Volume X, Issue 6 May 2017
2016-17 Year In Review
10
Editorial
Alok Subbarao
28
Boys and Girls Underclassmen
30
Recruitment Map
32
13
10 Quetions Pop Culture Inside the Mind
17
Senior Dedication
18
Paly Awards
Top 10 Moments
34
19
Coach of the Year
Bottom 10 Moments
36
20 10
Boys Team of the Year
Take a Knee
38
22
Girls Team of the Year
Beach Body Ready
40
24
Boys
Season Recaps
42
Girls
The Final Word
47
26
Upperclassman
Upperclassman
4 | THE VIKING |
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
Jump
Sherwin Amsbaugh (‘17) jumps over a hurdle in the 110-meter hurdles final in a league meet vs. Milpitas. Paly won 90-37. Photo by David Hickey
MAY 2017
Shoot 6 | THE VIKING |
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
Emma Staiger (‘18) shoots and scores against rival Gunn in a league game. The Vikings went on to beat Gunn 11-6. Photo by David Hickey
MAY 2017
8 | THE VIKING |
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
Catch
Angus Stayte (‘17) makes the sliding catch in a league game against Saratoga. The Vikings went on to beat Saratoga 1-0. Photo by David Hickey
MAY 2017
From the editors Dear readers, Editors-in-Chief Sabrina Hall Bryan Look Design Editor Yue Shi Photo Editor David Hickey Copy Editor Hayley Levine Columnists Matan Ziv Wes Walters Business Manager Lauren Daniel Features Editors Lauren Daniel Sabrina Hall Multimedia Editors Matan Ziv Wes Walters Senior Staff Writers Skylar Burris Ryan Chang Ben Cleasby Jamie Cullen Sam Guillet Quinn Knoblock Talia Malchin Steven Marinkovich Christian Rider Peter Snodgrass Ethan Stern Mara Zenger Dillon Scheel Nick Smallwood Tess Preising Staff Writer Will Strauch Staff Adviser Brian Wilson
It is with great pride that we present to you the sixth and final issue of Viking for the 2016-2017 school year. For the final issue, like those in the past, we take time to reflect upon and honor the teams, players, and coaches that have achieved remarkable things throughout the year. As Viking’s newest Editors-in-Chief, we would like to thank our outgoing EIC’s, Skylar Burris and Steven Marinkovich, for leaving us with an amazing legacy to strive to replicate during our time at the helm of this magazine. In addition to Skylar and Steven, we want to take a moment to recognize our 14 other outgoing seniors; your love for this publication has inspired all of the younger staff, and we wish you nothing but good things as you leave Paly. And to you, dear readers, without you we would
Viking Volume X, Issue 6
have no magazine. We appreciate each and every person that takes the time to enjoy what we work so hard to publish. We cannot wait to show you everything we have in store for the future of Viking. We plan on building upon the the traditions set by the nine previous leadership staffs, as well as creating some of our own. Thank you so much for your continued love for the magazine, and we hope you have an amazing summer and look forward to seeing all of you again in the fall!
Sko Vikes, Sabrina Hall Bryan Look
Staff view
Improving the hiring and firing process of Paly coaches In the past few decades, Paly sports have been successful at a level that has been unmatched by any other public school in the Bay Area. Of course a lot of that success is due to the student athletes, but the fantastic coaches who have been leading Paly sports also deserve some of credit. While numerous coaches at Paly are well-liked and successful, there are also coaches who many of the athletes would rather see let go. The hiring and firing of coaches is completely up to the athletic director with select parent and athlete input. Viking believes that student athletes need to be asked for more direct input during the decision making process. In recent years, a host of coaches have been hired and eventually fired that were not well-liked by the athletes. At times, the wrong coach is hired for the job and that coach is allowed to stick around for far too long before they are fired. When it is brought to the attention of the athletic director that a current coach may need to be removed, meetings should be held with current captains on the team to discuss the future of that coach. This process The Viking Palo Alto High School 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94301 650-329-3837 Email contact: vikingeds@gmail.com Advertising and Sponsorship Contact: vikingads@gmail.com
10 | T H E V I K I N G |
allows for the athletic director to get to know how the athletes feel about their coach and can then make a more informed decision. After a coach has been fired or has quit and someone new needs to be hired, student athletes should meet with the athletic director and potential candidates to help with the process. Athletes will help to review the potential coaches’ beliefs about the particular sport and will get to see how they may connect with the people they may be coaching. Right now, the athletic department does carry out an end-of-the-season coach evaluation survey for the athletes. This, however, does not fully allow the athletes to give quality input nor be a legitimate part of the hiring and firing process. Face-to-face meetings with the athletic director and coaching candidates are necessary to improve this process. Student athletes helping hire and fire coaches at Paly will make the process more efficient and effective than ever. Paly athletes have earned the right to, on and off the field, be more involved in a process that is so important to their high school sports career.
The Viking, a sports magazine published by the students in Palo Alto High School’s Advanced Magazine Journalism class, is an open forum for student expression and the discussion of issues of concern to its readership. The Viking is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost. The staff welcomes letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Advertising in The Viking The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
providing they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazine’s audience. For more information about advertising with The Viking, please contact the The Viking by email at vikingeds@gmail.com Printing Services 2,500 copies of The Viking are printed, six times a year by Folger Graphics in Hayward, Calif.
MAY 2017
pop culture grid WHAT DO PALY ATHLETES SAY?
Jackson Hall (‘18) Baseball
Katie Cox (‘17) Lacrosse
Rianna Steiner (‘17) Track & Field
Jack Hogan (‘20) Swimming
Summer plans?
Baseball
Work!
“Shleep” and travel
Going to Virgin Islands
Competing at USA diving zones
MVP of the NBA?
Russell Westbrook
James Harden
no idea
Muhammed Ali
Russell Westbrook
Jack Callaghan (‘19) Diving
Favorite baseball team?
Giants
Giants!
Seattle Mariners
Gotta be Giants
The Giants
In-n-Out or Chick-fil-a?
In-n-Out
In-n-Out
Chick-fil-a all the way
In-n-Out all the way
In-n-Out
Freedom!
Emotional
Cool
Lit
One word to describe school ending?
Overjoyed
Moment of the Month Jackson Hall (‘18) hits the game-tying home run against Los Gatos. The opposing pitcher had not given up an earned run all season until the home run.
12 | T H E V I K I N G |
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
Viking Magazine
sat down with Paly softball’s own Maggie Renteria (‘17) and asked her 10 questions. We then also asked her coach, friend and teammate. Here are the results...
10 Questions with
maggieRENTERIA(‘17)
as told to Tess Priesing
Maggie Renteria (‘17) Softball
?
Brooke Binkley Coach
Shalana Erlich (‘17) Teammate
Nora Daine (‘17) Friend
Questions FLAMING HOT CHEETOS
HOT CHEETOS
Pregame meal?
DORITOS
GRANOLA BARS
WHO’S LOVIN YOU BY JACKSON 5
Pump up song?
SOME GHETTO RAP SONG
WHO’S LOVIN YOU BY JACKSON 5
WHO’S LOVIN YOU BY JACKSON 5
PEOPLE OBLIVIOUS TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS
Pet Peeve?
WHEN PEOPLE COMPLAIN
WHEN PEOPLE WALK SLOW
WHEN PEOPLE WALK SLOW
NECKLACES
Favorite clothing accessory?
HAIR TIE
JACKET
SHOES
DRAWING
Random talent?
CARTWHEEL
DRAWING
EATING BANANAS
SHALANA ERLICH
Funniest teammate?
MACKENZIE GLASSFORD
ME
SHALANA ERLICH
SNAKE
Spirit animal?
BULLDOG
PIG
RAT
FLYING
Superpower of choice?
SUPERSTRENGTH SO SHE CAN SLAP SOMEONE
READING MINDS
READING MINDS
IS THE WORST
Sliding...
SUCKS
IS A GREAT TIME
IS FUN
NOT HAVING TO CLEAN ANYTHING UP
Best part about being a senior on the team?
CAN TELL FRESHMEN WHAT TO DO
BOSSING PEOPLE AROUND
MAKING UNDERCLASSMEN DO THE WORK
10%
30%
30% MAY 2017
inside the mind of
THERREN WILBURN Paly’s new athletic director for 2017-2018
ON PAST SPORTS
In high school I competed in football, basketball, and track & field. Of these sports, my favorite was football. Many of my current friends I met while playing football, and what I most enjoyed was competing with them trying to obtain the common goal. Our high school basketball coach, John Singer, was also my high school advisor, he is one of the most successful coaches in San Diego county and was also one of my biggest mentors in high school. For track & field I was a sprinter and thrower. I competed in the 4x1, 100meters, and discus.
ON PALY SPIRIT
I feel like there is good spirit amongst the Paly athletic culture. The 6th man during this past post-season basketball was great to watch, as the enthusiasm was great! However, I hope to ignite even more interest from the student-body in our athletic program by trying different things such as playoff sendoffs, movie nights, staff-student games, and a new tradition called the Viking Cup.
ON FREE TIME
I enjoy trying new hikes, traveling to new places, barbequing, and watching sports.
ON GOALS FOR NEXT YEAR
I have a few goals for next year. First and foremost I want to successfully transition to the Peery Center; it’s a state of the art facility and I’m excited for its grand opening. Next I’d like to have at least 10 of the varsity programs recognized as scholastic team champions by CCS. Achieving in the classroom is just as important as winning games. Lastly, of course I’d like for our teams to win CCS championships. We did a great job of participating in playoffs in most sports, next year I’d like our programs to win CCS, I know we have the studentathletes and great coaching to reach this goal. 14 | T H E V I K I N G | w w w . v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
as told to SAM GUILLET
Go Paly Vikes!
Any order for a Paly club or team
25% off!
Would you like to advertise here? Contact us at vikingads@gmail.com
MAY 2017
16 | T H E V I K I N G |
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
WE LOVE OUR SENIORS
WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT VIKING? “The people and the times”
“All the people in class”
“Editing the weight lifting tree” -Talia Malchin
“Competition”
“Completing the weight lifting
“All the good times we had in
tree” -Jamie Cullen
class” -Sam Guillet
“Peter Snodgrass”
“Donuts in the morning”
“The Atmosphere”
“Max Jung-Goldberg” -Skylar Burris
-Steven Marinkovich
“The ‘radery”
“Competing at a high level”
“Nights at production”
“Fambrini Fridays”
“The people and the good times”
“Everyone in the class”
-Ben Cleasby
-Dillon Scheel
-Haley Chalmers
-Mara Zenger
-Nick Smallwood
-Ethan Stern
-Ryan Chang
-Peter Snodgrass
-Quinn Knoblock
-Christian Rider
-Tess Preising
Paly
Athletic Awards 2016-2017 COACH OF THE YEAR
Recognizing the figures that sacrifice themselves for the Vikings, this award goes out to the coach who made a significant contribution to the Palo Alto High School athletics team that he or she is involved in. Coaches are such a vital component in the athletic realm, not only for their teams, but for the Paly community as a whole. It is important to give one Paly coach the proper recognition for his or her hard work: a thank you for their dedication and focus to better the team and individual players.
TEAMS OF THE YEAR
Paly’s high caliber athletic program holsters some of the most competitive teams in the Bay Area. The Team of the Year Award recognizes one male and one female team for exhibiting their hard work, dedication and outstanding performance throughout their season. These two teams are the teams that have competed at the highest level and that have had success doing so, bringing impressive accomplishments back to Palo Alto High School.
UPPERCLASSMEN ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Granted to one male and one female athlete who stands out as the leading force behind his or her team’s success, the Athletes of the Year Awards are given to the impact players who demonstrate undeniable skill and who shine on their respective teams. The athletes that are chosen are those who have proven to be the core of their team and are always reliable in.
ALOK SUBBARAO
The Alok Subbarao Award is given to the player whose greatest impact on his or her team is not necessarily printed in the newspaper of visible at the top of every statistics category. The Viking grants this award to the player who carries his or her team with great leadership and acts as the glue that keeps the team working as one cohesive unit. The value of this athlete cannot necessarily be measured by points scored or shots made, but rather by the motivation he or she brings to the team.
UNDERCLASSMEN OF THE YEAR
Given to one male and one female freshman or sophomore, the Underclassmen of the Year is presented to the players who have demonstrated athletic excellence in their sport(s) despite their young age. These athletes exhibit outstanding performances given their short time and lack of experience with Paly athletics, and are projected to dominate throughout the years to come.
18 | T H E V I K I N G |
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
COACH OF THE YEAR
Peter Diepenbrock
V
iking Magazine is pleased to announce that Coach Peter Diepenbrock has been selected as Coach of the Year for his leadership of the boys’ basket-
ball team. The basketball team had one of their most successful seasons ever thanks to Diepenbrock’s leadership. The team went 11-1 in league and had an impressive 26-5 overall record. Diepenbrock led the Vikings to a CCS championship and a deep run into the Division 1 State Championship, just missing out on the State Championship by losing in the semifinals. Diepenbrock has been coaching for the Vikings since 1997, but he took his chance at college coaching by taking over Cañada College from 2008-2011.
by WILL STRAUCH and MATAN ZIV Diepenbrock later returned to the Vikings and has loved leading them ever since. “I really like the kids, I care about the kids,” Diepenbrock said. “I want to see them do well.” Coach Diepenbrock is known for pushing his kids to the limit, always making them be the best version of themselves. The Vikings executed a tough full court press throughout the season, one tactic that many believe helped the Vikings make their long run at the state championship. Diepenbrock’s love for the kids is what has pushed him during his coaching and his players love playing for him too. His care for the players is what makes him
such a great coach because all of the players know that he cares about them and wants them to succeed. “Diep is a great coach because of his passion and drive along with his desire for us as players to be successful,” Max Dorward said (‘18), a forward for the basketball team. What is truly inspiring about coach Diepenbrock is his constant appreciation and dedication to the game. During the state championship run, Coach Diepenbrock watched hours of film to prepare his boys for the games. It was this kind of effort that inspired the players to rally around their coach every time they stepped out onto the court.
Honorable Mention:
Scott Peters
girls basketball
Coach Scott Peters coached the Palo Alto girls’ basketball team to a 12-0 league record and a 22-4 overall record which helped him earn the honorable mention for Coach of the Year. Peters is loved by the players on the team because he encourages them to become the best they can be. This led to the team being very motivated which helped them have a very successful season. Peters has proven that this works because of Paly’s continued success in girls’ basketball. The girls’ basketball team is looking forward to next season under Coach Peters and hopes to continue their recent success.
MAY 2017
Boys Team of the Year
V
Basketball
by NICK SMALLWOOD and MATAN ZIV
iking is honored to award the Paly basketball team the Boys’ Team of the Year honor for their outstanding performance this year, a season where unforgettable moments were in abundance. With an impressive overall record of 26-5, the boys’ basketball team outperformed already sky-high expectations. The Vikings finished the season ranked as high as 218 nationally, and 31 in the state of California. The squad came out strong, winning their first four non-league games, before suffering their first loss to eventual 1-seed
20 | T H E V I K I N G |
in open division, Bellarmine College Prep. The Vikings, however, bounced back immediately, winning their next four games. The Vikings, led by the MVP of the league, Miles Tention (‘17), never turned off the engines. Despite playing their home games at Gunn instead of Paly due to the fact that Paly do not have a gym, the Vikings were unstoppable once league began, finishing 11-1 on the season. League games included an impressive 80-50 win over weak rival Gunn High School, followed by a simple win over Wilcox. One of the major highlights of the sea-
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
son came in the victory over Cupertino. Max Dorward (‘18) stole the ball, put a move on the the defender, and slammed down a ferocious one-handed slam that opposing players could only watch in awe like spectators. Their first test in league came away at Los Gatos, but the Vikings were up for the challenge, staying strong with an incredible performance from Tention, and a clutch 4-point play by Jared Wulbrun (‘18). The second game against Gunn, however, is one no one can forget. The Vikings were so dominant that the starters were rested by Coach Peter Diepenbrock for most of the second half. The Vikings smoldered the poor Titans 79-36. The game included an impressive performance by point guard Will Schmutz (‘18), who could not be stopped in the second half. The Vikings went into the playoffs as the 1-seed, and exceeded expectations. The first game was against Independence, who was no match for our Paly Vikes. Near the end of the game, Jack Simison (‘17) was passed the ball and ran right for the hoop, elevated, and threw down a monstrous slam that fired up the crowd. The next minor obstacle was Cupertino, who also was no match for the green and white, putting the Vikings in the championship game against Los Gatos. This championship game was hard fought, and WINNING The Vikings are at tight throughout. With just a few seconds left it was Paly their best following a win against
Los Gatos in their CCS final game.
ball with the score tied. With a second on the clock Spencer Rojahn (‘18) fired up a three with a Los Gatos defender’s hand in his face. To the astonishment of everyone the ball sank in, giving the Vikings a three point victory, and the CCS championship. The Vikings’ first foe in the Northern California state championship was Fremont High School. The Vikings were a 9-seed, meaning the chances of them ever getting a home game were slim. However, fighting through the challenges faced in Oakland, the Vikings fought for a terrific win of 59-56 over the 8-seeded Fremont High School. Their next opponent in the Northern part of the bracket was Dublin High School, the very favored 1-seed. Paly played their hearts out in what was a very close contest. To end the first quarter, Schmutz fired up a 50 footer at the buzzer, and, as everyone prudently followed the ball, it swished right at the buzzer. The Vikings were able to hold off the top seeded Dublin behind Dorward’s 22 point night, winning 83-80. As the crowd went wild, the Vikings were on to the next round. Next up for the Vikings was Saint Mary’s of Stockton, the 5-seed. Driving three hours and a home crowd were just a few of the obstacles the Paly Vikes had to overcome. The Vikings fought to an early lead behind Rojahn’s hot start to the game. Rojahn hit six threes and had 20 points just in the first half. Saint Mary’s tried to fight back to get back into the game, but Dorward’s 27 points was too much for them. Sadly, the state semifinal game ended the Vikings’ incredible run. The Vikings suffered a tough loss to James Logan, 65-61 in overtime. Regardless of this, the Vikings had one of their best seasons of all time. The players were able to rally around each other, as well as Coach Diepenbrock to make this incredible run possible. “We were successful because we all bought into our goal to become the best team we could possibly become.” Dorward said. The Vikings had a large group of guys
who were returning players from the year before, meaning they already had experience playing at this high level, and had already built chemistry together. The boys never stopped working and their eyes remained on state throughout the year. “It was a very motivated group of guys.” Coach Peter Diepenbrock said. In addition to having a terrific group of guys, the basketball team has a terrific coach as well. “[Coach Diepenbrock] does as much as he can to put us in a position where we can do well.” Dorward said. Even though they will lose starting point guard Tention, they are returning the remaining four starters, meaning that expectations will be sky high once again.
“We were successful because we all bought into our goal to become the best team we could possibly become.” -Max Dorward (‘18)
THE TEAM Miles Tention (‘17) Spencer Rojahn (‘18) William Schlemmer (‘18) Jared Wulbrun (‘18) Max Dorward (‘18) Ethan Stern (‘17) Jack Simison (‘17) Paul Jackson III ((‘18) Bryant Jefferson (‘18) Will Schmutz (‘18) Eelis Copeland (‘17) Norman Karr (‘18) Brey Johnson (‘18) Nick Zhao (‘18)
Honorable Mention:
Baseball
MAY 2017
Girls Team of the Year
Swimming
V
by MAX JUNG-GOLDBERG and QUINN KNOBLOCK
iking takes pleasure in awarding the Paly Girls Swim Team with the Girls Team of the Year Award. After consecutive successful seasons the team has its eyes on State Champions this year. The team, combined with dedicated swimmers and an unmatched sense of camaraderie, dominated in the pool this year. After a forceful 2015-2016 campaign, where the team clinched the SCVAL league title, CCS championship, and a second place finish in State Championships, this year’s group did much of the same. With the help of Grace Zhao (‘17), Zoe Lusk (‘18), Claire Lin (‘18), and a trio
of talented freshmen, the team was unstoppable. This year, seniors Haley Chalmers (‘17), Irene Choi (‘17), Andrea Yau-Chan (‘17) and Elizabeth Wilkinson (‘17) have captained the team. The team graduated Katie Francis (‘16), Kayleigh Svensson (‘16), and Emily Zhang (‘16) who were vital to last year’s team. However, that didn’t stop the train of youth from stepping up to help fill the empty rolls in this years team. “Despite losing some of our strong seniors from last year, we gained many talented new freshmen this year who have been swimming extremely well and have been helping our team stay undefeated this season,” Yau-Chan said.
Numerous freshmen have stepped up to fill the roles left behind by last year’s graduating class. Viking’s Honorable Mention for Underclassman Athlete of the Year, Chesnie Cheung (‘20), had never swum in a meet before this season but has proven to be a force to be reckoned with. Cheung has earned two CCS cuts in both the 50 and 100 freestyle, just two of the many events that Paly freshmen will be swimming in during the 2017 CCS meet. Wilkinson shared a similar sentiment toward this year’s team: “Our team this year is extremely deep and cohesive, so each member makes invaluable contributions to the atmo-
photo courtesy of Dion Li
22 | T H E V I K I N G |
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
sphere and performance as a whole. In terms of points, Zhao, Lusk, and Lin are extremely valuable to the team due to consistent wins and top notch relay performance. We also have Amy Wu and Ashley Guo, which are two of our amazing freshmen to watch as we move towards the end of our season,” Wilkinson said. A challenge both Paly swim t e a m s have faced in recent years is the absence of a home pool. With the Peery Center under construction, swimmers have been forced to drive all around Palo Alto just to get adequate practice time. The confusion and frustration that comes along with constantly changing practice times and locations took a slight toll on the athletes, but nevertheless, the dedication of the athletes never wavered. Nonetheless, senior Elizabeth Wilkinson credits Coach Danny Dye for helping the team adjust to that difficulty. “Even though we don’t have a home pool to train in and host meets from, Danny always makes sure we are able to have practice whether at Gunn, JLS or Jordan. He supplies us with lots of pizza, Snickers bars, and motivational speeches, and makes sure the team gets in on time and trains hard even when we’re frustrated with training at 8 PM, not having access
to the weight room,” Wilkinson said. One of the team’s biggest achievements though, is their undefeated season. Not only have the Lady Vikes not lost a dual meet in three years, but the team is hopeful about the future of the season. “As a team, Leagues should be an easy win for us since we’ve basically crushed every other team so far. Our focus is currently on CCS and States, where we got first and second place last year respectively. W e hope to successfully defend our CCS title and make a move towards the State title as well. As a Captain, I really want to see big drops from all our girls and good cohesion all the way through the end of the season,” Wilkinson said. Wilkinson, along with the rest of the seniors on the team, have worked hard this season to cultivate a loving sense of teamwork and motivation among the swimmers. As the season dies down, the 2017 senior class has the privilege of making its final impact on the Paly swimming program and go out with a bang. Their leadership and will to win has made them a special group of Paly athletes that will never be forgotten. Viking can’t wait to see where the girls end up at the end of thier season, and on behalf of the whole staff, wish them the best of luck!
“We hope to successfully defend our CCS title and make a move toward the State title as well.”
-Elizabeth Wilkinson (‘17)
THE TEAM Haley Chalmers Melissa Cheng Chesnie Cheung Hollie Chiao Irene Choi Lhaga Dingpontsawa Mary Fetter Ashley Guo Sabrina Hall Emily Hong Ally Hutson Katharine Milne Kaitlyn Nakamura Catherine Passarello Julia Qiao Bella Troio Peyton Wang Elizabeth Wilkinson Mary Wilkinson Amy Wu Jess Wu Kendra Wu Andrea Yau-Chan Emily Zhang Grace Zhao
Honorable Mention:
Soccer
Viking would like to recognize the girls soccer team as honorable mention for Girls Team of the Year. The Lady Vikes had a very successful run and went undefeated all through regular season play. The team only allowed one goal in all of regular season, which occurred during their game against Gunn. Sadly, their season was cut short after they fell to Mountain View in the first round of CCS Playoffs.
Upperclassman of the year
Alex Liang
by HALEY CHALMERS and TESS PREISING Viking acknowledges swimmer Alex Liang for his tremendous effort and dedication to swimming. Through devoting the extra time to perfect his techique and competing in multiple meets, Liang has been recruited to swim for the Stanford mens’ swim in the fall of 2017.
I
t’s 4:30 a.m. on Monday, and Alex Liang (‘17) wakes up to the “chimes” alarm on his iPhone. Even though he’d rather go back to sleep, he still gets out of bed and drives over to Stanford University’s Avery Aquatics Center. Although Liang struggles to be a morning person, it’s not enough to set him back from swimming before school and repeating this routine three to four times a week. Despite Liang’s year round commitment to swimming with Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics (PASA), he has man-
24 | T H E V I K I N G |
aged to take out time from this club team to be a member of the Paly boys’ swim team. By participating in Paly swimming, he has added depth and left a major impact on the team. But his story does not start freshman year. Liang began swimming when he was only five years old. A year later he joined PASA and started competing. “At first, my parents wanted me to swim because they thought being able to swim would be a good life skill,” Liang said. “I kept up with it because it’s good way to release all my ener-
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
gy, and it keeps me in good shape.” Liang’s dedication to his sport is displayed by the amount of time devoted for swimming in his daily routine. Ever since a young age, Liang has sacrificed his free time and days off to ensure he can reach his full potential. Over a six day practice week Liang practices 20 hours including dryland workouts, in-pool conditioning and double days when he practices both in the morning and afternoon. “The most difficult thing about being committed to swimming is balancing my time between school and swim-
“I got a call from the men’s swimming coach saying that I got in academically and that he would give me some time to think about it... I knew I wanted to go there, so I gave him my verbal commitment like 10 minutes later... it was surreal.”
-Alex Liang (‘17)
ming,” Liang said. “I’ve also lost a lot of essential time for sleep and schoolwork.” In addition to surrendering time that could be spent on sleep or schoolwork, Liang’s schedule allows a limited amount of time to spend with friends, family, or any other extra curriculars. His commitment to swimming restricts his availability towards anything outside of swimming. “The traveling time and practice time has taken away from my social life.” Liang said. However, his sacrifice is worth it. In 2010, the Swimming World Magazine named him the TYR Age Group Swimmer of the Month. During the 2015 USA Swimming Summer Junior Nationals, Liang won the men’s final for the 400 IM in 4:26.51, putting him in the all-time top 30 swimmers in this event for 15-16 year-olds. In the 2015 USA Swimming Winter Junior National Championships, he won the men’s 200-yard butterfly in a time of 1:45.64. “Swimming creates a bond with other people outside of the community,” Liang said. “The friends I met while swimming when I was young, even though they quit earlier on, I am still friends with. Some go to Gunn [High School] and some moved away, but I still keep in touch and still are friends with them.” Although the time commitment for swimming takes away from Liang’s social life, the friendships he has made on his team have made his journey as a swimmer more enjoyable. He is able to bond with many kids who have participated on his club team. But, his experience with meeting new friends isn’t only limited to his teammates on PASA. A major part of Liang’s commitment to swimming is traveling, which has given him opportunities to meet new swimmers outside of his team. “Swimming creates lifetime friendships. I compete outside of the US and outside of California, so I have made friends from different areas,” Liang said.
Friendships play an important role in Liang’s experience as a swimmer, and so do his coaches. Coaches help teach life lessons that are harder to learn outside of the pool. One lesson he has learned that will also stick with him outside of the pool is his concentration. “Swimming teaches dedication and perseverance since you’re staring at a black line all time, and it helps you focus,” Liang said. “It helps train your mental capability of focusing.” Through years of breaking records and racing at a competitive level, one of Liang’s highest most recent and highest achievements was getting recruited to pursue his swimming career through college. Liang will be attending Stan-
ford University in the fall, and is an addition to the men’s swim team roster. “I got a call from the men’s swimming coach saying that I got in academically and that he would give me some time to think about it,” Liang said. “I knew I wanted to go there, so I gave him my verbal commitment like 10 minutes later. I guess I was happy, but it was surreal at the same time.” Liang’s dedication and commitment to swimming has remained an essential component to his life and his contributions have never gone unnoticed. As Liang looks to take his skills to the next step at the collegiate level, he will continue to make an impact in the sport and with the people around him.
Honorable Mention:
Miles Tention
Senior Miles Tention (‘17) has played on the Varsity Basketball team for three years and has been a key player to the team since he joined. Tention has been dedicated to the sport his whole life, and one would usually find him playing basketball with his dad, the basketball coach at SJSU. Moving from co-captain position last year to head captain this year, Tention set a solid pace to each game as a point guard and playmaker. Tention won League MVP this season and as a consistent court leader he contributed profoundly to the team’s success in reaching the NorCal final game.
MAY 2017
Upperclassmanof the year
Sara Aguilar by TALIA MALCHIN
Viking recognizes wrestler Sara Aguilar for her outsanding accomplishments as an athlete in and outside of Paly. Acknowledged by her teammates her coach, and having earned many competitive titles, Aguilar is deserving of the Upperclassman Athlete of the Year Award.
F
or a lot of us, our idea of wrestling is limited to the back-inthe-day horseplay with our siblings around the house, good-natured and playful. For senior Sara Aguilar (‘17), however, the sport of wrestling has become her epitomal extracurricular activity since 8th grade. Her middle school P.E. teacher, who also happened to be the school wrestling coach, pushed her to try out for the team in effort to recruit more people. At first, Aguilar was hesitant. “I didn’t really want to,” Aguilar said initially. “But he convinced me. I tried it out,
and fell in love with it.” Five years later, Aguilar has many impressive titles under her belt. She’s earned herself the title of co-captain with Seth Goyal in her junior and senior seasons, leading both the team as a whole and the girls’ division. In wrestling, one is placed in either the dual meets or their sex’s division. Aguilar originally competed in the dual meets, where only two teams participate against each other. Per her coach’s advice – and to prepare for the type of competition she would face at State competitions – she was later moved to the girls’ division this year. Goyal has been wrestling with Agu-
ilar since the beginning of her career in 8th grade, and has become a close teammate to her over the past five years, complementing each other as captains. “Working with Sara these past two years has been a great experience… While I lead by instruction and fine detailed coaching, Sara leads by example, putting her head down and working quietly at a rapid, intense pace, inspiring those near her to do the same,” Goyal said. At Paly, Aguilar has always competed at a very high level. In both her sophomore and senior years, she championed CCS in her division, and in her junior year, she placed 3rd. In February of 2017,
Photo courtesy of Sara Aguilar
26 | T H E V I K I N G |
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
“You earn it, with your hard work... it’s really awesome after all the setbacks and everything, if you win or succeed or if you achieve a goal, it feels amazing, and you know you did it on your own. Also with your teammates, but it’s on you. That’s one of my favorite things. It’s your style.” -Sara Aguilar (‘17) she participated in State Championships and finished 4th overall. Arguably most impressively, this past month, she headed to Nationals and finished in second place. On top of that, she won an All-American Award, given to wrestlers all around the country for their athleticism. People all around her recognize her high level of talent – her coach awarded her the Dave Schultz, an award recognizing her as one of the most valuable athletes on the team. “Dave Schultz was a wrestler that went [to Paly] and he went to the Olympics,” Aguilar said. “He was a very decorated wrestler.” For a coach, this is one of the few moments to recognize a team member for their dedication and important, skillful contributions to the team. Goyal, as a teammate and a captain, also finds it easy to take note of her talent; “Her skills as a wrestler are far greater than those of 85% of people that go through this sport and are equal to people at the collegiate level. She is a fierce competitor and will not back down from a challenge.” It takes a lot of physical as well as mental energy in wrestling; to conquer your opponent, on your own, against a person who is simultaneously trying to do the same to you. However, the very obstacle to overcome in this sport has become the reason that Aguilar appreciates it so much. It’s really technical, it’s a lot of fun. You’re out there on your own, and you’re trying to basically just oppose your will upon that person… it’s all up to you. You earn it,” Aguilar said. It is rare within a sport to depend so much on your teammates to help you get bet-
ter out of competition, and in competition, to depend on nobody but yourself. “With your hard work… it’s really awesome after all the setbacks and everything, [to] win or succeed or… achieve a goal. It feels amazing, and you know you did it on your own... it’s on you. That’s one of my favorite things. It’s your style.” Aguilar’s individualism is expressed both on and off the mat. Outside of wrestling, she is a very talented artist; she takes advanced painting and drawing at Paly, and will have some of her art posted in the Palo Alto Art spring show. On the mat though, she flips the switch. “Her caring, easygoing personality outside of the mat is tucked away
when the ref blows the whistle and her game face is on” Goyal said. Aguilar is committed to practices five to six times a week for usually over two hours per practice. According to Goyal, she and him, along with a few other aspiring young wrestlers, will stay after practice to get in extra workouts or drills. This type of dedication is what brought her so far in just about five years. Having earned the title of runner up for Nationals, Aguilar has come a long way from the tentative 8th grader trying something new; Aguilar’s benevolence, hard work, and physical skill each contribute to her earning Viking’s title of Upperclassman Athlete of the Year.
Honorable Mention:
Lauola Amanoni Senior Lauola Amanoni (‘17) played in her last game this year after three years as the starting center defender for the girls’ varsity soccer team. Recognized for her above-average speed and last-minute clearances, Amanoni had much to do with the team's achievement of not allowing a single goal throughout the entire league season. One of Amanoni's most memorable moments in the Paly season was her goal against team rival and league and CCS Champions Mountain View, contributing to the 2-0 win. MAY 2017
ALOK SUBBARAO AWARD
Michael Champagne
P
by RYAN CHANG, BEN CLEASBY, MAX JUNG-GOLDBERG AND ETHAN STERN
alo Alto High School has a long history of accomplished athletes and stacked teams. Many of these teams possessed some of the most gifted athletes in the state, but few possessed the defining trait of former Paly cross country and track runner, Alok Subbarao. While not the star of the team, Subbarao contributed by virtue of his remarkable character and spirit both on and off the field. Subbarao demonstrated tremendous heart, hustle and work ethic. The Viking staff gives the Alok Subbarao
28 | T H E V I K I N G |
award every year to a Paly athlete who exemplifies these characteristics in the Paly athletic community. This year, Michael Champagne (‘17) has been nominated as the recipient of this award. In sports we like to think of teams as families, groups of brothers and sisters that will do anything for each other. But we all know that family member that keeps the house functioning. That cool older brother that you can always look to for advice. That person who always does the dishes and takes out the trash. That person who always
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
lends an ear whenever you need to rant. All with no price tag, they’re always there to help. A family can’t function without these kinds of people, these are also the characteristics of Michael Champagne. Champagne is one of the key reasons for the baseball team’s success, but is by far the most underappreciated. Champagne, like Subbarao, has made significant contributions to his team as a result of his admirable character that separates him from other athletes. Champagne has been playing baseball ever since he could remember. He is
a lifelong Yankees fan. Champagne has always been a crucial part of any team he has been apart of. He would play the middle infield and catcher. That all changed when he got to high school. Champagne is the victim of an overly talented squad. Over the past four years Paly has produced four dominant teams with incredible infielders. During his senior year, where you are supposed to have the most dominant season of your baseball career, there was a log jam at Champagne’s position. This year, Champagne has rarely seen the field. Champagne knew from day one he had a disadvantage compared to his peers. While most players would feel hopeless and complain, Champagne showed his true character. Not only has he never complained about his playing time, he has willfully embraced his role on the team. Champagne is the definition of a leader by example and the perfect teammate. He prides himself on the little details that make a huge difference. Even if nobody notices it. Ever since freshman year, Champagne has always been the guy to clean up the field. Normally after a long day of practice, it is the team’s responsibility to sweep the field, broom the dugouts, pick up stray baseballs, and other mind-numbing tasks that no sane member of society would willfully do. Champagne will single handedly do everything thing that needs to be accomplished. Nobody knows why, but he will always do the chores that nobody wants to do, despite the fact that he is the person who lives the farthest away from the field. Even as a senior, Champagne not only cleans the field and loads the buses with equipment on game days. He takes it a step further and teaches the underclassmen how to prepare the field. He does this all with a smile on his face, bringing joy to his teammates and everyone around him, all with no recognition and little to show for. “Ever since I started playing baseball, I was always taught that it was team first, no matter what put the team above yourself. Also the guys on the team keep me motivated, I see how hard they work and I think that if I can do the work and allow them to focus on the things that will help us win ball games, why wouldn’t I do the work. Finally it’s also about knowing yourself for me, I may not be able to put the ball into the parking lot or pitch a complete game shutout but I can make sure that we are prepared for game time when it comes, whether it be getting the equipment or buying Mike and Ike’s for
the team, there’s always something I can do” Champagne said. Everyone on the baseball team appreciates what Champagne brings to the table. “Champagne is truly one of a kind in terms of teammates. There aren’t many people that will always put the team and the greater good before themselves. No matter what the situation, Champagne always is there to help out and do everything he can do to help the team” Ole Erickson (‘18) said. Don’t be mistaken, Champagne is a very talented baseball player. You can always rely on him to get a crucial base hit, lay down a bunt, or make a play in the field in the last inning. By all accounts Champagne is capable of playing baseball at the next level. He currently has a .385 batting average (which is well above average), but rarely gets playing time. It just so happens that there are two D-1 bound baseball players ahead of him in the depth chart. “I think Champagne is a great player, the thing is we have such a talented roster it’s hard to find playing time even if you have a lot of talent” Ole Erickson said. But the special thing about Champagne is that he is the last person that will ever complain about his playing time. “I don’t worry too much about playing because I mostly care about winning but even more I love the guys I play with and I’m happy and proud of them when they play. We’re such a cohesive team that everyone has each other’s backs”. What Champagne does off the field for the team is unprecedented. Although
his playing time is limited, he is an undisputed team captain. Everyone one on the team respects him like a coach. Before every game, Champagne will buy two packs of Mike and Ikes. Not for him, for the team. Using his own lunch money. Before every season, Champagne will read the league rule book like the bible. Even our coaches go to Champagne for advice. He knows every regulation like the back of his hand. He is also the team scout. If you ever need a scouting report about the other team, Champagne is the guy you go to. It seems like he studies Maxpreps more than school. These are all things that Champagne does for our team, but from the outside it looks like he is just another player. “Mikey is the ultimate team guy. He cares more about the team’s success than his own personal success. As far as work ethic even though he doesn’t have a scholarship or even a place to play next year he works as hard as anybody on the team” head coach Pete Fukuhara (‘94) said. As teammates of Champagne we just want to say thank you. Thank you for all the joy you bring to the field every single day. Thank you for being the most selfless teammate in baseball history. Last but not least, thank you for being such an amazing friend. Someone who we can always go to for advice and someone who will always listen. We love you like a brother Champagne and we wish you the best of luck to the next chapter in your life. Whatever you try to accomplish, make sure to bring the passion and joy you brought to this team. It’s people like you that make this game worth playing.
Honorable Mention:
Alec Cohen-Schisler Alec Cohen-Schisler (‘17) was a mentor, teammate and friend to all of his peers in his time playing sports at Paly. He was an integral role to the Paly football and lacrosse teams his senior year, however during his junior year, he was stuck behind other players and saw minimal playing time. Yet this did not stop him from outworking his teammates, mentoring his young bucks, forging life-long bonds, and becoming a team captain for both his sports teams. Most importantly, Cohen-Schisler had a knack for making others better athletes, better teammates, and better people. MAY 2017
Underclassmanof the year
Chloe Japic
D
espite being a freshman, Chloe Japic (‘20) was able to make a huge impact on Palo Alto High School’s girls varsity soccer team this year. Japic finished with 14 goals in 18 games, according to MaxPreps. Japic has been playing soccer for almost her whole life now, starting at the young age of two. She has also swam competitively and played basketball and golf before deciding to dedicate all of her time to soccer. “First, I love team sports,” Japic said. “Second, since I was little I had a unique passion for soccer. I don’t know what it is, but I get more of a thrill from playing soccer than any other sport I’ve ever played. It may be in my blood because my grandfather played professional soccer in Europe.” Japic plays every position on the field, it just depends on what team she is playing with at the moment. For Paly, she mostly plays attacking midfield. Japic enjoyed being able to represent her school while working with the older players to help take down their opponents. “The best part about playing for Paly is playing with my friends while representing the school I love by playing the sport I love,” Japic said. Japic was selected to be all-league first team and won the Central Coast Section (CCS) girls' soccer freshman of the year while helping lead her to team to go undefeated in league play and qualify for the CCS Open Division playoffs. She led all CCS freshmen in points and goals scored this season. Teammate Caroline Furrier (‘19) has nothing but good things to say about Japic. Furrier believes it’s Japic’s competitive spirit and her work ethic that sets her apart from everyone else. “She's one of the most hard-working players I've ever met and never stops to become better,” Furrier said. Furrier describes Japic as a really encouraging person to have as a teammate because she is always there to do extra training and makes others around her work their 30 | T H E V I K I N G | w w w . v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
by LAUREN DANIEL hardest. “She is a leader on the field and really pulls our team together,” Furrier said. Furrier sees Japic playing at a DI collegiate program and even playing at national level. “I know that whatever goals she has for her future, she will work towards and achieve,” Furrier said. Japic was grateful for the opportunity to play for Paly. Outside of Paly, she plays club soccer for Peninsula- Silicon Valley (PSV) Union, on teams ranging one to four years older than her. She has been with this same club since second grade. Japic describes herself as very hardworking, focused and determined. These traits are likely to have helped her be where she is today. In the future, Japic aims to play soccer at the Division I level and hopefully be able to play professionally after that. Her dream is to one day play for the U.S. National team and represent our country. In the end, it's Japic’s sheer love for the sport that keeps her going back to the field day after day. “I thrive in a competitive environment and I push myself and others to be better every day,” Japic said. “I put my heart and soul into every game, give my best, and leave it on the field.”
Honorable Mention:
Chesnie Cheung
Chesnie Cheung (‘20) earned honorable mention girl underclassmen athlete of the year for her contributions to the water polo and swimming teams. Perhaps the most impressive part of her outstanding seasons being that she started every water polo game despite having never touched a water polo ball before the the first day of practice. Her background in competitive synchronized swimming certainly helped her dominate in the pool this year for the Vikings. Look out for her in the pool next year!
Underclassmanof the year
Patrick Mclntosh
P
atrick McIntosh (‘19) has been playing on the boys’ varsity lacrosse team since freshman year and was a backup goalie for the boys’ varsity soccer team this season. McIntosh has excelled in both sports through his skill, determination and the ability to be a great teammate. Patrick has the athleticism that will take him very far in each of his sports but he decided to focus on the details and work on his skills. As an attacker for the boys’ varsity lacrosse team this year, McIntosh has been incredibly productive. As an attacker, his responsibility is solely offensive, and as the team’s leading scorer, McIntosh takes that responsibility very seriously. With 2.8 goals per game and 1.9 assists per game this year, McIntosh has been quite productive for the Vikings as a big part of their offensive game play. Opposing teams have taken notice to his impressive play. “Other teams’ defensive game plans essentially just revolve around stopping Patrick,” senior captain Christian Rider (‘17) said. “Patrick’s a special player,” Benner
Honorable Mention:
Paul Thie
Paul Thie (19’) was an important part of both varsity football, junior varsity soccer this year, and junior varsity baseball. Paul used his great athleticism to be a vital member for all three sports. Paul played wide receiver for the Vikings this year and looks to continue to contribute in the passing game during the next season. Paul plays center field for the baseball team and uses his speed to chase down balls in the outfield. Paul also is a key part of the soccer team because of his speed and quickness. Keep an eye out for Paul next season as he continues to excel in the fall, winter, and spring for all three sports.
by BRYAN LOOK and WILL STRAUCH Mullin (‘18) added. “He’s got a great lacrosse IQ, good team player for the most part. He’s got a good shot and is also good at dodging, and has a lot of other great qualities for our team which is why he’s probably our best player.” McIntosh’s impressive skills on the lacrosse field come from years of dedication to a sport that he absolutely loves. When he plays, his passion for lacrosse and his teams comes through quite strong. “I like lacrosse because of the up tempo, high pace play,” McIntosh said. “Play never really stops until the quarter ends. Always quick restarts when the ball goes out of bounds. Everything happens really fast and I like that.” McIntosh tends to lead by example through his play on the field, but frequently his love for his teammates and lacrosse shines through. “Pat’s a charismatic guy,” Mullin said. “Loves to bond with his teammates just spread the joy of lacrosse through his happiness.” Patrick earned the opportunity to be a backup goalie for the boys’ soccer team this year and has constantly worked hard to become a better player for the future. Patrick got consistent playing time throughout the season but got the chance to start in Paly’s CCS game. “I got really lucky and got to play in the CCS game that we got to play in,” McIntosh said. “Unfortunately we lost but that was the first game I got to start this whole year, so that was really cool.” Patrick is a great athlete and uses that to his advantage when trying to keep the other team from getting the ball past him. He uses his quickness and athleticism to cover all areas of the goal. Even though lacrosse is his favorite sport Patrick still takes pride in working on his skills as a goalie to improve throughout the season. Both as a lacrosse player and a soccer goalie, McIntosh has made a big impact on Paly sports this year. For the rest of his high school sports career, McIntosh will continue to be a big part of both the soccer and lacrosse programs here at Paly. Look for McIntosh to continue his success both on the field and as a teammate.
MAY 2017
Class of 2017 Athletes by Sport
1 2 3 4 5
Dance Diving Football Gymnastics Rugby Track and Field Basketball Volleyball Wrestling Water Polo
Humboldt State University, Michel-Ange Siaba (track and field) San Francisco State University, Cassandra Fong (volleyball) UC Davis, Hayden Libbey (lacrosse) Menlo College, Sara Aguilar (wrestling)
Westminster College, Mara Zenger (soccer)
San Jose State University, Lauola Amanoni (soccer) Stanford University, Alex Liang (swimming), Grace Zhao (swimming) CalTech, Spencer Morgenfeld (cross country) University of La Verne, Ryan Mendoza (soccer)
Chapman University, Nathalia Castillo (dance), Aron Ecoff (baseball), Joanna Falla (water polo), Christian Rider (lacrosee) Claremont McKenna College, Jessica Lee (volleyball) Pomona College, Emma van der Veen (diving)
Baseball Crew Lacrosse Swimming Cross Country
Soccer
UCLA, Kimmi Chin (rowing)
College Recruiting Map
See where the student-athletes of the class of 2017 will continue their athletic careers next year. by STEVEN MARINKOVICH and PETER SNODGRASS
Wellesley College, Jessica Wu (swimming) University of Iowa, Bennet Huang (gymnastics) Grinnell College, Ryan Chang (baseball)
MIT, Maya Lathi (basketball), Kent Slaney (cross country) Brown University, Marion Sellier (rugby)
Smith College, Kaitlin Chiu (lacrosse) Bucknell University, Jared Stanley (water polo)
New York University, Lauren Koyama (basketball)
Northwestern University, Peter Snodgrass (football) Carnegie Mellon University, Naveen Pai (cross country) Lafayette College, Ethan Stern (baseball)
Columbia University, Clay Watson (rowing) University of Pennsylvania, Jackson Wood (rowing) George Mason University, Seth Goyal (wrestling)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Mason Wittman (soccer)
Athletes by Division
Trinity University, Neil Verwillow (soccer)
D1 - 13 D2 - 3 D3 - 17 MCLA - 2
Top
10
Moments
by STEVEN MARINKOVICH and WES WALTERS
10 9 8 7
34 | T H E V I K I N G |
Girls’ tennis only lost 3 games all year
Going undefeated is a feat very few teams have ever been able to accomplish. Led by seniors Brin Elliot (17), Mayerly Short(17), and Alice Zhang (17) Girls Tennis was able to go undefeated accomplishing something even Tom Brady and the 2007 Patriots were unable complete. As a team they only lost three individual games and zero sets, over the course of the entire year, completely dominating League.
Girls’ water polo upsets M.A. in CCS Playoffs
Girls’ water polo pulled off an upset over Menlo-Atherton in the first round of CCS playoffs that not many saw coming. The Vikings suffered two regular defeats to MA, but were able to pull off the upset by a score of 9-6. After a subpar regular season boasting a disappointing 12-15 recording, they won a CCS play-in game to even play MA in the first place so it was a big win to top off an overall disappointing season.
Football upsets Wilcox
Wilcox came into the game #1 in the league and the Vikes had a tough season up to that point and was coming off a tough loss against milpitas. After Wilcox beat Saratoga and scoring 84 points in that game expectations around the school were that the Vikes were gonna lose. It was fourth and long late in the 4th quarter and Paly was down 21-18 and Sophomores Jackson Chryst (19) and Paul Thie (19) hooked up on a 20 yd conversion that led to a win.
Girls’ soccer takes down rivals Mountain View
The girls’ soccer team had developed a rivalry with Mountain View over the past few seasons, constantly battling for the league title year in and year not. This years seniors had only experienced beating Mountain View once, their sophomore year, where most of the seniors may not have even been on the team. This year in their home game against Mountain View, they won 2-0 behind an incredible long distance goal from senior captain Lauola Amanoni (‘17). They would go onto win the league title one game ahead of Mountain View. w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
6 5 4 3 2 1
Varsity basketball sweeps Gunn
After boys’ basketball suffered a shock defeat to cross-town rivals Gunn last season, the entire school was looking forward to revenging the loss. They didn’t only win both of their matchups against Gunn, they dominated, winning by the score lines of 80-50 and 79-36. To top it off, girls’ basketball dominated Gunn in both meetings as well, capping off a season sweep for the two varsity teams.
Colin O’Kane Memorial Game
Last June the Viking lacrosse program lost Coach Colin to a heart attack, he was also a graduate from Archbishop Mitty. To open the 2017 season the Vikings and Mitty had a game to commemorate Colin O’Kane in the first annual Colin O’Kane memorial game. It drew such a good crowd that it was played on the football and to top it off the Vikes won 15-10 with 7 goals from Patrick McIntosh (19).
Baseball sweeps Los Gatos to win league title
Baseball went into their annual season series against Los Gatos with an impressive 14-3 overall record and a perfect league record. If the Vikings won both games of the series, they would clinch the SCVAL league title. They took the win in the first game with a dramatic extra inning win that saw Jackson Hall (‘18) hit his first career home run. They followed that up with a comprehensive 7-3 win, clinching the league title against their bitter rivals.
Will Schmutz Swishes 50- Foot Shot in Playoffs
At the end of the first quarter it was a five point game with a Dublin High school player at the free throw line. Will Schmutz grabbed the rebound, did a tricky behind the back and chucked it up about 50 feet from the basket. It ended up being the difference in the game as the vikes won 83 to 80.“I dribbled past that one guy, and I saw a lane. The big guy was coming at me, so I just tried to get it high in the air.“Luckily it swished in.”
Girls’ basketball wins CCS title
Girls’ Basketball had played Los Gatos twice earlier in the year and had won both times but with all the hype surrounding the CCS championship the team was a little nervous. Early in the game one of the Lady Vikes best players, Carly Leong (17), got injured early in the game but they were able to pull ahead and defeat Los Gatos in a hard fought battle. “It wasn’t our prettiest game but we never stopped fighting and together we won,” Ellie Jeffries (‘19).
Buzzer-beater to win CCS
With 8.7 seconds left in the Division I CCS boys’ basketball championship game, Spencer Rojahn (‘18) grabbed a rebound off of a Los Gatos missed free throw. With the game tied at 63, Miles Tention (‘17) dribbled up the court and passed the ball to Rojahn after coming off of a screen. Rojahn rose up over a Los Gatos defender and drilled a buzzer-beating three pointer to win the CCS Championship for the Vikings and send them on a magical playoff run.
Bottom
10 9 8 7 6
10Moments by SAM GUILLET, DILLON SCHEEL and ETHAN STERN
Injury Led Playoff Loss for Volleyball
The volleyball team had many strong players, one of their star hitters being Chelsea Fan (‘18). In their playoff game against Los Gatos, Paly was winning with a 2-1 lead when Fan rolled her ankle during a point. Paly was thrown from losing Fan during the middle of the game and ended up blowing the game, losing playoffs.
Boys Tennis Losing 7-0 in CCS
The Boys traveled to Monta Vista for the first round of CCS and were taken down 7-0 in the conference matchup. Anytime our Vikes are taken down in CCS it causes much pain and heartbreak, but this embarrassing loss was an especiacially devastating way to end the season
Lax Injuries
On the Girls Varsity team, Gigi Tierney (‘19) messed up her knee, Mattie Orloff (‘18) broke her thumb, Sydney Shawn (‘19) got a concussion, Ana Seligson (‘18) Bruised her Rib, and Charlotte Cheng (‘18) tore her IT band, all in ONE GAME. They could hardly finish the contest. Meanwhile, Boys Varsity starters Jaime Cullen (‘17) and Jordan Schilling (‘17) are both out for the season with an ACL tear and a shoulder dislocation, respectively.
Boys’ Golf Losing a Match - Boys golf has been ab-
solutely destroying the league competition for years. They were undefeated for four straight years in matchplay. Their streak ended in a 201-200 loss to Saratoga in late April of this year. One loss will not affect their ability to win the league tournament and make a run for CCS. But hey now have a hiccup on their record.
Fan attendance at Football
Saying “It was a rough year” is no excuse to skip the games. Those are your best friends, your teachers, and your classmates out there, the heart of the Viking name. We saw what just kind of energy our fans can bring to our sports teams during the #eyesonstate basketball run. There was electric energy at every game. So show up!
36 | T H E V I K I N G |
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
5 4 3 2 1
Boys’ Wopo Losing to Gunn in League Championship
For every Paly fan in attendance of this game, a lasting image stuck in their head. A painful overtime goal by Gunn water polo player followed by the student section rejoicing the victory with the team by jumping in the pool fully clothed. Though our vikes gave it their all, to fall to the titans in that fashion truly stung.
Football’s Third Losing Season in a Row -
Though the football team never gave up and were relentless with their effort, this past seasonwas seen as a rebuilding year. Fans were not particularly excited to watch every week. Nevertheless, there are some returning studs next year, and with an impressive jr. varsity program funneling into varsity next year, the team is looking to have a bounce back year under Coach Danny Sullivan.
Girls’ Soccer Losing in First Round of CCS There was so much hype
around our girls soccer team all year long. And with three electric new freshman and seven powerful returning seniors, there was no reason not to be. Goalkeeper Clara Luehrs (‘18) only let up four goals all season. They were absolutely dominating. Oh, and then they lost in the first round.
Boys Basketball losing in Overtime of Norcal Finals
With the student section overflowing, the #eyesonstate cinderella story playoff run from the boys varsity basketball came to an abrupt end against James Logan High School. Up by 13 at the end of the third quarter, a win seemed inevitable. The James Logan team slowly crept back throughout the fourth quarter when they started canning threes to send it to overtime. Overtime saw the death of our run. A truly sad moment in Palo Alto basketball history.
Staff Changing Locks to Weight Room
For years, Coach Hansen’s mentality was that anybody at PALY who wants to get big, CAN GET BIG. The weight room door was wide open all day. But now that mentality could not be more wrong. In fact, the PALY athletics staff has done everything they can to deter students from using the weight room facilities. There is a small hour and a half window of supervised time where students are allowed to lift weights. Students who can’t make it at the designated time are wasting $70 of their parents money every month, driving to their special gyms with a built in sauna so they can screw around for thirty minutes, when in reality, every weight you ever need is on campus. And for those students dedicated enough to figure out how to copy the key so that they could fit weight training into their schedules, the athletic staff thought it was worth paying hundreds of dollars to have the locks replaced, so that nobody in their right mind could lift weights on their own time. No wonder our school is small. MAY 2017
girls’ soccer aly a P , “It seems like just yes- ssis n a ta
al
After four years at Paly, players, coaches, and parents have dedicated countless hours to numerous sports, but it is finally time for all of them to...
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
TAKE A (‘17 n o i
)
“Playing in my last t en game was hard… going into
Mi le s
Li nd a
38 | T H E V I K I N G |
ch
Er ic
) (‘17 ey
freshmen, trying to figure out their place within the soccer program. Working together as a team, pursuing common goals, experiencing the triumphs and disappointments as a group, learning together, depending upon one another, forging friendships, enjoying teammates’ accomplishments, having pride in your school these are all things we hope we can provide through Paly athletics. So it is with a combination of pride and sadness that we, as coaches experience along with them the final minutes of their time representing the school on the field. In your mind, you know that you have been preparing them for this step for the past years, but when that moment of separation comes, you are not always ready for the finality of it. At the same time there is a sense of joy that you may have had some small part in their growth and their preparedness for taking on the ups and downs that they will experience while being more independent over the next part of their lives.”
lie’s mom Nata , y “It ’s e on been an amazing four l a
years watching Natalie represent and play for the Paly Varsity Soccer Team. I had the opportunity to watch amazing players come together, meet new parents, and hear about the entertaining coaches remarks. I never thought the four years would fly by at a blink of an eye. It was bitter-sweet watching Natalie play in her last Paly game. In her last home game, I saw the timer display 2 minutes, and I didn’t want the moment to end. I didn’t want to have this be her last game with the team she had built amazing friendships with. When the final whistle was blown, my heart broke knowing it was the end, but as I looked at Natalie and saw her beaming smile as the team was moving on to CCS, it felt right, it was time for this amazing experience to come to a close. Through the injuries, slide tackles, scratches and bruises, even through a concussion, and a broken nose, there were countless amazing breakaways, megs, fakes, steals, headers, PK’s and wins that will stay with me forever.”
M
terday that the seniors came into n dmPaly’s athletics programs as wide-eyed
oa tc
on al
ie “My last Paly game ever M was the most emotional game I have ever played in the 10 years that I have been playing soccer. Physically and emotionally, it was the hardest I’ve ever played because I wanted, more than anything, to move on in playoffs. All of us, the seniors especially, played our hearts out for the entire 90 minutes. Although the game ended in a devastating loss that left us all in shock, we competed hard and played well. I was so proud of my teammates and glad that I was able to share this memorable season with them. When the final whistle blew and our season came to an abrupt end, I was distraught and in disbelief. I immediately began to reminisce about everything I would miss about the team: the pasta feeds, bus rides, messing around at practice, and our coach yelling at Caroline Furrier (‘19) are some of the moments I’ll never forget.”
Se e
Nat
T the game we didn’t think it was going
to be our last. We were so close to going to the State Championship which only made it harder. During the game everyone was in the zone and we forgot about what this game meant, we were just competing and trying to win like we do every game. It hurts to think that my teammates, my brothers that I spent 6 days a week with for at least 2 hours every practice, won’t be together like that again. We were a special group that accomplished some special games. Some of those guys I’ve played with since 4th grade, so knowing that I’m never playing with them again is harder than being done with high school basketball. I’m lucky that this is hard for me to get over because it shows the bond we created and not everyone is able to create that bond with their teammates. That’s why we’re so special, we were so close as a team. “
D
a n, P ulliv“ T h e r e aly foo S ny are a couple of ways tba n ll a
he
for me as a coach to be a part of one of my athletes’ final games they will ever play. Of course there is Senior Night in which they will be playing their final home game in front of their family, friends, and local community members. We celebrate them and their families, and I witness all of the emotion they carry as they come to realize that they no longer get to play in a football game. In terms of Alec, seeing him play his final game was tough. He was very good for us and developed as a leader to steer this team in a direction that can be built on for years to come. Alec and the rest of his senior teammates will always have a special place in my heart.”
ad
c oa
c game le and white
M in d
A
wearing the green was an emotional journey. I played football for ten years of my life. The last four years representing Paly were surreal and insanely fun. It was the perfect match up: Vikings vs. Wildcats, Paly vs. Gatos, a battle for the ages. The game flew by, Gatos gained dominance pretty early on. I was disappointed; I hadn’t expected to roll over Gatos, but they were a beatable team. I played an ok game, but I had a blast, and even though the end result was devastating, I realized the game was about so much more than me. c’s mom I was glad I could mentor my peers and the current Sopho, Ale n mores and Juniors. I helped inspire my team, proving that he size doesn’t matter as long as you work your butt off Co “The Paly Athletic Program y provides an inclusive, diverse and daily. I earned the most inspirational player award at the end of the season and was invited to play fun environment that has multifaceted at the Charlie Wendemeyer All-Star Game. benefits for coaches, players, parents, volunI can’t wait to suit up one last time, teers and spectators. Alec has played football and even if it isn’t for the green lacrosse all four years for Paly and his coaches have and white.” had a positive impact on his technique, self-confidence and high school experience. In addition to being a physical game, football can also be a cerebral and social game and Alec has grown as a leader and learned how to navigate team dynamics. Attending Alec’s last game of the season was filled with mixed emotions. As parents, we were realistic he might not play football in college, so I realized this might be the last time Alec would be in design by SKYLAR BURRIS a football uniform. That said, I enjoyed every minand SABRINA HALL ute of the game and felt pride and satisfaction in knowing what a great experience this has been for Alec.”
ch
-Schisler (‘17) n e h “My final Co
KNEE
ock, Paly nb r b e p “This is the culmina- oys e i
m mo
ball head c ke t o a as ch
s’
D tion of a lot of time and sacrifice that this individual has put in along with his/her family to get to this point. No matter what endeavors this athlete goes on to after this, their high school career will always be an incredibly special time in this person’s life. The opportunity to compete with a bunch of childhood friends that he/she has grown up with is an experience totally unique to the high school athletic experience. The familiarity and love is what separates it from anything that can possibly come after high school.” ’b
ile
“I of Miles this year, I thought he did a great job stepping up in big games. It was not only tough watching Miles play his last game for Paly, but because I’ve coached 10 out of the 13 Paly kids between Palo Alto Midnight and NJB All Net it was difficult seeing them play together for the last time. Because so many of the boys have played almost year round together for years, the team ( players and parents ) have been like family here at Paly. I will miss not seeing everyone on a regular bases. The defining moment for me as a parent this year was Paly beating Los Gatos in the CCS finals. The boys, as well as their families, have been committed to basketball for years, and I was elated to see their hard work pay off. “
Pe te r
Becky Tent io n ,M was very proud
MAY 2017
BEACH BODY READY by SKYLAR BURRIS, JAMIE CULLEN, & CHRISTIAN RIDER
!
It’s cutting season, kids, and we don’t mean just your classes. Summer is just around the corner, and it’s time to start burning off the fat you were storing for winter hibernation. We’re going to focus primarily on your core and your arms, because #EverydayIsArmDay. Sit down, buckle up, and get ready to get shredded.
ROCK-HARD abs Plank Sit ups/crunches Leg raises Toe touches Bicycles Russian twists
KiLLER Arms
!
PERFECT PECS Benchpress Incline press Decline press Pectoral flies
40 | T H E V I K I N G |
!
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
Pushups Pull ups Bicep curls Tricep extensions Skull crushers More bicep curls
LEGS I swear to God you better not..
Full body workout:
1-minute plank 25 crunches 15 toe touches 20 Russian twists
10 pushups 15 bicep curls 15 tricep extensions 15 skull crushers
10 benchpress 8 incline press 10 decline press 15 pectoral flies
“I think what helped me most was staying consistent with my lifestyle habits. This includes how I ate, what I worked out, and how often I worked out.” -Sean romeo (‘17), winner of Scrawny to Brawny 2017
d d d
MAY 2017
Season Recaps by HAYLEY LEVINE, WES WALTERS, and MARA ZENGER
Cross Country The cross country season was a great success as the boys team was able to go to the State meet. Under first year head coach Michael Davidson, the team had lots of success being led by Kent Slaney (‘17), Henry Saul (‘19) and Julia Doubson (‘18).
“
Our season was both good and not as good as we had hoped. Good from the standpoint that we made it to the state meet. Good from the standpoint that we finished higher than we did last season. -MICHAEL DAVIDSON
”
Football
“
The main [challenge] was learning how to overcome adversity when we had injuries to key players and younger athletes needed to step up. New leaders needed to be found as well during that stretch of injuries. -DANNY SULLIVAN
The football team had a rocky start under first year head coach Danny Sullivan. The team finished with a 4-7 record with their season ending with in the first round of the playoffs to Los Gatos. They continue to build on the successes that they had into the next season.
Boys’ Golf Boys golf has been very successful this season as they currently hold a record of 10-0. The team is coached by Doyle Knight, and captained by Timothy Liu (‘17) and Ahmed Ali (‘18)
42 | T H E V I K I N G |
”
“
Golf embodies values of integrity, compassion, perseverance, and resilience, and I highly encourage everyone to try it. Our team has stuck together through thick and thin and have continued to compete every single match, and I’m so proud of how far we’ve come. -TIMOTHY LIU (‘17)
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
”
Girls’ Golf The girls’ golf team finished 6-4 in their league as their season ended with the team not qualifying for states at the NorCal tournament. The team is captained by Emily Hwang (‘17) and coached by Doyle Knight.
“
We learned a lot about staying positive throughout the round and not worrying too much about our competition. -EMILY HWANG (‘17)
”
Boys’ Tennis
“
Boys Tennis was expecting to have a down year and they were competitive in the De Anza League. The team was led by Noah Galper (17) and sophomore Anthony Georgiadis (‘19). they started the year off hot but cooled down later while still managing to keep some momentum going into next year.
Girls’ Tennis The Girls’ tennis team dominated this season, ending with a 12-0 record. Because of the team’s’ impressive standing, they will advance into a higher league next season. The team captain is Meredith Cummings (‘17), and they are coached by Andy Harader and Todor Manchev.
Volleyball With a record of 23-11, the girls’ volleyball team came out with a very successful season. The team is coached by Jekara Wilson and Jairo Sierra, and captained by Katie Passarello (‘17) and Jessica Lee (‘17).
We expected to barely remain in our top league but were able to put ourselves in competition in most matches. -NOAH GALPER (‘17)
”
“
My team and I learned how to work together and stay positive during matches. Tennis can be a very difficult sport because it is individual and you are required to self-motivate. We are all extremely dedicated to improving our skills and winning for our school, but we also have very fun and loving sides to us, creating the best second family I could ever ask for. -MEREDITH CUMMINGS (‘17)
”
“
Some of the lessons the team learned was we were able to figure out ways to fill in the holes when people got injured. When we lost to Los Altos...I think that gave us some fire and determination to not feel that way again and I think that showed when we played them again in CCS. -JESSICA LEE (‘17)
”
MAY 2017
“
Girls’ Water Polo
Our team learned...to not let our past define us... we learned that we were the only ones that determined how we did in games. -JOANNA FALLA (‘17)
The girls’ water polo team is captained by Joanna Falla (‘17) and Hollie Chiao (‘18). They are coached by Aileen Delaney and Kelly Fletcher and ended the season with an overall record of 14-16.
Boys’ Water Polo
Boys Water Polo had a strong year going 12-6 Led by senior captains Tommy Smale, Jared Stanley, Andrew Josefov, Alex Beaudry the team advanced all the way to the league title, losing to crosstown rival Gunn 8-4.
”
“
We were able to come together as a team and played some high quality water polo. -TOMMY SMALE (‘17)
”
Girls’ Basketball
“
Girls Basketball had a fantastic year where they repeated as CCS champs They went undefeated in league thanks to strong performances from many players but especially seniors Carly Leong (17) (16 PPG) and Lauren Koyama (17) (14 PPG).
Everyone was super hyped going into the year, especially because we had the chance towin back to back CCS championships -ELLIE JEFFERIES (‘19)
” Boys’ Basketball The basketball team had a fantastic year after an early exit from CCS last year. The team led by coach Peter Diepenbrock and Miles Tention (‘17) finished with a record of 25-6 with their season ending in the Nor Cal finals to James Logan. The team looks to replicate a memorable season in the future.
44 | T H E V I K I N G |
Swimming & Diving
“
We learned that if we bring great energy on defense we can beat anybody. - PETER DIEPENBROCK
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
”
Girls swimming will likely win state after that, and was. Boys swimming that was led by Alex Liang (17), went 6-1 and have won those meets with ease. Diving has been a big reason for the Viking swimming and Diving teams success without them our teams would not be where the are now.
Wrestling
“
Wrestling had a good season as a team, but there was one individual who had a great year. Sarah Agular dominated the competition and won state. Nobody was expecting them to have so much success.
Girls’ Soccer
The soccer team had a great showing going undefeated in league with an overall record of 14-1-4. The team were led by captains Emily Tomz (‘18) and Natalie Maloney (‘17) and coaches Kurt Devlin and Eric Seedman. The team’s season ended with a heartbreaking loss to Menlo Atherton in the first round of the playoffs.
We were a young team but we kept fighting and went undefeated in our dual meets. - ALEX DAW (‘19)
”
“
As a team we learned that every game we have to bring our best and not ever let down. We had a lot of ties this season which cost us the league title, so we have to work on keeping up our intensity for every game. -EMILY TOMZ (‘18)
”
Boys’ Soccer
Boys’ soccer ended the season 12-71 overall with a loss in the first round of CCS. They were coached by Don Briggs, Mark Gardner, and Jack Bungarden, and captained by Neil Verwillow (‘17), Derek Schoenberger (‘17), and Michel-Ange Siaba (‘17).
“
This year, myself and the other influences on the team made a very conscious effort to dissolve any barriers between the different grade levels. This was critical to any success we had, as regardless of age, confidence almost always results in better more consistent players...we tried to not isolate any of them and instead be inclusive and keep them involved. -NEIL VERWILLOW (‘17)
”
Badminton
“
photo courtesy of Dion Li
The team lost a lot of great seniors last year. Although we lost leagues to Gunn we will bounce back next year with an even better season -WILL PARMETER (‘18)
”
Badminton had a tough season and had a record of 3-9 but they were not expecting to do very well. Although they only went 3-9 the team was not dropped down to the El Camino league. Michael Chau (18) and Flavia Stiglich (19) were a few of the bright spots this year and were the leading singles players for the vikes.
“
I was happy to see that we were super competitive and worked hard to win. -Samarth Venkatasubramaniam (‘17)
”
MAY 2017
Baseball
“
Baseball has had an incredible season they are league champs and will most likely make a deep run in CCS playoffs. It was honorable mention team of the year.
Softball
The softball team has been playing strong and currently have a 8-4 record. They are coached by Brooke Binkley and Turner Binkley, and their captains are Maggie Renteria (‘17) and Madeleine Frick (‘17).
We play collectively as a team, our offense is a little inconsistent but we find a way to win. -MAX JUNG-GOLDBERG (‘18)
”
“
Through the season we’ve learned to have more confidence in our own and our team’s abilities. If I wanted people to know one thing about softball it’s that we’re actually pretty good and everyone enjoys when peers come out to support them so they should come to games. -MAGGIE RENTERIA (‘17)
”
Girls’ Lacrosse
“
The girls’ lacrosse has been very successful in their league, and have a current record of 9-2 in league. The teams’ coaches are Jamie Nesbitt and Caroline Roma, and the captains are Quinn Knoblock (‘17), Kaitlin Chiu (‘17), and Katie Cox (‘17).
Boys’ Lacrosse
The team is lead by coach DJ Shelton and captains Christian Rider (‘17), Hayden Libbey (‘17), Louis Marzano (‘17) and Alec Cohen Schisler (‘17). The team currently has an overall record of 6-6 and a league record of 4-1 with a couple of weeks left in the season.
“We all have different skills, and we put those all together to form a successful team. -KAITLIN CHIU (‘17)
”
“
The team quickly realized how important it is to spend the weeks leading up to the season preparing by focusing on fundamentals -DJ SHELTON
Track and Field The team is led by Tanner Newell
(‘17), Titi Bolarwina (‘17) and Tyler Marik (‘18), as well as coach Michael Davidson. The team had some highlights like the 4x1600 team setting a new Paly record at the Arcadia Invitational.
46 | T H E V I K I N G |
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
”
“
I’’m looking forward to hopefully beating the school record in the 300 hurdles and qualifying and running at Arcadia Invitational again. -ADEE NEWMAN (‘18)
”
Final word...
by WES WALTERS and MATAN ZIV
This, our first Final Word, must live up to the standards set by the legends who came before us. Peter and Ben were purely inspirational and we hope to one day be able to say that we lived up to their abilities. On that note, we can promise we will deliver issue after issue, and continue the Prophecy. The first matter we will look at is the unconstitutional silencing of fans at sports games. PLEASE NOTE: The sign says “Finger Lickin Good” and is in no way profane.
Where did our rights go?
A
s the new prophets of Palo Alto High School, our first task is to attack the people responsible for denying us the right of freedom of speech. Something all citizens of this great nation acknowledge as a basic right and is given in the First Amendment of our great constitution, is not seen as a fundamental right by our administrators. Fans at sports games have a right to cheer however they would like. At many Paly basketball games this year, an administration member has come up to our green-and-whitebleeding student section asking them to stop a cheer. THAT AIN’T RIGHT BRUH. Students have a right to cheer however they would like, even if it is directed at the other team. Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me. And even if words did hurt players on the other team, that’s not a bad thing. That helps the Vikings. If the other team’s shooting guard holds his stroke while
airballing a 3 from the wing, he needs to remember that all game. Multiple times this year, administration has come up to our fans and forced them to stop yelling the traditional “airball” chant, threatening fans with being thrown out. Many college student sections will chant things to get in the opposing team’s head that may be euphemisms, but nobody really takes them too seriously. For example, it is common for teams to make fun of a player’s style, like when fans would make fun of Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel for wearing jean shorts. “Focus on our team,” one administrator said. They would prefer we focus on our team but that just simply is not as fun. They think we should protect the players but in college and the pros there will be thousands of fans heckling them. It is the fans’ job to get into the other team’s head and win the mind games. That is exactly why home teams have an advantage over the away team. Home fans, with their greater numbers, have the ability to get into the other team’s heads and minimize their athletic ability. A world where fans stay silent and never say a word to the opposing team is an unfathomable world in which not a single soul would like to live in.
We might as well just stop coming to games if administration is going to continue to silence us and take away our first amendment rights to freedom of speech. Even though we hold the First Amendment dear to our hearts, we acknowledge that some things really do cross a line. Racial slurs, and chants that are racially charged, such as, “build that wall” chants are simply going too far, and are not protected under the first fan amendment. We don’t want to end up like Gatos and their disgusting cheersand yelling derogatory terms about Miles Tension’s (‘17) race. However, administrator have no right telling us to stop our harmless cheering. Has Joe Lacob (majority owner of the Warriors) ever told fans to stop chanting “airball” when Russell Westbrook puts up a flashy 3 and airballs? Did a college administrator ever stop people from bringing signs to games that made fun of Manti Te’o and his ‘girlfriend’. Our teams are losing the home team advantage and if they start losing home games the only people to blame are the administration. We suggest that administration stops infringing on the rights the founding fathers blessed us with on that great September day in 1787. If they believe some things cross some line, they must have a list of set guidelines and rules that students must follow, therefore not giving administrators the right to simply do whatever they please.
MAY 2017
Would you like to advertise here? Contact us at vikingads@gmail.com 48 | T H E V I K I N G |
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m