Sports Profiles: Volleyball and Football
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All profile photos taken by: Carli Stander
Sports September 2013
Ashley Christiantiello- Volleyball
It is always important for teams to carry veterans with much experience for key situations under pressure. Junior Ashley Christiantiello will not only bring this needed experience, but will also bring character and discipline to the PPCHS volleyball team. With roughly seven years of experience under her belt, Ashley has played with a very well-known travel team – Wildfire volleyball club – for several years now and has improved every day since. “I have a lot of knowledge for the game, I try to be the best leader I can on and off the court,” she said. As a team captain, Ashley must up her game as a person and as a player to guide the varsity team towards success when they take on tough competition across the region throughout the season. Ashley is definitely all business after attending UCONN’s volleyball camp this past summer and hopefully attending Penn State’s next summer. Her life-long dream is to play in a competitive D-1 school, but for now it’s time for her to help rise up a banner for Jaguar volleyball.
John Jablonka- Football
New stadium. New uniforms. New stage. Same starting quarterback. Although senior John Jablonka suffered a left collar bone injury in just the first game of the season, PPCHS is in full support of his comeback. Since the age of five, John has been in the love with them game of football and is a teammate and athlete like no other. With a schedule tougher than ever, John realizes it’s his time to shine with a new look for the football team this year even if he’s on the sidelines. He said, “I’m ready to surprise all of Broward County this season. I look at myself as the general out on the field even when I’m injured and it’s my job to get the team going, especially the younger guys.” John and the rest of the football team are expecting much support from the charter fan base this season at all games. With that in mind, he realizes he must perform to the best of his ability no matter what the scoreboard reads if he returns. John is amped up for homecoming night when they take on rivals Archbishop McCarthy and is excited to prove to everyone that Jaguar football is for real. It’s not quite known if he will be back by then, but John is trying his best to do so.
Leysi Espinel- Volleyball
Talent is something many student-athletes at PPCHS are born with. Sophomore Leysi Espinel happens to be one and displays her outstanding skills playing her favorite sport: volleyball. With her height, Leysi originally got into playing volleyball with the motivation from her family, but especially her older sister. It’s absolutely astonishing that Leysi has achieved so much out on the court with just two years of experience. With the season getting ready to go, Leysi is set for success as she takes on her varsity year as a Jaguar. “I’m motivated and determined. I love helping people when they need help or don’t know what to do,” she stated. Leysi is anything but a selfish player and her skills and great attitude will possibly land her at her dream school, Penn State, for volleyball. The varsity volleyball team will only improve with their new addition and Leysi’s motto being “Why ever reach for anything but the best?” will surely secure victory.
Damien Charles- Football
Every team needs that x-factor, and for PPCHS, its name is Damien Charles. Most people know him as one of Charter’s finest players on the varsity football team; however, he wasn’t always one of the best on the field. It all started back in the 5th grade when a pudgy kid was just looking for a way to lose some weight, so he decided to give football a go. He played for the West Pines Wildcats during his middle school years, but never really stood out. After frequent practicing and vigorous training, he was able to defy odds by making the varsity team at Pines Charter during his freshman year. He really started to catch people’s eyes during his sophomore year as he was able to excel at virtually every position on the field. Now entering his junior year, great things are expected of this true athlete. As long as he continues to keep working hard, he will certainly meet those high expectations.
Yahaira Amaro- Volleyball
When someone is introduced to a sport at a young age, they tend to gravitate towards it. That is exactly the case for Pines Charter varsity volleyball player Yahaira Amaro. As a child, Yahaira was always around volleyball. Both her parents and older sisters played the sport, which made it easier for her to learn how to play. At age eleven, Yahaira wasn’t sure if volleyball was really the sport for her. She tried out for other sports like soccer, but she never took a liking to them. After failing to find another sport, she realized that all along the sport for her was volleyball. Ever since that moment, Yahaira has been working hard and tries to get better every single day. She is looking to get a volleyball scholarship now that she is a junior. Going into this year, she has the confidence that the team will achieve great things. “The varsity team is poised to make a big run this year. I am going to have to step up and perform like I know how in order for our team to succeed.” comments Yahaira.
Troy Bottom- Football
Senior Troy Bottom is an important piece to the Pembroke Pines Charter football team. As a second year team captain, many of his teammates look to him for inspiration and leadership. Bottom plays both center and nose guard, so he leads his teammates both on the offensive and defensive lines. As a captain, Bottom is in charge of the play calling for the offensive line. “I was a captain last year and was in charge of the same thing,” said Bottom. “It is a huge responsibility.” In high school, Bottom played two seasons with the JV team, both seasons he was named MVP. At the end of his sophomore year, Bottom was called up to play Varsity, but received no playing time. At the start of his junior year, Bottom was named a captain. Now, in his senior year, Bottom is once again ready to lead this football team to victory. Last year, Bottom was a Sun-Sentinel all county honorable mention. Being an honorable mention is a great accomplishment and Bottom well deserved it. Bottom is ready to perform even better than he did last year, and lead the Pines Charter football team to victory.
Solution to PED epidemic? Just say no Brett Alayon STAFF WRITER
Just a couple weeks ago, the MLB handed out a dozen suspensions to active players whom tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Star players including Ryan Braun, Nelson Cruz, and several others will not be able to help their teams make a playoff run out on the diamond. Arguably the biggest star that will be suspended is Alex Rodriguez, who after the appeal is over, may miss the entire 2014 season. The suspensions these professional athletes received were lengthy not only in the MLB, but in other sports too. However, these socalled “cheaters” have no one to blame but themselves. Not too long ago, the idea of testing athletes for PED’s as early as high school came up. This created much controversy
immediately across the nation. With marquee athletes in any sport achieving so much in high school, it may bring up a few questions: Did he/she use any performance enhancing drugs to improve their game?” or “Did this athlete not take PED’s and is 100% clean?” Well there’s only on way to find out. On the topic of drugs, senior baseball player at PPCHS, Danny Melgarejo commented, “I feel like using PED’s is the lowest thing an athlete can do. I think it’s cheating and unfair to the rest of us who don’t use that stuff. I also believe that players that are caught using PED’s should be banned from their sport.” Getting banned from the sport you love before you to go to college can wash away any athlete’s dream. To avoid any further issues, people are attempting to put a stop
to the use of these drugs once and for all. It may seem insane for a teenager to use these drugs at such an early stage in their life, but so many high school athletes are currently using them. In some eyes, it’s perfectly fine to take these drugs, but they realize the risk they are taking. Senior basketball player at PPCHS, Stephan Montes stated, “I see why high school athletes use them, the level of competition in this generation is unprecedented and the need to get ahead is ridiculous, but at the same time I would never recommend or condone the usage of them.” There is a solution to everything in this world and in this case, an abundance of people believe testing for these drugs as early as in high school may be it. Now there’s even a simpler solution for these athletes to never get in trouble and to avoid
being banned from the sport they love. And that is to not take them.
Graphic by: Armondo Urena