SPORTS VARSITY TENNIS COMPETES IN CLOVIS

by Ashley Strain Sports Editor

Weight training and cardio activity allows athletes to stay fit and prepared for their sport seasons ahead. This is why the weight sessions have returned as a requirement for all NDB athletes. Over the summer, the weight room was filled with athletes from all fitness levels and sports teams. Each returning athlete is required to complete at least 20 workouts before their sport season begins. Multi-sport athletes only need to attend 20 preseason workouts before their first sport of the season. This system is unique to NDB, being one of the only schools on the peninsula that maintains pre-season workout requirements for the athletes. This rule has been set in place for the past 15 years, however was put on hold for the past two years during COVID-19. As fall sports begin, athletes are required to attend weekly weight training sessions in the NDB weight room. Coach Kate Mahoney, who supervises the weight room, holds daily weight sessions for each sport, along with drop-ins. These sessions are about 30 to 45 minutes long with three sets of workouts ranging from balance to stability and core work. “Through these sport specific exercises, athlete’s increase their strength and movement patterns which can translate

to increased performance in their sport,” Mahoney shared.

Requiring these pre-season sessions has been proven to prevent potential injuries in NDB athletes. Making these sessions a requirement to participate in the sport encourages athletes to attend. These scheduled, simple workouts help strengthen

muscles, while also exercising tendons and stretching ligaments, which ultimately prevent the amount of potential injuries for the upcoming season. “Having a good base of conditioning and strength leading into a sports season can greatly lower the risk of injury. The focus of every workout is proper mechanics of all exercises. If an athlete does no training leading into a sports season their body will not be ready for the stress that is put on it during practices and competitions which can lead to injuries,” Mahoney stated. NDB athletes are going into their sports ready for the seasons ahead.

JENNIFER JIN / THE CATALYST

Tennis athletes roll out their muscles after a weight room session.

“Through these sport specific exercises, athlete’s increase their strength and movement patterns...”

- Kate Mahoney Athletic Coordinator

Golf gets into the swing of the season

by Hannah Nebres Arts & Life Co-Editor

With the start of school comes the start of fall sports, and golf is no exception. The varsity team of 12 welcomed six new players to their roster, along with their new coach, Douglas Requilman from the Spiritual Life Department.

The team began practicing in early August with practices from Monday to Friday at Mariners Point Golf Center in Foster City. Practices consist of long games at the driving range, along with chipping or putting in the short game area. The team has been preparing for the season ahead by holding consistent weekly practices, as well as making time for games at Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica. This allows the athletes to get comfortable playing on the course. Varsity Golf attended its first match on August 9 at the Burlingame Country Club, originally against Crystal Springs Uplands HS, but due to a scheduling conflict, it was changed to a three-way match against both Crystal Springs Uplands and Castilleja from Palo Alto. The Tigers lost to Crystal Springs Uplands with a final score of 290 to 227. The team’s resilience and sportsmanship shone through as the next match was upcoming. Three days later, on September 1, the team hosted NDSJ at Moffett Field in Mountain View. The Tigers emerged victorious with a 249 to 283 win. The low score can be attributed to junior Savannah Sweet, who finished with two birdies, an eagle and a two-over-par score. Although golf is an individual sport, the Tigers showed their pride in sportsmanship, and their strength as a team was evident. While golf is not physically intense, the sport is notorious for its mental difficulty. Unlike team sports, where players perform together and simultaneously, golf relies on each player’s individual performance. A player’s decisions in team sports like basketball directly affect each teammate and the game moves at a faster pace. However, in golf, the spotlight is fixated on each player and the team does not know how everyone else is playing until the end of the match when each golfer’s score is added together.

HANNAH NEBRES/ THE CATALYST

Junior Dani DeMera gets ready to tee off at Crystal Springs Golf Course.

pared playing a team sport and an individual sport. “I think of golf as a team because we practice together. The only difference is, during games, you’re on your own. It’s you against someone else, and you’re not really thinking about anyone else,” Co continued. “You want your team to do good, but you’re just focusing primarily on yourself... in basketball, you have to focus on the other four people on the team on the court.” Going into the season with these wins and losses has bonded the team and proved their resilience and determination to have a great season. Varsity Golf is looking forward to the rest of its season, and the team hopes to continuously improve their skills and take home new lessons from each match.

EDWIN MARTINEZ / WIKIMEDIA

Serena Williams serves at the U.S. Open in 2013.

by Ashley Strain Sports Editor

American professional tennis player, Serena Williams, walked off the court for the last time after the Women’s U.S. Open in New York on September 2. Holding the title of top female tennis player in the world for several years, Williams transformed the sport of tennis, inspiring African American athletes and altering women’s sports forever. With 23 Grand Slam singles titles and six doubles titles, she has matured into being one of the best tennis players of all time. Williams began her love of tennis at just three years old and became a professional at just 14. For Williams, everything began after her first competitive match in October 1995. This then led to her first rotation in the Grand Slams in 1998. Although an extremely difficult decision for Williams, she eventually decided that it was time to say goodbye to her beloved sport. As she gets older, and so does her only daughter Olympia, she wants to prioritize her family and life that she has outside of tennis with hopes of possibly expanding her family. Williams’ resilience, strength and determination toward tennis is admirable to people all over the world. Being an African American woman walking into a sport that lacks cultural diversity, her persistence proved her love for the sport and strength that she has for herself. She changed the way women are viewed as athletes in general. Williams redesigned the collared shirt and classic tennis skirt with her full-blown tennis fashion. By dominating matches, she changed the look of tennis. Along with her influence and power, Williams inspires many on and off the court. While off the court, she participates in charity work, and has since 2006. Due to her donations and determination, she holds the title of Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Through UNICEF, she is working to raise awareness and money for the opportunity of school and an education for kids all around the world. Even after her retirement from the sport, Williams’ legacy will forever live on. Her admirable strength and determination throughout her career has inspired women all over the world. Her tenacity lit a spark for many young women, which will add fuel to her eternal flame.

Follow @NDBAthletics for the fall season sports news, game schedule and scores.

In memory of Nicole Claire Lindeman, ‘20

by Caitlin Earnshaw, ‘20 Alumna Contributor

During the 2019-2020 school year, Nicole and I were seniors. It was the week before school started, and she had a bunch of Link Crew events to work. I had nothing. So, my days consisted of waiting for Nicole to get back from school, so we could hang out. On one of those days, I was having a particularly hard time, so I called Nicole. She told me she couldn’t leave yet, but as soon as she was done, she would come and pick me up. I knew this was going to be the answer, but I was still sad to have to wait. Although I do not remember saying anything, she must have heard it in my voice because, within the next few seconds, she was telling me I could come join her at school, and then we could do something afterward. So, that’s exactly what I did. I got in my car and drove over to NDB and pretended to be on Link Crew for the rest of the day. After, we left in her car. She turned on the music all the way up and drove us to her house for a quick stop and check-in with her parents before leaving again, just for a drive. We ended up in a parking garage in downtown San Carlos, having a dance party. This is one of my favorite memories with Nicole. Not because it was a great day and we did great things, but because it was a bad day that was turned around by being with Nicole and doing exactly what we always did: Go to school, drive around and have a dance party. Nicole could turn my whole day around with a smile because she knew me. She really knew me. That was just the type of person she was: Someone who loved deeply and showed it. Earlier this month, I spoke at Nicole’s funeral. It was the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. And, when it was over, all I wanted to do was call Nicole, so she could listen, then tell me she’s on her way to pick me up because we’re going on a drive. So, my worst day could be a little bit better. But, that can’t happen. Now, all we have left are stories and memories. I feel very lucky to have quite a few of them, but I still wish I had more. I wish I had one more memory of her laughing to the sound of her own singing voice. Because that is just how bad it was. One more memory of her bonding with a stranger about being gluten-free. It didn’t matter if we were in the middle of the aisle at Lucky’s, she was stopping to chat. One more memory of her asking for a hug with a big smile on her face, her arms outstretched and, if anyone took too long to give the hug, the smile would fade into a mocking pout. One more memory of her calling me to debrief Sunday’s episode of “Euphoria.” Even though we would text all throughout the episode, a call the next morning was still essential. One more memory of her dancing around her kitchen. The wooden spoon in hand as a microphone was my most favorite touch. One more memory of her pretending to help her parents load the car – One time, she proclaimed starting the car would be the biggest help, so she climbed in and then blasted the air in attempt to dry her wet clothes from a day on the river. I just want one more. And, if you knew Nicole, you would, too. Because she was beautiful and kind. She was welcoming and passionate. But, above everything she was, she was a friend and a sister to nearly everyone she came across.