Thursday, December 22, 2016
The Smoke Signal
www.thesmokesignal.org
Sports 21
Fall Athlete of the Season Nominees By Shivani Avasarala, Anagha Mandayam, Michael Ren & Helen Wang Staff Writers During the Fall Sports Season, students participated in Girls’ and Boys’ Water Polo, Girls’ Tennis, Girls’ and Boys’ Cross Country, Girls’ Volleyball, Gymnastics, Cheer, and Girls’ Golf. The Smoke Signal features the nominees for athlete of the season from each sport and describes their performance and role in their respective teams below. The overall Athlete of the Season title was awarded to Junior Shrey Vasavada for a second consecutive year.
sarah chen, Girls’ Waterpolo
Shrey VasavadA, BOys Cross Country
Captain Senior Sarah Chen played an integral Fall Athlete of the Season winner Junior Shrey role in Girls’ Water Polo’s third place finVasavada originally joined Cross Country as ish at the Mission Valley Athletic League Ficonditioning for soccer, but began to enjoy nals (MVALs). Chen first began swimming the sport and has been on the Varsity team when she was 8 years old, and became interfor the past three years. Since his freshman ested in water polo after watching the sport year, Vasavada has developed skills through in the 2012 London Summer Olympics. She being on the team that he now finds applisubsequently joined Girls’ Water Polo in her cable to other parts of his life, such as rigor freshman year and played the sport throughand work ethic. This past season, Vasavada out high school. During her senior year as has improved and achieved his new personal captain, she organized many team bonding best time for the three-mile race, 15:33, while activities and also served to give the team a competing at MVALs. In addition, he placed encouraging and positive atmosphere. Her in the top 30 at the Stanford Invitational that role model is former Olympic gold medtook place on October 1. “I don’t see myself alist Brenda Villa, who was key to the success of Team USA’s Water Polo team. Chen as the best; every race, I’ve put in the best effort and hope for the best outcome,” Vasavada can also relate to Villa because of their comparable heights. “I’m quite the midg- said. Next season, he hopes the Varsity Boys’ team will make it to the State Championship meet. et myself and [Villa] reminds me that short people can still dominate in sports,” said Chen.
jayashri viswanathan, Girls’ Tennis
Audrey Lin, Girls’ Golf
Captain Junior Audrey Lin led the Girls’ Golf team through a rewarding season, while also placing medals in six tournaments this year and setting her personal best record during MVALs. Influenced by both her father and grandfather, Lin decided to play golf while still in eighth grade and now plays a crucial role on her team as captain, helping less experienced team members adjust to the sport and improve their skills throughout the season. On her sources of inspiration, Lin said, “My role models would be both my coaches … Seeing how much they have to work to help me improve really motivates me.” In the future, Lin plans on practicing and improving her skills, and pursuing this sport through her college career.
Captain Senior Jayashri Viswanathan first started playing tennis alongside her father at the age of 8. She went on to play Varsity tennis for all four years of high school and was the only senior on the team this past season. As captain, she asserted that everyone attended practice regularly and guided the team through a strong season, finishing with a 14-0 regular season record. Viswanathan and her doubles partner, freshman Ellyn Xu, won their first match at MVALs, which took place at Chabot College. In addition, Viswanathan won her singles North Coast Section (NCS) match at Monte Vista. Viswanathan said “Even though [the team] lost to Monte Vista, the best team in the state, we put up a really good fight.” Viswanathan’s achievements this season won her the title of Most Valuable Player (MVP). As she moves on to college, she hopes to play club tennis for the college she attends.
Jiti sarkar, Cheer
Captain Senior Jiti Sarkar first heard about the Cheer team in eighth grade and joined due to her interest in dance. Sarkar went on to become captain during her sophomore year and this season she is the only senior on the team. As captain, she has the most experience and is working to ensure that other members improve as well. Sarkar said, “Everyone looks up to me when they need advice or when they need to know how to do something.” So far this year, Sarkar was nominated as an All-American Cheerleader and was invited to participate in a National Cheer Association performance in London and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but declined both offers. Currently, Sarkar is unsure whether she will continue to do cheer in college.
sabrina shih, Gymnastics
Captain Junior Sabrina Shih played a key role in holding the team together as Girls’ Gymnastics pushed through the season for a successful finish at MVALs. This was Shih’s first year on Varsity Elite, after competing on the Varsity team through her freshman and sophomore years and placing all-around first at several tournaments. On her role on the team, Shih said, “As a captain of the team, [I] have the duty to always encourage all of my teammates. To be there and to cheer them on really helps to bolster their confidence while they’re competing.” Shih also cites her role model as Olympic medalist Shawn Johnson. Next season, she hopes to maintain her performance and continue to support and build the gymnastics team.
Avery smith, Girls’ Cross Country
Girls’ Cross Country team were co-champions at MVALs, with Junior Avery Smith playing a vital role in the outcome as the fastest Varsity girl this year. Because every final position mattered, the team depended on Smith to place high consistently throughout the season. After her middle school physical education teacher recommended her to join cross country in high school, Smith joined the team and in this year placed first in every race except one and came in second at MVALs individually, even quitting soccer to focus on running. Next year, Smith hopes for more incoming underclassmen who can contribute to the team. Like her role model Olympian Jennifer Simpson, she strives to improve her times, continue leading the team as a key runner, and plans to eventually compete in college.
christopher ha, Boys’ Water Polo
Captain Senior Christopher Ha led the Boys’ Water Polo team this year. Though Ha originally didn’t find swimming enjoyable, he quickly found that he loved water polo after switching to the sport when he was 14 years old. This season, the team managed to reverse their poor start and end the season strong, taking second place at MVALs. Ha was initially frustrated with his team’s performance in the first half of the season, but he addressed the issues in the second half by working more with the team’s newer players. “Coming into the second half of the season, I became a lot more patient; I tried to understand their strengths and weaknesses and make them think as one unit,” said Ha. He is unsure of whether he will continue to play water polo competitively in college, but he still plans to return to the sport after he graduates.
michelle zhang & Cynthia Zhang, Girls’ Volleyball
Originating from Hopkins Junior High School’s volleyball program, setter Senior Cynthia Zhang and outside hitter Junior Michelle Zhang led Girls’ Volleyball to a strong season, advancing to quarterfinals in NCS and winning the East Valley Invitational Tournament. Cynthia, a four-year Varsity member and MVP winner, said “As a setter, I have to lead the offense and many of our technical decisions, which plays an instrumental role in determining the outcome of the play.” Her role model is Coach Donny Hui, who has taught her to become a better person and athlete. Michelle, who has also been a Varsity member since freshman year and was awarded Best Offensive Player and MVP in previous years, said, “I tried to be a team player and act as an indirect leader on the court.” Her role models are her mother and professional beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings. Cynthia and Michelle both qualified for MVALs all-league team and hope to integrate volleyball into their college careers. photos by graphics editor victor zhou, staff writers anagha mandayam, michael ren & helen wang