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Proving myself to that one empty seat
SPORTS
I
see all the possible ways I could succeed in the next two minutes. I see all the possible ways I could fail. But this all happens over the course of five seconds. Or maybe less. I’ve lost count. My senses melt over one another as I feel the absence of my dad in the audience. I hear the curious whispers of the Scottish fighters behind me. It’s a mess of noises, but in the junk I recognize the words: “16,” “first,” “banana” as I face the piercing gaze of my opponent across the mat. I go through the checklist to distract myself. Boxing gloves and sparring gloves and shin pads and foot pads and headgear. Wait. My mouthpiece. My mouthpiece. I remember the panic that sent CJ Crawford my heart Focus Editor racing as I went through my gear in the morning, the world painted bright by my eyes, plagued with irrational fear and anger. But I’m not going to let the smallest piece of gear in my bag render me ineligible to fight. Not fight — prove myself. To the empty seat in the stands to my left. The folded wad of paper towel from the bathroom feels soft in my hands, but it turns rough as bark and tastes sour when I stuff it in front of my upper row of teeth. I walk towards the middle as the corner judge calls my name — paper plastered to my mouth. My opponent, some 17-yearold from Florida, looks at me from head-to-toe. The exchange is routine as we measure each other up in less than two seconds. My glare goes from analytical to predatory as I flex for an instant, making a bold power move to intimidate. It seems to work as he tries to do the same, but it doesn’t hold the same effect. “Chayrut! Kyungnet!” The judge yells. “Taekwon!” Both of us take our fighting stances and yell. My heart’s pounding in my chest now. Lead leg, jam it, then back fist or jab. Lead leg, jump turn kick. No. Jab first to see his reaction. Lead leg roundhouse — two times — one high, one low. Just go. We begin to bounce in place, swinging our arms. We’re fighting each other in our minds and thinking one, two, three, four sequences ahead. I take one more moment to look to the audience. My dad looks from his previously empty seat, phone in hand, recording me fighting. No. Proving myself. And I smile and chuckle, much to the confusion of the fighter in front of me. “Kihap!” And we begin.
STAY ON TOP
SPORTS Chris McElhaney photo
Senior Tucker Ribman attempts to flip his opponent over in order to pin him during a match at the wrestling team’s first tournament Nov. 18 at ESD. The team, which is led by a coaching staff with newcomers including head coach Reyno Arredondo and assistant coach Jason Leneau, will compete in over ten different events this year, including the SPC championship match and the annual Prep Nationals tournament in February.
Sports in brief JV SPORTS START SEASON
The freshman basketball team holds a record of 2-1 having only lost to John Paul II. JV has a record of 2-0. The two teams defeated McKinney Christian and Spruce High school. The JV basketball team competed in the West Mesquite Tournament from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. The two teams took on the Anglican Church Grammar School at home Dec. 5, and both will square off against Adamson High School Dec. 8. The JV soccer team is also off to a hot start having won their first game against ESD. The team faced Trinity Christian Academy at home Dec. 1 and Cistercian, at Cistercian, Dec. 4. They will take on Trinity Valley at home Dec. 8.
NEW CLUB OPENS FIRST YEAR AT TURKEY TROT The St. Mark’s Running Club participated in the 50th annual Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot over Thanksgiving break. This was the first year the club has participated in the event, which includes five-kilometer and eight-mile-long races, both of which snake through the streets of downtown. Club president Mujin Kwun believes the group of several runners accomplished their goal of bringing the community together through a shared love of running, even though the club is still in its first year. VARSITY TENNIS COACH NAMED AFTER SEARCH The Athletic Department named Sana Cortas as the varsity tennis team’s next head coach, becoming the team’s fourth head coach in
the past four years. Cortas is currently a tennis instructor at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas. She will be assisted by longtime coach Jerry Lacey, who last year assisted then head coach Lance Hagan in managing the team. MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS OPEN SECOND TRIMESTER SPORTS The Middle School sports teams are looking to have a strong start to the second season of sports. The seventh and eighth grade blue and gold basketball teams started their seasons with games at home against Cistercian Nov. 29. The seventh and eighth grade soccer teams played their first games Nov. 28 at home against ESD. Middle School swimming and
wrestling are also looking forward to competing in their first tournaments and meet. FALL SPC YIELDS STRONG RESULTS, BEGINNING TO YEAR The weekend of SPC tournaments Nov. 10-12 brought back two top three finishes, but no titles for Lions sports teams. Varsity volleyball and cross-country teams both placed in their SPC championships in Fort-Worth as the teams took home third and fourth place respectively. The varsity football squad ended its year with a winning 5-3 season but ultimately COMPETING did not qualify for the Senior Tucker RibSPC playoffs. man takes After losing the down the competition. Athletic Directors’ Cup — the prize given to the best overall athletic program
in the SPC — to Kinkaid last year, this season marked the Lions’ first attempt to bring it back to 10600 Preston Rd. ALUMNI CONTINUE STRONG YEARS IN NFL, NCAA Ty Montgomery ’11, running back for the 5-6 Green Bay Packers, continues to shine in his third season in the NFL. Coming off of a 23-16 win over the Chicago Bears, which included Montgomery’s 37-yard touchdown run, the Packers and Montgomery look to finish the NFL season out strong. Sam Clayman ’17, a freshman at Princeton University, had a successful fall season on the golf team. Playing in three of the first four tournaments, Clayman scored his best college performance at Dartmouth’s Quechee Collegiate Invitational, where he reached the round of top 15 golfers in the tournament.
— Nathan Han, Connor Pierce, Parker Davis, Nick Walsh, CJ Crawford, Josh Daniels
Inside
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The scoreboard Varsity Basketball
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Emergence of esports
Taking a look at one of of the fastest-growing sports trends in recent years.
Wins
JV Basketball
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New wrestling coach
Reyno Arredondo ’87 has been overseas with the U.S. Army, and now he’s back to coach the varsity wrestling team.
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Wins
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Sports nutrition
How to best supplement your physical regimen to find athletic success..
Losses
Varsity Soccer
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Wins
Losses
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One of my favorite statistics is the assist to turnover ratio. I make it a personal goal of mine to keep that ratio high because that’s one of the best ways I can help the team and give us the best chance to win.”
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— Junior guard Austin Nadalini
JV Soccer
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Wins
Losses
SPC spectating tips from the Superfans
Scouting in the D.R.
Sitting down with Hamilton Wise ’08, now a scout for the Texas Rangers.
Losses
Highlight reel
The fans at the football games were amazing, but we can do better. The chants are going to be bigger and louder in Hicks Gym for the basketball games, and out on the field for soccer, and swimming will not be forgotten.”
— Senior Avery Pearson
We are cooking up new and better chants that will get the crowd on their feet. The most important thing that we’re doing to prep is making sure the fans go to the games. It’s the fans that really control the feeling of the game, so keep it up for the winter!”
— Senior Will Wood
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points at the team’s tournament over Thanksgiving break
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Nadalini’s three-point percentage thus far this season, one of the highest on the varsity team.