to expect this year. One thing we did all expect, considering we were in southern England, was a fair amount of cold rain.

The teams from London, Brussels, and even Paris, were quite used to playing in this weather, as well as playing on real grass. The Athenian girls had really only enjoyed their sunny practice days on Astroturf. Even with these perceived disadvantages, the girls held their own and earned two wins as well as a draw, and had only two losses, both of which were still close matches!

By the end of the tournament the other teams were asking when they could come down and play in beautiful Athens for a change. In a lot of ways this question proved that the girls had earned their place in the tournament and were seen by their opponents as worthy competition. With a bit of continued persistence next year, perhaps the team will really give those ‘northerners’ a run for their money!

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PERSISTENCE

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Proud to be a Lancer

By Demetri Pelidis, Boys Varsity Soccer Coach

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f I had to choose one word to ultimately describe our Boys Varsity Soccer team it would be pride. Developing a sense of pride requires maintaining a belief system, a mindset in being the finest version of one’s self.

Our seniors Belexis Antonis, Kordalis Andreas, Rigas Dimitri, Tsourekas Chris, and co-captain Velkamp Simon exemplify the spirit of pride. They led our team by example in making the sacrifice-when others were sleeping- they arrived psyched for 7:30 am practice, ready to work hard at perfecting their craft in order to become our best possible soccer squad!

Our juniors demonstrate pride for our ACS team and love for the game of soccer. They were proud to remain “hungry” and ended up in earning a winning season. It takes pride to set a new ACS 6-0 record vs. the American School of Paris during the ISST championship held this year in London.

Returning juniors: Aharonian Arthur, Aravantinos Konstantinos, Gjelstad Freddie, Mamidakis George, Panagiotopoulos Dimitri, Parsons Manos, Sharp Ilias, Velkamp Phillipe, Co-captain/ISST All-Star Selection Yatagai Takao-can we affirm our ACS PRIDE and take our team to newer heights next year in Div-1 ISST’s?

I believe most certainly yes! We do have the belief system on our side!

All the rest is possible!

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Pride is a personal commitment. It is an attitude which separates excellence from mediocrity (unknown)

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PRIDE

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The ability to “bounce back”

By Igor Schoenefeld, Varsity Tennis Coach

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esilience is the last and yet one of the most important traits in the chain of necessary skills for a high caliber athlete. Even when one invests hours and hours of technical, tactical, physiological and mental training, and all tournament preparations are properly made and planned down to the last detail, success will not be achieved without resilience.

When it comes down to a tennis match between two athletes, the resilience of each player often makes the difference between winning and losing.

The ability to “bounce back” and refocus after failure is the main characteristic of resilient players. These players re-emerge from loss with determination and the willingness to fight till the end. They will always try to find a way to succeed, no matter what obstacles are encountered. Resilience is an attribute that athletes gain through the painful process of struggle and failure.

Resilient athletes will stick to the plan and routines throughout the match, no matter how much they struggle; they are determined and will try to find a way to “turn the table” until the last point is played. In order to do so, it is important that athletes have internalized the skills needed to deal with stress and struggle throughout their training process, as well as the will and reason to keep on fighting!

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RESILIENCE

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Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit Bernard Williams

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ROUTINE

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Routines train the body, physically and mentally

By Patrick Dougherty, Cross Country Coach

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outines are the un-sung hero of the athletic world. Routines are often below the surface that most fans don’t see but are essential in an athlete’s success.

Establishing routines is key to preparation and consistency, which are vital components toward success. Routines train the body, physically and mentally, to be prepared for the most important situation at the most important moment.

The 2016 ACS Athens Cross Country team is no stranger to this term.

From the very beginning of the season a routine was established by our senior leadership. Daily,

seniors took control of the reigns and lead their team in a proper warm-up routine that would prepare the team to physically take on the day’s workout.

Additionally, they made sure that the end of each practice involved the team to get in a circle and properly cool down and stretch. As if that wasn’t enough, they made sure every teammate was held accountable for participating in their stretching routine, often gaining the attention from anyone within the school vicinity.

Quite frequently tradition becomes a direct descendent of routine; and this routine is what this year’s senior class put into motion and hopes will continue as a Cross

Country team tradition.

Without question, the 2016 Cross Country team started routines that should continue in future seasons. They established traditions that positively promote ACS Athens Cross Country, and by creating these routines, a solid foundation in building the pyramid of success has begun.

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24+1 HOURS OF PREPARATION BEFORE THE FINAL GAMES

By Chris Sougioultzoglou, ACS Athens Captain of the Varsity Volleyball team and U19 Greek Volleyball National team member

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aturday, July 9, 2016, 8.45pm.

A day that will be very special in the history of Greek volleyball. The U19 Greek National team had just beaten the Turkish team in a dramatic 3-2 victory in the semifinals. Turkey was the favorite to win the gold in the Balkan games, and was ranked #8 in the world Volleyball rankings. I was there…For the next two hours after the semifinal, my heartbeat was beating like crazy. It was trying to come back to normal. I didn’t feel at all tired because of the joy and the adrenaline in my body. A special day, till the next day; the next 24 hours for the the most important final of my “sports” life.

The last hours before

a final are incredibly exciting and at the same time extremely stressful.

The physical preparation for a final included a good night sleep, a meal full of carbohydrates and some light stretching. Mentally I did things that I enjoy; being calm and having a relaxed mind is the best way to both relieve the stress of the game for the next day but also to relax the mind and body from the game played on the same day.

On the day of the final, everything I did led me into a competitive mental state of mind for the game. I woke up relatively early in order for me not to be too relaxed from oversleeping and had a healthy and proper breakfast. As the team was preparing for the

actual game, what is very significant for me before the match, is the time that the team has in the locker rooms; the speech that the coach gives us with specific instructions for every game is decisive for a player, sometimes even game changing.

Sunday, July 10, 2016, 8.12pm. “Greece-Bulgaria 3-0” is what appears on the electronic scoreboard.

Celebrations start with my teammates, my coach, the friends and family on the sidelines. After hard work, dedication, sweat, team work, focus, will power, persistence, and strenuous training twice a day for the past three weeks, we finally achieved the victory we so much desired and success. This is the best feeling an athlete can have, winning the final and receiving your medal.

Saturday, November 12, 2016. Four months and two days later, this 24 hour journey was repeated to some extent, with winning the ISST Division I championship match in Paris, against the American School of London. This was only the second time that ACS brought the gold back to our school, after 45 years of ISST volleyball tournaments, which started in 1972. That day was a day of exhilaration!

As an athlete, from the

minute I walk into the court till the minute that I start the warm up, my mind is focused on one thing: play well and play to win. As we enter the court and the referee blows the first whistle, my mind and body is 110% in the game. My mind races so that I can make the right decision when the ball comes towards me. A good start is always important.

During the game there is no time to think; there is only time to react in milliseconds at this level. You know what you have to do in each situation and it just happens. Almost mechanically. I always try to do the best that I can, save the un-savable, win the point that everyone thought was lost. This is what I strive to do. And this is all that I do and think about in the heat of the final.

Losing a final is sometimes devastating because you came so far, you tried so hard, and you fell short. But what can you do, it’s all part of the game. You lose some, you win some. It’s still an honor to be where you are, even if there is that bitter taste in your mouth; But, losing is learning. Through losses you learn much more than through wins. That is how a real athlete and a real champion thinks.

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he most important thing you learn in sports photography is anticipation - not where the action is taking place, but where it’s going to take place. Not where the subjects are now, but where they’re going to be...

MEMORIES

By Valia Efstathiou, Athletic Programs and Events Coordinator

-Lawrence Schiller

Sports Photographs are part of our legacy Photography in the ACS Athens Athletic Department has played a huge role over the years. The photographs we possess in our files are part of our school’s legacy and are considered to us as one of most valuable assets in the Athletic Office.

These pictures matter so much to us because the camera has the ability to freeze moments that are very significant to our teams and we can keep them alive forever.

Pictures not only help us remember faces, games and achievements over the years, but most importantly, the emotions of our student-athletes and coaches that are captured through the lens of the camera. What we try to capture during our events is not necessarily the moment when a ball crosses the goal line, or when a basket is made, but rather the intensity of the game or competition. Besides the aperture and shutter speed settings on the camera, the focus of the lens is set on the effort,

the values of our department and of course the emotions drawn on our athletes’ faces, whether these are excitement, passion or disappointment.

Just taking the pictures though is not enough.

Fulfillment is achieved when sharing and communicating the pictures with the school’s community. It is our pleasure to share these pictures with our students and parents or with alumni who occasionally send us emails requesting pictures from their glorious days of the past.

It is well known that trophies and medals carry dust, but memories through photographs last forever, and the ACS Athens Athletic Department is very well aware of this and stores all pictures safe in its “treasure” box for proof of our school’s history and sports legacy.

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It’s all about family

By Athanasia Kotsiani, High School Swimming Coach

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very year, as the new swimmers make the team and the seniors are no longer with us, the entire dynamic of the team changes. For this reason, it is important to develop a sense of community within the team from the onset of the season. Only when the swimmers feel that they are a part of a “family” will they show commitment to the goals of the team and, as a result of that sense of belonging, their effort will be apparent through their practices.

Each swimmer must realize that while swimming is considered an individual sport, their individual performances play a big role in the team’s overall outcome and the goals set for the entire season.

As a coach, it takes time to engage everyone and to gain their trust; this is achieved by long hours of individual and collective communication that is done through meetings, phone messages and of course our Facebook page. By doing all of the above, the hope is that everyone will “come on board” and that will mean that they will all be a step closer to reaching their goals.

In my many years of coaching at ACS Athens, team unity and team belonging are in the heart of my coaching. My main goal was to support the swimmers and to help them reach their potential. Don’t get me wrong! Sports are competitive by nature, so doing well in competitions was something that everyone , including myself, strived for. In the last 12 years, the ACS Athens swimming teams have been very successful in terms of winning championships and bringing home a

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lot of medals. For me, what is more valuable however, is the bond that is created between the athletes and of course their coaches. This year, our team succeeded in becoming something more than a team: a “FAMILY”! Throughout the season, they all came to morning practices, supported each other on good and bad days, had “potluck” breakfasts after the early practices and spent time all together on social occasions. WE DID IT TOGETHER! We celebrated each other’s successes in and out of the school environment, we had dinners and “sleepovers” at the end of the season.

We helped each other fall in love with this team, we became a family and we had an UNFORGETTABLE season! For this, I want to thank you all!

FAMILY

ATHLETES’ TESTIMONIALS I love our team. Swimming may not be known as a team sport, but honestly, this sport and this team has been more of a family to me than any other team sport I have participated in. We supported each other through the tough times and our moments of success.

This past swimming season will forever stay in my heart – Athina The past few months were absolutely amazing. What made the 2017 varsity swimming team special is that we weren’t just a team in the pool, but we were a team everywhere – Dieter This team truly is the best. It has turned into a big happy family! Almost half of our team is graduating in a few months and the team will never be the same

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again. We shared everything and through that we had fun and improved ourselves. Sharing is caring. I will always love my family – Marsia We celebrate our successes and support each other through our failures and that is what makes us not only a team but a family – Jason One sport, one team, one family. Even though swimming is an individual sport we are more of a team than team sports. Everyone supported each other.

One’s success was the entire team’s success. This unforgettable bond we share between us is what we call family. Unfortunately, the team is mostly comprised of seniors, but we will stay united and together. This team is a family and one I will cherish forever – Marian Joining this team was by far the best decision I made in my senior year. I am eternally grateful for my new family that I am part of, which I will always carry with me wherever I go – Maria This team has taught me that swimming is something more than a sport. We celebrate our success together, we support each other during our failures and encourage each other and keep trying. This is why we have grown to become a loving family – Jacqueline This is not just a team; it’s family. I feel we have a very strong bond. The experiences and the memories are unforgettable. I will never forget this swimming team and any of the members because it gave me a home and a place that makes me feel better. The swimming team has made my year exciting and fun – Emmanouil I can’t find a word for how amazing these last couple of months were. I loved everything. From the morning practices to all the dry land sessions. We are a family because we care for each other – Nicola We LOVE each other and we SUPPORT each other even outside the water - George

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+ Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort Franklin D. Roosevelt

SPORT AChievements 2016-2017

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The journey as a player and as an alumnus coach

rienced and knowledgeable coaches, the leadership qualities of a captain, the support of the school and its athletic department, the tools for organized practices and friendly games, and above all, the chemistry within a team working in harmony.

By Eric Sougioultzoglou, Alumnus, Parent and Coach

Upon our return from the ISST tournament, I walked down memory lane and wanted to grasp the differences from each of the “eras” of ACS Athens Volleyball in this time span of 35 years! What made the difference this season compared to my other fourteen seasons as a player or coach?

S

uccess: The right time and the right place...

35 years later

My love and passion for volleyball started in the early 80’s when, in 1981, as a freshman at ACS Athens I made the Varsity Volleyball team only because my Physical Education teacher, the legendary Coach Constantinides who was known to many as Coach “C”, encouraged me to try out. I was the 12th player on the team but nevertheless, I was ecstatic and I could not believe it!

In my years as a player, from 1981 to 1984, the ACS Athens Volleyball team reached the ISST Final Four every year but never managed to win the championship! Later on as a young coach of the team, from 1989 to 1995, the ACS Athens Volleyball team had overall winning record, but never performed at its best

during the ISST championships, finishing anywhere between 5th and 10th place among 12 teams. Finally, from 2013 to 2016, in my second “shot” at coaching, being much older and somewhat wiser with gray hair and beside another experienced coach , Mr. Angelo Dimitropoulos, success was finally accomplished by attaining the much desired first place in the ISST championships in Paris.

Reaching success in a team sport is a very complex network of events that have to take action at the right time and at the right place; just like a laboratory experiment, where all conditions, materials, participants and other variables have to be ideal in order to reach the perfect result. For a school team to earn a gold medal in the ISST championships, a number of elements are needed: talented players (strong starters and great back up substitutes), expe-

In the early 80s, and in particular during my first two years on the varsity team when I did not play much, our team was very good; led by a phenomenal and “big” player named Rony Seikaly (who went on to play basketball in the NBA) who carried the entire team. It was a time when other players were very good and even though I did not play much, I practiced hard and while on the bench, had the chance to study the game –our players and the opponents. For these two years, we played against the American School of London where the players where exceptional; a number of them were national team caliber players. Though the games were close, our players and coaches did not have the

much needed experience and poise to manage the pressure of the situations.

In my last two years as a player, my volleyball skills had significantly improved due to my involvement in a club team and while all the players played hard in every game, we did not have the multitude of talent to reach the finals.

In the 90s era, I returned to ACS Athens as a young ambitious coach with a desire to take the team all the way to the top! The focus was on complicated plays and strategic player placements and while all this was productive in our local and friendly matches, our ISST appearances were at times a disappointment; there was something missing, and that was the mental preparation and toughness when the heat was on. In other words the team psychology and cohesion was inexistent! While many games were won with outstanding “All star” individual performances, our team fell short in the games that were important.

The 2013-2016 time period was when it all slowly but steadily came together and the ACS Athens volleyball team matured year after year. Everything worked in unison: the team consisted of a group of talented players who were also friends, with some of them having started playing the game together since the JV team and Middle School. There

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were two experienced coaches involved that could focus in depth on a number of the game aspects, such as physical condition, technical, mental and strategic components. There was a “bigger picture� that evolved through the years: some of the players joined club teams which not only improved their personal skills, but also made the less experienced players improve as well. The players, under the leadership of the team captain and the upper classmen, bonded together and with hard work, patience, stamina, persistence, discipline, consistency, perseverance and enthusiasm by all parties involved, success was not far away.

The success of the team came in small parts: in 2013, with a team made up mostly of freshmen, the team finished fourth in the Division 2 ISST championship. A year later, the team lost a grueling final game after a three hour game and a tie breaker. In 2015, ACS Athens won the gold medal in the Division 2 ISST championship having won all eight games without dropping a single set, a difficult feat in any kind of volleyball competition.

By last November, the team was like a fist. Everything and everyone was in unity; the puzzle was almost finished. We were the favorites to earn the gold which of course added more

pressure to the team. They had to prove it on the court!

The ACS Athens team did exactly that: the team swept through the championship, undefeated in eight games, and won back to

back championships.

It could not have been made possible without everything working like a clock: the players (the younger players and the

seniors), the coaches, the parents and the school. But there is one more parameter that is important: TEAM CHEMISTRY!

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THE HOUSING EXPERIENCE

By Mrs. Christy Paleocrassas – Parent of two ACS Athens student-athletes

W

hen your kid makes the school team, you’re more than happy!

You’re ecstatic!

Then comes the realization that making the team means having responsibilities too. Not only for them, but for the parents too!

One of these responsibilities has to do with housing guest athletes during international competitions.

As a parent of two student-athletes at ACS Athens, I had to house guest athletes about 10 times throughout all their years of participation; my guests came from different countries in Europe and it was a great experience for us as a family. I never had any problems with any of the children I housed.

My main goal was to make my guests feel at home as much as possible; I cooked for them

traditional Greek cuisine so they can be exposed to the local culture, helped them feel comfortable and of course made sure that they were on time for their competitions.

I believe that everyone benefited from the housing experiences! My children had the opportunity to make friends with student-athletes from other schools and other countries and had the opportunity to learn from each other. In many cases, despite the competition between them, they became close friends and kept in touch via Facebook and other means.

At the same time, our guests got a taste of Greece, our hospitality and our cuisine, our willingness to provide the best accommodation and the best experience during their time away from their homes.

Having to house became for me a pleasant routine that I’m sure I will never forget!

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SPECIAL EVENTS 2016-2017 ISST GIRLS VOLLEYBALL VISITING TEAMS 1. ACS Hillingdon, England 2. American International School of Vienna, Austria 3. American School in Israel 4. American School of Paris, France 5. Munich International School, Germany 6. St. Johns International School, Belgium 7. Vienna International School, Austria

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SCIS Middle school swimming VISITING TEAMS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

American International School of Budapest, Hungary American International School of Vienna, Austria Frankfurt International School, Germany American School of Warsaw, Poland Zurich International School, Switzerland International School of Zug & Luzern, Switzerland Inter Community School of Zurich, Switzerland Munich International School, Germany International School of Basel, Switzerland

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international swimming cup PARTICIPATING TEAMS 1. American Community School of Amman, Jordan 2. ACS Tunis 3. American International School of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 4. American School of Israel 5. American School of Kuwait 6. American International School Vienna, Austria 7. Universal American School in Dubai, United Arab Emirates 8. Vienna International School, Austria 9. Cairo American College, Egypt 10. Gems Wellington Academy Dubai, United Arab Emirates 11. Frankfurt International School, Germany 12. Avgoulea Linardatou School, Greece 13. CGS, Greece 14. Ellinogermaniki Agogi, Greece 15. German School of Athens, Greece 16. Nea Genia Ziridi, Greece 17. ACS Athens

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International youth basketball Tournament VISITING TEAMS GIRLS 1. ESKA (Youth Selection Team Attica, Greece) 2. ESKANA (Youth Selection Team Southern Attica, Greece) 3. EKASTH (Youth Selection team Thessaloniki, Greece) BOYS 4. ACS Cobham, England 5. Odeon Basket, Serbia 6. Stellazzurra Academy, Italy

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International BASKETBALL COACHES CLINIC VISITING SPEAKERS 1. Henry Barrera - Strength & Conditioning Coach Liberty University (NCAA) 2. Collin Castellaw - Shot Mechanics 3. June Daugherty Washington State University (NCAA) 4. Slobodan Subotic Coach & Retired Basketball player

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ISST TENNIS VISITING TEAMS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

TASIS, England St. John’s, Belgium American School of the Hague, Netherlands Cairo American College, Egypt International School of Brussels, Belgium

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International TRACK & FIELD COMPETITION PARTICIPATING TEAMS 1. Amman Baccalaureate School 2. ACS Tunis 3. Vienna International School 4. Pierce College 5. German School of Athens 6. Ellinogermaniki Agogi 7. CGS 8. St. Catherine’s 9. Campion 10. ACS Athens

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Message to ACS Athens

By Dr. Eric A. Zillmer, Director of Athletics, Pacifico Professor of Neuropsychology, Drexel University

D

ear ACS Athens,

A few years ago I had the pleasure of serving as the Athletic Banquet speaker of ACS Athens.

I enjoyed my time in Athens and I learned so much about your campus, the students, and your faculty. Reflecting on my experience, I believe that ACS Athens and Drexel University where I have worked for 29 years have a lot in common. I would like to briefly reflect on those similarities, because I propose that the education of young men and young women has become a more difficult enterprise today and is directly related to the geopolitical complexities of our world that we live in.

I am certain that in the pursuit of higher education, now is a good time as any, to return to one’s core values. As someone who works in athletics as well as in education I think there are a lot of similarities. It is important to remember what those values are because today, and more than ever, one has to rely on a moral compass when making difficult decisions in an ambiguous environment.

First and foremost, whether at ACS Athens or at Drexel University, and whether on an athletic team or in a

classroom, it is important to create a safe environment that feels like family. It is also essential to include all members of one’s team and to understand the community that one learns and lives in. It is vital to reach for the stars and to try one’s best, and to celebrate those achievements. And, it is important to remain loyal to one’s teammates as well as to one’s school. In Annie Constantinides, your Athletic Director, you have a proven leader who makes all around her feel like teammates. And in President Dr. Stefanos Gialamas you are lucky to have an innovative educational groundbreaker. So I know you are in good hands. This is what I learned on my visit to your school and the values that are also important to me on my home campus.

I believe that this is what matters most on the athletic field and in the game of life.

I hope to visit your beautiful and interesting campus in the near future.

All the best from Philadelphia USA

Dr. Eric A. Zillmer

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ALUMNI Achievements

STATHIS MALAMAS (class of 2016) DREXEL UNIVERSITY

Stathis @ ACS Athens

Stathis Malamas had an outstanding freshman year in and out of the pool.

Stathis owned the Dragons’ best swim of the season in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 44.74 at the CAA Championships. That was also a new Drexel freshman record. He was second on the squad this season in both the 50yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle with times of 20.79 and 1:38.35. Both of those times were in the CAA Championships. The freshman helped Drexel grab three silver relay finishes at the conference championships as he swam leadoff in the 200, 400 and 800-yard freestyle relays.

Stathis @ Drexel University

Quote from Head Coach Drexel Swimming and Diving Adam Braun: “Stathis made an immediate impact for our team as a freshman in both individual and relay events. Stathis has a great attitude and approach to swimming and I am excited to see what he can accomplish over the next three years at Drexel!”

Quote from Dr. Eric Zillmer, Director of Athletics: “Not only did I cheer Stathis on in the pool, but I also got to know him personally out of the pool. He and I sat together for an interview about his sports management class and we had an interesting discussion about sports and life. Stathis is an outstanding athlete and a great student-athlete. We are very proud to call him a Dragon!”

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PINELOPI PAVLOPOULOU (class of 2014)

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

Pinelopi @ ACS Athens

Pinelopi Pavlopoulou is a junior guard at Washington State University; one of the three captains this year, Pinelopi has been an integral part of the women’s basketball team. Pinelopi has shown great improvement since her freshman year and played in all 36 games this season (started in 19 of them). She is majoring in Management Information Systems and earned Pac-12 All-Academic First Team honors with a 3.77 GPA. She was selected to play for the U16, U18 and U20 Greek National Teams; Pinelopi came to ACS Athens as a sophomore and played for the ACS Athens varsity basketball team for two years, when she led the team to two ISST (International Schools Sports Tournaments) Division 1 Championships.

Pinelopi @ Washington State University

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IOANNIS KYRIAZIS (class of 2014)

TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY

Ioannis @ ACS Athens

Ioannis is a junior at Texas A & M and has been a dominant force on the track team as a javelin thrower since his initial appearance. This past year, Ioannis has thrown the phenomenal 88:01 meters, ranking him No.2 all-time in the NCAA and number one in the world. Ioannis is a member of the Hellenic National team and has many appearances in Balkan, European and World Championships. His major is Kinesiology. During his sports time at ACS Athens, Ioannis was a member of our volleyball and track and field teams.

Ioannis @ Texas A & M University

Melina @ ACS Athens

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Melina @ Bentley University

MELINA KOLLIA (class of 2013)

BENTLEY UNIVERSITY Melina Kollia is pursuing her Emerging Leaders MBA after graduating last May, in three years, with a BS in Economics-Finance. Melina has seen action on the Women’s Basketball team coming off the bench in most of the games. She has been a member of the U16 National team prior to her Bentley career; Melina received the Diana W. Tamari Scholarship in 2010 and she attended ACS Athens as a sophomore. She was a member of the ACS Athens varsity basketball team for three years; in 2012 she led the team to an ISST Division 1 championship.

Dimitra @ ACS Athens

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Efi @ ACS Athens

Efi @ University of Essex

EFI BASOUKOU AND DIMITRA TSAVOU (Class of 2014) UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX Efi and Dimitra will be graduating from the University of Essex this year; Dimitra will receive a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Biomedical Science and Efi will earn a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Psychology.

During their studies both Efi and Dimitra have been members of the University of Essex Basketball team.

Prior to their university studies, they attended our school in their sophomore year and both of them are the recipients of the 2011-12 Diana W. Tamari Scholarships.

While at ACS Athens, Efi and Dimitra were members of our varsity girls basketball team.

Dimitra @ University of Essex

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INTRODUCING THE ACS ATHENS COMPETITIVE TEAMS

CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS

JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER

VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER

JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS SOCCER

VARSITY BOYS SOCCER

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JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

VARSITY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS VOLLEYBALL

VARSITY BOYS VOLLEYBALL

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MIDDLE SCHOOL SWIMMING

HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING

JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL

VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL

JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL

VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL

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Junior varsity tennis

varsity tennis

middle school track & field

high school track & field

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A SMALL gesture can make a difference!

T

he ACS Athens Athletic Council is a leadership group made of student/athletes representing our school sports and all the athletes. Their leadership role is not limited on the courts or fields; it also expands into the classroom and the community.

A few years ago the Athletic Council initiated the “Sports Shoes Recycling” project at ACS Athens in collaboration with the NGO “Institute Team for the World”. This project is an ongoing project that exists in a number of large international events, such as the Athens Classic Marathon; the athletic council reached out to the athletes, their families and the ACS community to collect “old” sneakers that are still in good condition, in order to make them available to the refugees and others in need. They even extended an invitation to other international schools that came to our school in order to participate in our international events.

This year, ACS Athens received a certificate of recognition from the “Institute Team for the World” for the collection of 1,000 pairs of shoes!

Many thanks to all parties that have embraced this initiative!

Athletic Council 2016-2017 Katerina Farou, Artemis Fotinos, Stela Kalogirou, Sophia Kotsianou , Maria Anna Rifiotis Andreas Kordalis, Angelo Makras, Ted Soulanticas, Chris Sougioultzoglou, Simon Veldkamp, Takao Yatagai