SPORTS
20 The Tide
December 2012
Athlete of the Issue: Greg Song by Leilani Stacy Only a junior and only 15 years of age, Gregory Song already has his eye set to compete as a member of the US National Swim Team at the 2016 Olympics. Last year, as a sophomore, he won the MVP award and broke two school records in the individual 100 breaststroke and team relay 400 freestyle. Although he has only swum for 4 years, Song has already been ranked in the USA All-Time Top 100 and recently received the honor of being named a “Scholastic All-American,” an accolade that requires a swimmer to have multiple fast times and maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average. Song’s dedication and strong work ethic has pushed him to the top in almost every event at a county, region, and national level. Song, who started swimming as a hobby to get in shape, admitted, “I didn't expect to come this far at all.” When asked to describe Greg in one word, teammate and sophomore Sherril Han chose “stubborn” because his determination “is exactly what motivates him and characterizes him as a great swimmer.” When faced with a hard workout, Greg ignores the complaints from his teammates and instead he said he tries “to do the best I can.” As a leader on the team, fellow junior Jonathan Huang noted that Song “is just a great person to be around because you can literally hear his voice wherever you are at the pool.” Cheering on his teammates, Song also receives his fair share of chanting
as Coach Wheeler remembers the “Subong” cheer that the Rockets will shout every time Song steps onto the blocks. Coach Wheeler knows that she can “count on Greg to score points in whatever event I need him in.” Song’s versatility shows through his love for multiple events, as he said, “My favorite high school event is probably the 100 breast, but my favorite club events are the 100/200 breast, 400 IM, and 200 fly.” Additionally, Song won a division title in the 500 free, further showing the range he employs. This season, RM will move from Division 2 to Division 1, which means that the Rockets will have to step up to match the competition in the best division in the county. Song maintains a positive outlook and acknowledged, “We have the talent we need to stay in and maybe even win it all.” PHOTOS BY GREG SONG Outside of school, Song swims for the Nation's Capital Swim Club (NCAP), a In addition to swimming at RM, Song competes for an excellent nationally-ranked club club that has previously been named the team and here wears the cap of the Darnestown Demons, swimming the butterfly. best in the U.S. At his site in Georgetown Prep, Song attends practices 8 times a week, the maximum number allowed. Guided by experienced coaches and surrounded by exceptional swimmers, Song has had the opportunity to train with gold medalist Katie Ledecky. Out of the pool, his commitment to high academic standards has opened doors already to opportunities at Ivy League and Division 1 schools. Song manages to balance his grueling IB student life and intense practice schedule through his dedication and time management skills, and while “juggling swimming and school is definitely difficult, in the pool I just forget about everything and enjoy what I'm doing in there.” In terms of his RM career, Coach Wheeler observes that “between his freshman and sophomore year his times dropped and I have seen him learn how to swim smarter.” Song hopes to continue his success and be able to swim in college and possibly even at a professional level. Judging by the impressive performances he has recorded in his two years so far, the next two seasons at RM will provide record times and plenty of fireworks.
Girls volleyball ends another sucessful season with a 18-3 record by Sam Deutsch Coming into the 2012 fall season, the girls volleyball team had high expectations, seeking to improve on last year’s winning record and continue as a competitive powerhouse in both the county and the state. With those high expectations, however, came the fear of rough sailing. Working with a new coach and dealing with the loss of three senior starters (including former first-team All-Met Jackie Nelligan), the season had its ups and downs, concluding with a tough regional semifinal loss to the powerhouse team from Walter Johnson. The coaching change required major adjustments in the Rockets program. Former coach Elmer Matlock, who had coached the Rockets since 1988, announced his retirement before this season; his replacement, Theresa Boyd, was forced to step into the head position and make adjustments to the team and its strategies. Nonetheless, the team started the season hot before losing a tough match against the rival Magruder Colonels. After this loss, however, the Rockets managed to reel off another four straight wins to run their record to an impressive 10-1 upon entering the grueling division slate. Aside from single losses to Walter Johnson and Sherwood, the team was able to rattle off six more wins to set up their 16-3 record when they entered the key Senior Night showdown with crosstown arch-nemesis Wootton High School. The fact that the Rockets were able to find themselves in this highly-ranked
position is a credit to the team’s resilience first-round foe Quince Orchard in straight and spirit in the face of adversity. The sets, the Rockets fell in an upsetting Rockets prevailed over their loss of two key semifinal match to the talented Walter starters in the midst of the tight division race, Johnson Wildcats. While the 3rd place and also overcame a number of injuries, regional finish may have felt disappointing including senior Ashlyn Lee’s ankle injury. to the team’s players, Coach Boyd’s girls Thankfully for understand that Coach Boyd’s all hope is not squad, “we’re lost. “We’ve overcomers,” accomplished as senior Emily our goals,” Jiang Jiang explained. said. “And I A f t e r have no doubt overcoming that we will still these injuries be a competitive and defections team next year.” from the team, While the the Rockets outlook for set up to face the future is Wootton in the undoubtedly regular season’s promising, it final (and most comes with important) reservations. match. After The team will dropping the have to replace first two sets in MVPs Melanie a heartbreaking English and fashion, they Judy Fan, not to clawed their way mention captain back and were Jiang herself, able to win the a starter on final three sets the team since and the whole her freshman match. This was year. Overall, the first five-set seven of the match played by twelve PHOTO BY WENLING DONG team’s the Rockets in Senior Melanie English goes up for the ball. She players, mostly more than three ended her season with 183 kills. starters, will be years, and it set them on a promising road graduating this year. towards the regional playoffs. Improvement will not be easy, Unfortunately, after easily vanquishing but the hard work and determination
demonstrated by this year’s seniors should be enough to push the team to new heights next year, assuming that these same skills are passed on to the younger generations of Rocket players. Overall, the thrilling win against Wootton and crushing defeat at Walter Johnson made for a bittersweet conclusion
Girls volleyball by the numbers
16
regular season wins
2
13
postseason wins
49
kills by senior Judy Fan
shut-out wins
184
digs by senior Emily Jiang
49 blocks by senior Melanie English to an altogether impressive season and capped the high school careers of seven Rocket players. Jiang speaks for all of the seniors when she proudly exclaims that, while the dream of winning states went unfulfilled, “it’s been a fun, exhausting, and memorable four years.”