Viking Volume XII Issue 1

Viking magazine

Volume 12, Issue 1 September 2018

Sitting your way to

Success

The impact of players such as Otto Berndt is bigger than the bench — it completes the team. Although their contributions are often overshadowed, it’s time for them to see the spotlight. p. 38

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04 ZOOMS 10 EDITORIAL 12 INTRO PACKAGE 16 GRIDIRON VIBES 18 TENNIS TENSION 21 DISTRIBUTING SUCCESS 24 GAMETIME GRUB 26 CRIME TIME 32 VIKING TRIES WONDERLIC 34 TRAINING TROUBLE 38 SITTING YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS 42 TAKE A BITE 44 NEW COACHES, CLEAN SLATES 47 FINAL WORD

LINE-UP @vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

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Lexi Gwyn (‘21) scores a late second half goal. Paly beat Los Monta Vista 1-0.

Photo by Jason Shorin

Shoot

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

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Amelia Gibbs (‘20) spikes the ball between two Menlo-Atherton players. Paly would lose 3 sets to one. Photo by David Hickey

Spike

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

Louis Pasarello flexes after sacking the quarterback in Paly’s 45-7 rout of Half Moon Bay. Photo by Jenna Hickey

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Celebrate

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@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

Viking Editors-in-Chief Maria Fletcher Ellie Jeffries Stan de Martel Managing Editor Lauren Daniel Design Director Zach Phillips Multimedia Editors Mallory Kuppe Cole Sotnick Business Managers Eric Aboytes Summer Daniel Beat Editors Zach Baumgarten Ryan Strathearn

Volume XI, Issue 5 March 2018

Staff Writers Alana Abeyta Ryan Bara Lincoln Bloom Sam Cleasby Kevin Cullen Sanaz Ebrahimi Dexter Gormley Gerzain Gutierrez Ella Jones Griffin Kemp Tina Lagerblad Joshua Lai Conner Lusk Joey Passarello Ya’el Sarig Ryan Stanley Jack Such

Photo Editors David Hickey Jason Shorin

Executive Senior Staff Writers Jackson Chryst Joshua Kasevich

Social Media Director Will DeAndre

Adviser Brian Wilson

Copy Editor Nathan Seto Video Editors Tyler Foug Nick Welch Head Columnists Nathan Ellisen Wes Walters

Viking Magazine 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 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 Viking The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts 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.

Logo Font Courtesy of Måns Grebäck All photos taken from Creative Commons unless noted

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From the editors Dear readers,

Welcome back! Everyone at Viking Sports Magazine hopes that you had a relaxing summer and are easily readjusting to the school grind again. We are all excited to present the first issue of Viking Year 12!

Despite sadly seeing our beloved senior writers leave in May, Viking is as big as ever with a staff of 39 students!

The future holds great opportunities for the magazine, and we are in the process of developing a new depth of content that we hope will continue to expand Viking’s impact. Our 18 eager new members have already shown a lot of talent and passion, which we hope will speak for itself in their debut issue. With our enthusiastic, abundant

staff, new photo and video editors, and redefined website you can expect both print and digital excellence from us this year.

In our cover story, Dexter Gormley, Sanaz Ebrahimi, Kevin Cullen and Zach Baumgarten talked with some of Paly’s players whose impact is felt from their position on the bench. While they might not get the most playing time in their respective sports, we believe the role of the bench player is crucial to the dynamic and support system of every team.

Also, don’t miss out on Cole Sotnick and Ryan Strathearn’s guide to creating the best tailgate possible and their coverage of some of the recent

Paly student tailgates, well as the other Paly-related issues discussed in this issue such as the distribution of Sports Boosters’ money, the needed addition of a second athletic trainer, and the implementation of new football helmets.

We hope you enjoy Issue I and stay tuned for another great year of Viking Sports Mag!

Sko Vikes!

Ellie Jeffries Maria Fletcher Stan de Martel

Staff View: On The Scheduling of Opponents

I

t’s been eight long years since Paly won a state championship in football, and thanks to the scheduling done by Athletic Director Therren Wilburn, Paly is in a great position to win another one. This season, Paly plays 5 out of the top 25 teams in Central Coast Section in regular season matchups, including Aragon, Wilcox, Saint Ignatius, McClymonds, and Milpitas, with three of those being out-of-league matchups.

The difficult regular season schedule is beneficial to the Vikings, as playing a hard regular season where losses are less consequential will better prepare them to win in the playoffs. With more experience against strong teams, Paly will be ready to take on considerable opponents deep in the playoffs.

Paly’s players also seem to share the enthusiasm around their schedule.

Star wide receiver Paul Thie (‘19) is ecstatic about the strength of schedule.

“I think it’s good for us to push ourselves before league starts, so we are playing at a high level and hitting our stride when league starts and when playoffs eventually roll around,” said Thie.

The same sentiment is shared by lineman Louis Passarello (‘20), whose competitiveness and confidence are well known amongst teammates.

“We want to be good, so we have to beat good teams to do so,” Passarello said. “Football isn’t easy, so when you do beat a good team it feels really good to get a reward for all of the hard work you put in.”

The scheduling of out-of-league games, of which we have three top 25 opponents this year, is usually not up to chance. The decision is to the coaches’ discretion as to what schools we play for “home-and-home”s. A homeand-home consists of one Paly home game and one away game, resulting in a two year contract with a specific team. This means that for the foreseeable future, Paly is primed for a run of quality teams to improve against.

As much of the school community is likely knowledgeable, Paly had a disappointing season last year. Injuries plagued the team throughout the season, and eventually they would lose in the first round in CCS en route to a 32nd-ranked finish. This season, Wil-

burn has a different ending in mind.

When asked about scheduling these high ranked teams, Wilburn responded with utmost confidence in our Vikings.

“The rankings are subjective and more of an opinion poll heading into a season. Our goal is to be ranked number one at the end of the season, not the beginning,” said Wilburn. With many chances to improve during the regular season, Paly is primed to jump 31 spots in the rankings and finish as the top dogs in CCS. Paly football is just the beginning of this genius scheduling strategy. Girls basketball followed suit by scheduling Presentation, the number three ranked team in CCS, right before the start of their playoffs. Boys water polo also took part, scheduling tough outof-league opponent Archbishop Mitty, who they would end up beating.

As other Paly teams follow in football’s footsteps preparing for the postseason with a difficult regular season, the custodians should also be preparing, as their services will be needed to hang more championship banners in the rafters.

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

Pop Culture Grid Favorite Movie?

Jack Haney (‘22) The Goonies Boys Water Polo

Mulan

Amelia Gibbs (‘20) Girls Volleyball

Super Bowl Champion?

Village Cheese House

I don’t care

Kobe

Cheese House

I don’t know who’s playing

Coach Wendy

Driftwood

49ers

Kathryn Plummer

DRIFTWOOD

I only watch soccer

Peter Diepenbrock

Driftwood

Jaguars

Tom Brady

Trainwreck

Mamma Mia

Jackson Bundy (‘21) Football

Driftwood or V.C.H?

Who’s the GOAT?

Forrest Gump

College Football or NFL? College Football

College

Miranda Jimenez (‘20) Cross Country

College Football

College

Emma Siskins (‘20) Field Hocley

NFL

Moment of the Month

Paly Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey defeats Monta Vista 1-0 for their first ever win.

Photos Courtesy of Karen Ambrose Hickey

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10 Questions With

Viking Magazine had the chance to ask Paly Boys’ Water Polo player Javid Alasti (‘19) 10 Questions. We then asked his coach, teammate and friend what they thought he said. Here are their responses...

Javid Alasti

as told to Eric Aboytes, Ella Jones, and Ryan Styanley

Javid Alasti (‘19)

Ethan Look Coach

Charles Mitz (‘21) Teammate

Miles Schulman (‘19) Friend

Questions?

Ben Rapperport

Funniest Teammate?

Dexter Gormley

Ryan Stanley

Otto Berndt

Ham and Cheese Sandwich

Pre-game Meal?

PowerBar

Big Mac

Sugar Cubes

Baking

Secret Talent?

Can make a clover with his tongue

Trombone

Pro Cliff Jumper

Ringo Starr

Celebrity Crush?

Kate Upton

Zac Efron

Iron Man

Shark Tank

Favorite TV Show?

Barney

Friends

Top Gear

Optional Flex

Best thing about Paly?

His coach

Water Polo

FLEX

YouTube

Favorite App?

The Notes App

Facebook

Flite Test

7th Prep

Best Part of Senior Year?

Not being a junior

The girls

Egg Wars

Octopus’s Garden

by The Beatles

Favorite Song?

22 by Taylor Swift

Firework

Lady Madonna

Band

Favorite Class?

Robotics

Prep

Auto

0%

0%

10%

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

Inside the Mind Of

Paul Thie

For this issue of Viking, we decided to do an Inside the Mind on Boys Football’s Paul Thie (‘19). Thie has had a great start to the 2018 season; against McClymonds, he had a total of five catches, 157 yards, two touchdowns and was named GetSportsFocus Game of the Week Playmaker.

Best Part about the Football Team?

The best part of playing football is building relationships and bonding with my teammates and coaches. Being on the football team is like having a family of 30 plus.

Sometimes we fight but it brings us closer together and helps make us a stronger team. And once the game starts we’re nothing but brothers.

Do you have a pre-game ritual?

I don’t have a true pre-game ritual but I like to stay loose and just talk about our game plan.

If you weren’t playing football?

If I couldn't play football in the Fall I would be playing baseball on a club team in preparation for the Spring baseball season.

Free Time?

In my free time, I do homework and hang out with friends.

I also like to play video games.

Plans After Paly?

After Paly I would like to play a sport at the next level. I am looking to play football or baseball in college.

Photo Courtesy of Karen Ambrose Hickey

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Viking Crossword

Across

Down

6. Full-time Trainer 10. 49ers Quarterback (Last Name) 11. Paly Grad on Dodgers (Last Name) 12. Knows Javid Alasti Best (Last Name) 14. Featured Paly Basketball Coach 15. 2017 Heisman Winner (Last Name) 17. Paly Team That Won a State Championship in 2011 19. Publication Prerequisite 20. Best Publication on Campus 21. Paly Starting Quarterback (Last Name)

1. 2018 World Cup Winner 2. Viking Adviser 3. Where Viking Covers are on Display 4. Paly NFL Player (Last Name) 5. Daily Annoyance at Paly 7. Newest Addition to Fall Sports 8. Paly Football Homecoming Opponent 9. Teacher and Former Bodybuilder 13. Can I get a 16. Former Viking EIC and [New] Coach 18. 2018 Super Bowl Winner

1. France 4. Adams 2. Wilson 5. Firedrill 3. Biggym 6. Iongi

7. Fieldhockey 13. Skovikes 16. Look 19. Journalism 10.

Garappol o 8. LogGatos 11. Pederson 14. Diepenbrock 17. Volleyball 20. Viking 9. Fung 18. Eagles 21. Chryst 12. Schulman 15. Mayfield

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

Gridiron Vibes

by JACKSON CHRYST, CONNER LUSK, and JASON SHORIN Each college football team and its respective school has a unique feel that makes them all special in different ways. With that said, there are a few atmospheres, chants, traditions, and living animal mascots that separates themselves from the rest.

Atmospheres

The Army vs. Navy game has been played annually #1 since 1890 with the exception of a three year gap from 1927-1930. Although the game no longer the national title implications that it used to Army Vs. has have during the mid 1900s, the event still creates best atmosphere in college football because it Navy game the showcases football’s roots and traditions.

Whiteout

4

Alabama Bryant-Denny Stadium

Michigan Stadium

5

Flordia stadium “The Swamp”

2

Penn State

3

Chants #1 Tomahawk Chop

The Tomahawk Chop is arguably the most iconic chant in any college football stadium. The chop is also used by the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Braves, but it originated at Florida State where nearly 80,000 fans do the chop and the accompanying chant in unison. Strengthened by the enthusiasm of the fans, the Tomahawk chop both energizes Florida State’s players and intimidates their opponents.

2

Florida Gator Chomp

4

Arkansas Woo Pig Sooie

3

LSU Neck Chant

5

West Virginia Country Road

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Traditions #1 Turnover Chain

Last season the University of Miami or “The U” gave birth to one of the best traditions in college football, the Turnover Chain. As the Miami defense created turnovers, they celebrated by throwing the chain over their neck. The Turnover Chain was an integral part of Miami’s season last year as the chain and the team caught national attention by winning big time games and celebrating with the flashy 24 karat gold accessory.

2 3

Virginia Tech “Enter the Sandman” Iowa waves to Children’s hospital

4

Wisconsin Jump Around

5

Clemson Howards Rock

Living Animal Mascots #1 Mike the Tiger VII

Mike the Tiger made his first appearance in 1936 and has been a staple of LSU football ever since. Rituals with this Tiger include parking the cage outside of the visitors locker room and having them walk past it, but Mike has not traveled to away games since 1970 because his cage overturned on one of their plane rides. Tradition said that every roar that Mike made before the game dictated the amount of touchdowns LSU would score that game, but because Mike was prompted to roar by pounding on the cage, objections of animal cruelty lead LSU to use recorded growls instead.

2

Ralphie the Buffalo

4

Smokey the bloodhound

3

Sur Big Spur Gamecock

5

Leo III and Una the Lions

What living animal would make the best mascot for Paly?

28.9% Bear Mammoth Lynx Whale A different nordic animal

22.9%

18.1%

13.3% 16.9%

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

TENNIS TENSION

by LAUREN DANIEL, NATHAN ELLISEN, MALLORY KUPPE

Serena Williams' career has been riddled with controversy. She was thrust into the spotlight once again as the director of the French Open publically announced that she would not be allowed to wear her black catsuit in next year's tournament.

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A

s Serena Williams comes off the court in her flamboyant, black panther-esque outfit, she is unaware of the controversy that would inevitably ensue. Williams’ outfit, a design solely meant to maintain her health after struggling to give birth to her first child, has sparked a debate about the traditionalism in tennis. With the likes of racism, sexism, and overall stubbornness for change in a traditional sport like tennis, Williams has caused more discussion and argument than she would’ve thought imaginable from something as minor and seemingly insignificant as her clothing choice.

The controversy started nine months before the French Open, when French Open Administrator Bernard Giudicelli said he would not allow Williams’ catsuit in the tournament. Many agreed with Giudicelli that traditional white skirts should be worn, especially in an event as historic as the French Open. However, others are not only concerned with the sexism associated with a dress code, but also with Williams’ health. After blood clotting during and after the birth of her child almost a year ago, Williams’ doctors recommended that she wear a tightly-knit suit in order to keep her blood circulation flowing. The reasoning behind Williams’ wardrobe was strictly for health conditions, and not to make some sort of statement.

Giudicelli, in his official released statement, said “...we are going to nonetheless ask the manufacturers to let us know what [outfits are] coming. I believe we have sometimes gone too far. Serena’s outfit this year, for example, would no longer be accepted. You have to respect the game and the place.”

Many still did not agree that Williams’ attire was disrespectful to the sport and started to analyze Giudicelli’s meaning.

Many people took the decision as potentially racist and sexist, given tennis has been a white-dominated sport ever since its invention in the UK during the 19th century. Meanwhile, Williams has been one of the most dominant players in history, as a black woman. Many people believe Guidicelli’s verdict is associated with the dominance and attention Williams has attained as a black female, despite Giudicelli’s reputation as a respected executive with the French Open.

Giudicelli later stated that they are in the process of creating an official dresscode for the French Open to avoid similar situations in the future.

The controversy is reminiscent of a contreversial event in the eighties when professional tennis player Anne White showed up to Wimbledon in a white catsuit. She was told she had to change or else she would not be allowed to continue in the tournament. Like Williams, White stated that the suit was more functional than a fashion statement.

While her situation was dealt with similarly by the tournament, the public responses were quite different.

Publicly, White was applauded for her outfit choice and commentators even said that “while the average woman could not get away with wearing the bodysuit, White’s long and lean body made her the exception.”

When Serena first wore a short catsuit in 2002 at the US Open, she did not receive the same type of response. Instead of people describing her as an “enviable example of femininity”, as was White in 1985, she was criticized. According to Jamie Schultz’s essay "Reading the Catsuit," which was published in the Journal of Sport and Social Issue, her outfit was described as “ultra-risque,” “curve-clutching,” and “leaving little to the imagination.” Other publications pointed to her “bulging muscles” and “defensive-back physique.” Even a Washington Post fashion critic, Robin Givhan, described her as “a working girl of a different sort,” and described the catsuit as “trashy.”

However, Williams is not new to this type of criticism: she has faced it her whole career. She recently ended a 14year boycott she held against the Indian Wells Tournament that began after

she and her sister faced extreme discrimination and racial slurs yelled from the crowd at the tournament. Since then, she has continued to face discrimination from the press, spectators and other players.

Though she may have received much backlash for wearing the catsuit, some have come out and stated their support for her.

Nike responded by featuring her in an advertisement with a picture of her in the catsuit with the words, “You can take the superhero out of her costume, but you can never take away her super powers.”

Female sports legend and long-time Title IX advocate Billie Jean King had strong opinions on Williams’ situation.

“You can see how things are changing in the world for us: our freedoms, the way we dress, which is good,” King said.

“But I never hear them really talk about how the guys should dress”.

Sexism has been evident in the sport of tennis since its origins. Popularity of tennis first spread in Victorian England, where wearing white became customary as it was associated with wealth and privilege. However, the outfits of the women tennis players prevented them from much movement at all as they wore their street clothes which included corsets, bustles, petticoats and gigantic skirts. According to Allure Magazine, in the 1900s, the women wore “floor-length skirts, stockings, and long-sleeved tops” while playing. In the early 21st century, as the tennis skirt lengths shortened to allow more movement, controversy ensued.

Outside of fashion, there has also been some sexist moments in tennis’ history.

Former tennis champion Raymond

"Serena's outfit this year, for example, would no longer be accepted. You have to respect the game and the place."

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

Moore has been quoted saying that female tennis stars “ride on the coattails of the men and go down every night” on their “knees and thank god that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport.”

Former world number one ranked male player, Novak Djokovic stated after a win at the Indian Wells tournament that male tennis players should earn more prize money than their women counterparts because their matches have more viewers. However, he has also said that he has respect for female athletes who face added challenges such as “the hormones and different stuff.”

All in all, Serena Williams’ entire career has centered around starting controversy and ending discrimination, and her outfit dispute with the French Open management has only continued this reputation.

BCD

PALY

THOUGHTS

******************

“I believe almost anything that regards health issues and disadvantages in major tournaments should tailor to the players needs."

- Phoebe Kim ('22)

“I don't know if you can say she caused the rule change” - Peter Diepenbrock

2018 US OPEN

On September 8th, Williams fell back into the spotlight during the US Open. Umpire Carlos Ramos accused Williams of receiving coaching during the final against Naomi Osaka and gave her a warning. After a few more games of play, Williams threw her racket to the ground in an outburst of anger towards Ramos and towards her play. Ramos subsequently gave her a second behavior warning, and rewarded Osaka a penalty point. Finally, Williams approached Ramos questioning the validity of the calls and calling him a “thief”. Ramos rewarded Osaka

“I think it is fine to have a dress code at professional tournaments like that, but some exceptions do have to be made."

-Trisha Razdan (‘21)

“I feel like she has the right to do whatever she wants because she's at that kind of platform and I don't know what the problem is with it.”

- Wyatt Thayer (‘19)

EFGHI

a penalty game, allowing Osaka to lead by a set, 5-4, one game away from a championship.

After Osaka inevitably won, Williams stated that Ramos’ decisions were based on sexism rather than correctly calling the game.

Her official statement included that “there’s a lot of men out here that have said a lot of things, and because they are men, that doesn’t happen,” Williams said. Although Ramos has been cited as being a strict umpire in the past, much of Williams’ fan base immediately came out in support, agreeing with Williams that the penalty game was unfairly given to Osaka.

“Well, I mean, I’m honest, I was coaching.”

“There’s a lot of men out here that have said a lot of things, and because they are men, [nothing happens].”

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TRAINING

TROUBLE

Inside the paly training program, the people who make it function, and the growing number of athletes who rely on them. o abell iel R niel n a D BY: r Da Summe illips Ph Zach

T

he sun slowly sinks below the horizon and the temperature drops soon after. While many head home, eager to leave campus and eat a warm dinner, athletes gear up for practices and games. In the dark and desolate environment that is Palo Alto High School at night, football players put their pads on, water polo teammates suit up, and cross country runners prepare for that night’s run. However, athletes are not the only ones that must gear up for nightlife at Paly. In the quad across from the Churchill parking lot, Paly’s trainer is on call: ready to respond to any crisis.

For most of the evening, Paly’s trainer floats from practice to practice, game to game: selflessly helping students whenever necessary.

Justine Iongi has been Paly’s trainer for the past three years. Now in her fourth year, Ms. E, as most students call her, reflects on her history at Palo Alto High School.

“The first year, there was no full-time position available for the school so they did sti-

pend work for athletic trainers to cover by season,” Ms. E said. “[Currently] I oversee more than 1,200 athletes, and I take care of all the athletes that are in season, out of season, or associated with Paly athletics.”

On game days, Paly’s athletes face off against rivals and give their all to represent their school. Again, Ms. E can be seen on the sidelines, ready with a bucket of ice, athletic tape, and treatment table.

Ms. E’s immediate response has mended numerous injuries and prevented countless others; athletes have grown accustomed to prompt treatment. At games and practices, she is there. After school and during a prep, she is there: graciously tending to all ailments.

“I do rehabilitative and treatment work with them, and also preventative care,” Ms. E said.

However, with the recent addition of three sports and the numerous athletes associated with them, the school district must ask itself whether it is asking too much of one

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

full-time trainer – and thus doing a disservice to the majority of Paly students who participate in sports.

In total, 1,250 students participate in one or more athletic programs at Palo Alto High School. This fall, 16 teams — including both boys and girls teams at every level — are running simultaneously.

Throughout the year, more and more students will earn their spot on a team’s roster. By springtime, 21 teams will be actively competing.

Assuming a very rough estimate of 20 participants per team (although many teams, like track, have many more), Paly’s single full-time trainer is tasked with taking care of more than 420 students. With this year’s addition of two new teams, Boys Volleyball and Girls Field Hockey, this number has grown. The number of student-athletes is expected to rise once again in the coming years with the addition of JV teams of each of the new sports.

There is, however, only one n u m b e r that has not grown: the number of trainers that Paly provides for their students. Iongi finds herself unable to attend all of Paly’s games when multiple teams are playing simultaneously, having to prioritize sports where injury is most likely.

With a larger-than-ever number of student athletes at Paly, there is more demand than ever.

In her time at Paly, Ms. E recognizes how her role has drastically changed.

“When I first started at Paly [...] I was allotted a certain amount of hours — from 10-15 hours a week depending on coverage — and I was mostly here for games,” Iongi said. “If I had hours left over, I would come in after school and help treat athletes with injuries.”

At the time, limited hours meant that Iongi could not serve athletes as well as she wanted.

“I did kind of a triage in terms of ‘I’m here for coverage in case someone’s hurt’, but follow up care wasn’t there,” Iongi said.

After her successful first year, and a clear need for a full-time trainer, Ms. Iongi was offered a full-time position at Paly.

“The great thing about being full time is I’m here during school hours, so if kids have a prep 5th, 6th, or 7th — and I even come here during lunch time if they don’t have a prep — and they want to get some treatment done beforehand, I’ll be available,” Iongi said.

S i n c e then, Ms. I o n g i ’s role has changed in many ways.

“I slowly got into a lot of association with the school versus just athletics” Iongi said.

“I got into a lot of admin work in terms of overseeing the students injuries and their sport, but I know their schedule. I’m part of their school life and their athletic life as well. I was just getting more involved in what the school standards are and athletics standards are and trying to be that medium

“I feel sorry for students because sometimes kids have to wait 30 minutes for me to see them just because it’s only me.”

- Ms. E

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in-between.”

Iongi admits that with her greater involvement in the school, and a greater number of students requesting her help, she finds herself spread quite thin.

“I can easily see more than 50 [students] a day. Fall is medium, winter is a low amount, but spring I have over 500 athletes in season so any given day you can see definitely 25 plus . . . I can easily see around 50-60 kids a day.”

Those numbers have increased astronomically in recent years. “[That figure] went up because now they know about me. I’m here to help you, and help mediate you going and participating in practice or games. The number is going up because we added two more sports — boys volleyball and girls field hockey — this year so that particularly bumped up the ratio.

I feel sorry for the students because sometimes kids have to wait 30 minutes for me to see them just because it’s only me.”

After her realization of this issue, Iongi knew that she had to do something, she first approached Therren Wilburn-Sudduth, Athletic Director at Palo Alto High School.

“We’ve added three new sports. Boys volleyball added 14 to our student athlete count, cheer’s at 41, and field hockey’s at 20, so right there you’re looking at 75 more student athletes. Wilburn-Studduth said. “Field hockey and [boys] volleyball only have varsity teams, so there’ll probably be another 35 to 40 stu-

dent athletes added within the next year. Definitely it has spread our trainers more thin —I’ve seen the repercussions of adding some sports.”

Iongi talked with trainers from different public schools, as well as some at private schools, and found that many were experiencing the same problem as she was.

“I did call [about] the ratio [at other schools]. I know these may be private schools, but Sacred Heart has two fulltimes and a part-time [trainer] , and that’s ideal for me because I just see so many students. [Paly] is not any other high school, there’s a ton of sports that are offered, and that’s awesome. That’s part of what makes it so great— the diverse sport background — but not a lot of public schools have this many athletes,” Iongi said.

With affirmation from others in their profession, Iongi and the trainer at Gunn High School decided to approach the athletic directors at each school; they would also approach the athletics committee at a pre-season meeting.

“What we’ve done is talk to our athletic directors to see what we can do to help get this conversation going on our end,” Iongi said.

“It’s just groundwork conversation [so far]. The thing about adding [another full time trainer] is that Gunn has to add a trainer as well. They have not a lot less student athletes, but not in the same realm as us. I think they have around 1,000 to 1,050, but even still, one to 1,050 is un-

“I just want to make sure that everyone’s safe and healthy, and that’s my main goal.”

- Ms. E

safe for them as well,” Wilburn-Sudduth said.

“The biggest that I think we’ve both were a part of was going to the athletics committee meeting. That’s where we explained to all of Gunn’s admin, like their athletic director and one of the committee members, that this is how many teams we have, this is how many numbers we have and there’s only one of us,” Iongi said. “This is how many hours we’re working, and we need more help.”

School officials, committee personnel, and community members were also not happy to hear about the training situation. However, their disappointment did not materialize into any action. They told Iongi, and others, that “‘We support this, I’ll bring it to the next step’, but I’d never get any response or follow up back,” Iongi said. “I know it’s a huge thing, a whole other payroll for somebody, but I’d invite parents or anybody to just sit in here and see the volume of kids. I just want to make sure that everyone’s safe and everyone’s healthy and that’s my main goal.”

Enrollment in Paly’s many

sports is not expected to decline in the coming years, and many feel that without an extra trainer the likelihood of injury will increase greatly.

“I think we should have two full-time trainers,” Wilburn-Suddeth said. “I talked to the district about it at our steering meetings. I think there is sufficient need for us to have two people, especially with the number of sports we have and the number of student athletes we have. We have about 1,250 student athletes and that ratio of 1 to 1,250 is unsafe.”

In the past few months, a lack of progress has been disheartening to all involved.

However, Iongi has a plan and is not worried.

“We went to that committee meeting and we had overwhelming support. I know there are different committees and board members, and there’s a certain pathway you have to take, but I always encourage the students to advocate. I don’t know which pathway to go, but I know that if [officials] see the numbers, and hear the students, we can see the change that I want to see.”

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

Grub Gametime

by COLE SOTNICK and RYAN STRATHEARN

Upon arrival at professional or collegiate football games, it is typical to see rows of tents with a hoard of people crowded around a barbeque or TV. Here at Paly, a select group of players and fans brings this experience to Palo Alto high school athletics.

Photos Courtsey of Ryan Strathearn

A

t Paly there is a new trend of dedicated Paly football fans and players tailgating before games. This new tradition has created an outstanding atmosphere that fires up home players and strikes fear into the hearts of the opposition. The football team has made it a tradition to tailgate before games. On Friday afternoons during seventh period defensive end and tight end Louis Passarello (‘20) mans the charcoal grill and cooks juicy burgers for the team. Over the past few weeks the tailgates have created

a strong bond between teammates that has contributed to the team’s overall chemistry and success on the field.

The teams bond from these pregame meals has been reflected by their play on the field, as they are off to a hot start this season with a record of 4-0. The team’s chemistry has helped them rack up some impressive wins including the 29-20 win over the two time defending state champions McClymonds. Overall the boys look to continue to grub and get dubs.

llo

“I m t’s a on ake go -L e s o (‘2 ou ge ure d w 0) is P ts e ay as fed ver to sa .” yre

-

” al. co ar ) ch ‘20 se o ( t u ell us ar m ass ou s P “Y Loui

Players’ Perspectives

The culture of tailgating establishes and elevates the atmosphere and playmaking ability of the players.

-Walker Rosenthal (‘19)

The reason why we tailgate is because it brings us together as a whole; we build team chemistry, and have a great Wbond, so by the time we get in the game we can communicate together very well.

-Damion Valencia (‘19)

Students’ Standpoints

d ” pe me. y h a et e g g th e 0) “W fore hton ld (‘2 be reig nfe - C orge M

Honestly I think it has turned the atmosphere around and created a winning culture at Paly again.

-Will Robins (‘19)

Tailgating seems to pump up students before football games.

-Jevan Yu (‘19)

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

On the morning of June 26, 2013, two sharply dressed detectives escorted Aaron Hernandez from his Attleboro home, head high, seemingly without a care in the world. Hernandez was a star tight end for the New England Patriots, alongside Rob Gronkowski. He had recently signed a lucrative deal, when it was all taken away from him after he murdered Odin Lloyd. Many athletes, like Hernandez, weren’t able to come back to their sports following a run in with the law. Others though, through their play and fan fame, were able to come back.

The world of professional sports is one worth billions. It promises even those from downtrodden neighborhoods, those who weren’t born with a silver spoon in hand and millions of dollars of daddy’s money at their disposal, the chance at fame. It’s the chance at reaching the highest level of accomplishment in athletics. To be respected, and to be adored.

Sports culture promises individual glory, team accomplishment, and for some — even those we consider heroes — time spent behind bars.

Ben Roethlisberger, Jameis Winston, Tiger Woods, Michael Vick, Julian Edelman, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and countless other famous athletes have been accused of committing horrible crimes. There is no doubt that professional athletes are idolized by children and adults alike, but many people are unaware of the unlawful acts that some athletes have been a part of. Domestic violence, aggravated assault, sexual harassment, and manslaughter are just some of the most common crimes that athletes are convicted of.

Athletes throughout time have been put on pedestals at the top of the societal pyramid, and absolved of blame for any flaws they may possess. But should this attitude allow them to get away with crimes that normal people could be sent to jail for?

With the rise of social media in recent years, more light has been shed on crimes within the world of sports.

Recently, Urban Meyer, Head Coach of Ohio State University Football, was suspended for knowing about one of his assistant coaches assaulting his wife, and not telling the media or firing him. In past years, the story may have gotten swallowed up in the Ohio locker room, cast away and ignored, only to be brought up years later in a tell-all autobiography. But Meyer is under fire now

26 | V I K I N G M A G A Z I N E |

– and the criticism ties into a greater problem that’s beginning to be revealed within sports culture.

“Locker room talk” is a phrase that’s been coming up often in popular media.

In Donald Trump’s apology after an audio recording of him talking about kissing and groping women was released, he referred to the language as locker room talk. This type of boastful speech when referring to conquests of women, consensual or otherwise, has become intrinsically associated with sports. Is this just a harmless stereotype of a “chick-magnet” jock? Or have we been giving athletes a free pass to do and say what they want, violent or otherwise, because of their role in our culture? And if we have, are we causing a culture that encourages violence? “[Athletes] already get so much respect for being good at what they do,” junior Sofia Bliss said. “Just because you have talent doesn’t mean that we should hold you to lower standards… People in all sorts of fields receive punishments for not following proper standards of behavior and the same should carry on to athletes. Just because they are such fanatic supporters does not mean that that can excuse someone’s behavior.”

In terms of culture, certain sports, of course – football and boxing, among others – carry a certain reputation. The NFL in particular is infamous for its domestic violence rates, and the accompanying damage control that Roger Goodell doles out almost as often as excessive celebration fines. But even those sports without the notoriety have tens if not hundreds of athletes with troubled pasts, and some whose standing in their leagues is still squeaky clean.

Football is low-hanging fruit, but the sport has such a bad name when it comes to their players’ criminal histories for a reason. Most famously, Ray Rice was arrested and indicted for punching his fiancee the face in an elevator and knocking her unconscious, which was captured on video and released by TMZ to widespread outcry.

Despite an initial indefinite suspension by the league, he was reinstated after an appeal in the federal courts. However, his reputation had been tarnished beyond return at this point, and he never returned to the league.

“Ray Rice, I thought he was a great player before,” sophomore Vijay Homan said. “For me, I thought that they were just really good players. I didn’t really think that they were good people.”

w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m

The NFL has a problem. That’s not up for debate. But the hot-topic controversy surrounding the league can overshadow the troubles that run just as deep in other leagues. The NBA, notably, has had consistent problems with treatment of women, and a Lean In campaign introduced in 2015 featuring NBA and WNBA players encouraging gender equality has had little effect other than filling commercial slots. The league, certainly, has tried to project a pristine image – enjoying the NBA is guilt free, according to many. Without even touching on CTE or political protests, the NBA has exponentially less players with scandals – these guys are easy to root for. They’re role models. We can look up to them.

At least, that’s what Adam Silver and company would like fans to think.

But in reality, legends like Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone have some of the darkest histories in sports - the NBA has just done a better job of covering them up. Bryant, the Lakers legend most famous for bringing 5 championships to LA and scoring 81 points on Jalen Rose, was infamously accused of raping a woman in a Colorado hotel in 2003.

While Bryant admitted to sleeping with the woman, he claimed it was fully consensual, and the case was dropped when the accuser declined to testify in court. She filed a separate civil suit which was settled with Bryant outside of court and included an apology, in which Bryant stated that “although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did.”

“Stuff with Kobe, of course, that kind of lowers my idea of him,” sophomore Jackson Bundy said. “That definitely changes how I think of him.”

Karl Malone’s case is even more harrowing. An all-time NBA legend, known endearingly as “The Mailman” between fans, was 20 years old - a college sophomore - when he impregnated a 13-yearold girl in his neighborhood. Despite the clear implications of statutory rape, Malone faced no criminal punishment.

And after being ordered by a judge to pay just $125 a week in child support – pennies to Malone, who had by now become a multi-millionaire – he still contested the payment, and ultimately had to settle out of court so that the barely-teenaged mother could support her child. And while these specific cases have received more media attention

than others, they’ve had next to no effect on the NBA’s image, not to mention the legacy of the players themselves.

While these cases are relatively few and far between, some of them are worth taking a second look at – not for the can’t-look-away shock value, but for a different kind of bombshell: the fact that some of these athletes were able to return to their respective sport and restore their legacy, or become an even bigger legend than they were before their scandal. But that begs the question: with the innumerable quantity of athletes whose careers were ruined by their off-court or off-field antics, what sets those who made a comeback apart from those who tried and miserably failed?

There are many athletes who have been able to come back from crimes.

Some of these include legends like Kobe Bryant and Ray Lewis. Others, like Aaron Hernandez and Oscar Pistorius were unable to come back from their troubles.

Bryant’s case in particular is one of the most interesting, simply because of how he was able to almost entirely erase the incident from his legacy. In the ensuing days after the rape case broke, Bryant lost several endorsement deals and his jersey sales fell. However, after the incident, Bryant went on to win two additional NBA championships – adding to the three trophies he had already brought to the franchise – which was an essential part of his comeback. Ultimately, sports fans are fickle. While we like to think our moral compasses are strong, history shows we are willing to forgive winners. And as one of the athletes most famous for their killer, win-above-everything mentality, Bryant was able to retire as one of the top NBA players of all time and put the scandal behind him.

“It’s easier [to support someone if they’re winners] because if they’re important to the team, you don’t want them to be taken off the team,” sophomore Jaquari Jenkins said.

Ray Lewis is another famous case of success leading to a comeback. In 2000 after a super bowl party in Atlanta, a fight between Baltimore Ravens linebacker, Ray Lewis, and his friends and another group of people broke out, with two people left stabbed to death. Lewis and the two men were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault eleven days after the incident. However, Lewis took a plea deal in which his murder charges

were dropped, and was allowed to take sional athletes are major role models, a misdemeanor and a year of probaespecially to the youth of society, but tion. In the years following the incident, does this mean they need to be held to Ray Lewis had a breakthrough season, a higher standard? winning Super Bowl MVP and taking Children look up to sports players as home two Lombardi trophies. Lewis, if they are heros, and for many of them, now a future first ballot Hall Of Famer, they serve as some of the only role was able to win fans back over with notA culture models in their lives.

If a kid’s role model of crime has existed within only his humility in admitting the crime,sports commits a crime,Some and isathletes then welcomed for decades. but also his incredible play. Lewis was fall into backitstotrap his sport and torecover, society as if and never vocally apologetic, and consistently nothing happened, the kid while others are able to break may the well cited religion and God as the reason hecyclethink crime committed isn’t a bad and the return to greatness. believed in his ability to return to good thing. While the average fan cannot graces. With such a public display of by SAM affect the legal consequences an athlete CLEASBY, GERZAIN GUTTIEREZ, JOSHfaces, KASEVICH, YAEL SARIG remorse, fans found it easier to welcome they should acknowledge the inhim back. Beyond this, when it comes to cident and decide for themselves if they ethical dilemmas, the cost of supporting can return to supporting the athlete. In someone who may or may not have many cases, the crime is easy to forgive; commited a crime was outweighed by but either way, it shouldn’t be swept the benefit of having an all-time football under the rug. player on the field to support.

“I know specific people at [Paly who

Some players weren’t so lucky committed crimes]... but I’m uncomin the public eye. After Aaron Hernanfortable with the fact that it occured on dez’ arrest, for instance, he took his own campus and even while it was being inlife in prison, effectively ending any vestigated, he wasn’t off the team,” said chance of a return. But even if he had Bliss. “In so many cases, people excuse not chosen to commit suicide, he would bad behavior for talent.” likely have never been able to make a Football fans are plenty familiar with comeback. The evidence in his case was making these tough decisions. When considerably more damning, and his NFL quarterback Michael Vick was stardom never reached levels seen by arrested for dog fighting, it became a Bryant or Lewis. serious issue to football fans to make it

Another example is South clear that his actions were not okay. At African paralympian, Oscar Pistorius. On the time, he was considered by many to February 14th, 2013, Pistorius shot and be the face of the NFL, and much of the killed his girlfriend, claiming he mistook youth idolized him. her for an intruder. He was eventually Mike Vick was given a second chance convicted of homicide and sentenced to by the NFL after he served his time in prison. To this day, he remains in prison. prison, but the NFL fan-base as well as While Pistorius and Hernandez may not Vick himself continuously made clear have global superstars, they were still that his actions should not be repeated household names. The common thread, by anyone in the future. Vick also went then, between these two failed comeon to support many foundations that backs is the severity of the crime – there worked to prevent dog fighting, and are some things fans are simply not with his platform he was able to become willing to overlook, no matter how much one of the biggest advocates for the they looked up to the athlete in the past. issue.

“It depends on the severity of While athletes are subject to the the crime, definitely,” junior Dylan Duncourt of public opinion and often can said. “For me, if they show change mentioned in the news for their actions, and they actually change their way, that they usually face punishments from their dictates whether I personally [continue leagues whenever they commit a crime. to] support them or not.”

Professional athletes are oftentimes But troubled athletes returning goes charged with crimes related to alcohol beyond the crime committed by the and drug use as well as assault, leading individual. Whether they come back to them to face a suspension. Depending the limelight or not is mostly up to the on the severity of the offense, it’s posleague they play in, or in some cases, sible that they are banned from the justice system. But while fans may the league. not have the same judicial power, they are the sixth man of every league. It’s up to the fans to consider whether athletes Photos courtesy of deserve a second chance or not. ProfesWikimedia Commons

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

n the morning of June 26, 2013, two sharply dressed detectives escorted Aaron Hernandez from his Attleboro home, head high, seemingly without a care in the world. Hernandez was a star tight end for the New England Patriots, alongside Rob Gronkowski. He had recently signed a lucrative deal when it was all taken away from him after he murdered Odin Lloyd.

Many athletes, like Hernandez, weren’t able to come back to their sports following a run in with the law. Others though, through their play and fan fame, were able to stage a comeback.

The world of professional sports is one worth billions. It promises even those from downtrodden neighborhoods, those who weren’t born with a silver spoon in hand and millions of dollars of daddy’s money at their disposal, the chance at fame. It’s the chance at reaching the highest level of accomplishment in athletics, at being respected, and being adored.

Sports culture promises individual glory, team accomplishment, and for some — even those we consider heroes — time spent behind bars.

Ben Roethlisberger, Jameis Winston, Tiger Woods, Michael Vick, Julian Edelman, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and countless other famous athletes have been accused of committing horrible crimes. There is no doubt that professional athletes are idolized by children and adults alike, but many people are unaware of the unlawful acts that some athletes have been a part of. Domestic violence, aggravated assault, sexual harassment, and manslaughter are just some of the most common crimes that athletes are convicted of.

Throughout time, athletes have been put on pedestals at the top of the societal pyramid, and ab-

O

Comeback Timeline: Ray Lewis indicted on murder and aggravated assault

2000

Lewis wins Super Bowl MVP

2001

28 | V I K I N G M A G A Z I N E |

solved of blame for any flaws they may possess. But should this standard allow them to get away with crimes that normal people would be sent to jail for?

With the recent rise of social media, more light has been shed on crimes within the world of sports. Recently, Urban Meyer, Head Coach of Ohio State University Football, was suspended for knowing about one of his assistant coaches assaulting his wife, and prceeding to not tell the media or fire him. In past years, the story may have gotten swallowed up in the Ohio locker room, cast away and ignored, only to be brought up years later in a tell-all autobiography. But Meyer is under fire now – and the criticism ties into a greater problem that’s beginning to be revealed within sports culture.

“Locker room talk” is a phrase that’s been reoccuring in popular media. In Donald Trump’s apology after an audio recording of him talking about kissing and groping women was released, he referred to the language as “locker room talk.” This type of boastful speech, when refer-

ring to conquests of women, consensual or otherwise, has become intrinsically associated with sports. Is this just a harmless stereotype of a “chick-magnet” jock?

Or have we been giving athletes a free pass to do and say what they want, violent or otherwise, because of their role in our culture? And if we have, are we causing a culture that encourages violence? “[Athletes] already get so much respect for being good at what they do,” Paly student Sofia Bliss (‘20) said. “Just because you have talent doesn’t mean that we should hold you to lower standards… People in all sorts of fields receive punishments for not following proper standards of behavior and the same should carry on to athletes. Just because they are such fanatic supporters does not mean that they can excuse someone’s behavior.”

In terms of culture, certain sports, football and boxing, among others – carry a certain reputation. The NFL in particular is infamous for its domestic violence rates, and the accompanying damage control that Roger Goodell doles out almost as often as excessive celebration fines. But even those sports without the notoriety have tens if not hundreds of athletes with troubled pasts, and some whose standing in their leagues is still squeaky clean.

Football is low-hanging fruit, but the sport has such a bad name when it comes to their players’ criminal histories for a reason. Most famously, Ray Rice was arrested and indicted for punching his fiancee in the face in an elevator and knocking her unconscious, which was captured on video and released by

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

2003

2010

Bryant is accused of rape

Byrant wins back-to-back championships

2002

Kobe Bryant wins NBA Championship for 3rd straight year

w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m

Lewis wins 2nd Super Bowl MVP

2012

TMZ to widespread outcry. Despite an initial indefinite suspension by the league, he was reinstated after an appeal in the federal courts. However, his reputation had been tarnished beyond return at this point, and he never returned to the league.

“Ray Rice, I thought he was a great player before,” Paly student Vijay Homan (‘21) said. “For me, I thought that they were just really good players. I didn’t really think that they were good people.”

The NFL has a problem.

That’s not up for debate. But the hot-topic controversy surrounding the league can overshadow the troubles that run just as deep in other leagues.

The NBA, notably, has had consistent problems with treatment of women, and a Lean In campaign introduced in 2015 featuring NBA and WNBA players encouraging gender equality has had little effect other than filling commercial slots.

The league has certainly tried to project a pristine image – enjoying the NBA is guilt free, according to many. Without even touching on CTE scandals or political protests, the NBA has exponentially less players with scandals – these guys are easy to root for. They’re role models. We can look up to them.

At least, that’s what NBA commissioner Adam Silver and company would like fans to think.

But in reality, legends like Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone have some of the darkest histories in sports - the NBA has just done a better job of covering them up.

Bryant, the Lakers legend most famous for bringing 5 championships to LA and scoring 81 points on Jalen Rose, was infamously accused of raping a woman in

a Colorado hotel in 2003. While Bryant admitted to sleeping with the woman, he claimed it was fully consensual, and the case was dropped when the accuser declined to testify in court. She filed a separate civil suit which was settled with Bryant outside of court and included an apology, in which Bryant stated that “although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did.”

“Stuff with Kobe, of course, that kind of lowers my idea of him,” Paly student Jackson Bundy (‘21) said.

Karl Malone’s case is even more harrowing. An all-time NBA legend, known endearingly as “The Mailman” between fans, was 20 years old - a college sophomore - when he impregnated a 13-year-old girl in his neighborhood.

Despite the clear implications of statutory rape, Malone faced no criminal punishment. And after being ordered by a judge to pay just $125 a week in child support – pennies to Malone, who had by then become a multi-millionaire – he still contested the payment, and ultimately had to settle out of court so that the barely-teenaged mother could support her child. And while NBA fans cheer on as Demarcus Cousins and Draymond Green rack up technicals for taunting refs and threatening the opposition, the issue of aggression in the league looms ever larger, bubbling under the surface and waiting to erupt.

While these specific cases have received more media attention than others, they’ve had next to no effect on the NBA’s image, not to mention the legacy of the players themselves.

While these cases are relatively few

“For me, I thought that they were just really good players.

I didn’t really think that they were good people.”

-Vijay Homan (‘21)

Athletes with past trouble with the law Kobe Bryant Ray Lewis Aaron Hernandez Oscar Pistorius Ray Rice Ben Roethlisberger Plaxico Burress Aldon Smith Josh Gordon Legarrette Blount Michael Floyd Mark Ingram Sr. Joe Mixon Adrian Peterson OJ Simpson Donte Stallworth Matt Bush Ahmad Brooks CJ Spillman Floyd Mayweather Jameis Winston Jordan Hicks Julian Edelman Mark Sanchez Perrish Cox Dez Bryant Ray McDonald Richie Incognito Adam Jones Brandon Marshall Greg Hardy Metta World Peace James Harrison Johnny Manziel Pat McAfee Santonio Holmes Terrell Suggs JR Smith Kendrick Perkins Ben Wallics Delonte West Allen Iverson D’onta Foreman

Downfall Timeline: Aaron Hernandez wins BCS National Championship

2009

2012 Oscar Pistoris wins gold at the London Paralympics

Hernandez is sentenced to life in prison for murder of Odin Lloyd

2014

2013

Pistoris is convicted of the murder of his girlfriend

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

and far between, some of them are worth taking a second look at – not for the can’t-look-away shock value, but for a different kind of bombshell: the fact that some of these athletes were able to return to their respective sport and restore their legacy, or become an even bigger legend than they were before their scandal. But that begs the question: with the innumerable quantity of athletes whose careers were ruined by their off-court or off-field antics, what sets those who made a comeback apart from those who tried and miserably failed?

There are many athletes who have been able to come back from crimes, like Kobe Bryant and Ray Lewis. Others, like Aaron Hernandez and Oscar Pistorius, were unable to come back from their troubles.

Bryant’s case in particular is one of the most interesting, simply because of how he was able to almost entirely erase the incident from his legacy.

In the ensuing days after the rape case broke, Bryant lost several endorsement deals and his jersey sales fell.

However, after the incident,

Bryant went on to win two additional NBA championships – adding to the three trophies he had already brought to the franchise – which was an essential part of his comeback. Ultimately, sports fans can be fickle. While we like to think our moral compasses are strong, history shows we are willing to forgive winners. And as one of the athletes most famous for their killer, win-above-everything mentality, Bryant was able to retire as one of the top NBA players of all time and put the scandal behind him.

“It’s easier [to support someone if they’re winners] because if they’re important to the team, you don’t want them to be taken off the team,” Paly student Jaquari Jenkins (‘21) said.

Ray Lewis is another famous case of success leading to a comeback. In 2000, after a Super Bowl party in Atlanta, a fight between the Baltimore Ravens linebacker and his friends and another group of people broke out, with two people left stabbed to death. Lewis and the two men were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault 11 days after the incident.

However, Lewis took a plea deal in which his murder charges were dropped, and was allowed to take a misdemeanor and a year of proba-

tion. In the years following the incident, Lewis had a breakthrough season, winning Super Bowl MVP and taking home two Lombardi trophies. Lewis, now a future first ballot Hall Of Famer, was able to win fans back over with not only his humility in admitting to the crime, but also his incredible play. Lewis was vocally apologetic, and consistently cited religion and God as the reason he believed in his ability to return to good graces. With such a public display of remorse, fans found it easier to welcome him back. Beyond this, when it comes to ethical dilemmas, the cost of supporting someone who may or may not have commited a crime was outweighed by the benefit of having an all-time football player on the field to support.

The sports world has never been one to claim a moral high ground. But the systematic habit of forgiving winning athletes is a troubling one; where do we as a fanbase draw the line? Are there certain offenses that we view as so wrong, no amount of wins over rivals, championship trophies, and shining diamond-encrusted rings can fix?

Judging by these players, who weren’t so lucky in the public eye, maybe there is. After Aaron Hernandez’ arrest, for instance, he took his own life in prison, effectively ending any chance of a return.

But even if he had not chosen to commit suicide, he would likely have never been able to make a comeback. The evidence in his case was considerably more damning, and his stardom never reached levels seen by Bryant or Lewis.

Another example is South African paralympian, Oscar Pistorius. On February 14th, 2013, Pistorius shot and killed his girlfriend, claiming he mistook her for an intruder. He was eventually convicted of homicide and sentenced to prison.

To this day, he remains in prison. While Pistorius and Hernandez may not be global superstars, they were still household names. The common thread, then, between these two failed comebacks is the severity of the crime – there are some things fans are simply not willing to overlook, no matter how much they looked up to the athlete in the past.

“It depends on the severity of the crime, definitely,” Paly student Dylan Duncan (‘20) said. “For me, if they show

“In so many cases, people excuse bad behavior for talent.”

- Sofia Bliss (‘20)

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

change and they actually change their ways, that dictates whether I personally [continue to] support them or not.”

But troubled athletes returning goes beyond the crime committed by the individual. Whether they come back to the limelight or not is mostly up to the league they play in, or in some cases, the justice system. But while fans may not have the same judicial power, they are the sixth man of every league. It’s up to the fans to consider whether athletes deserve a second chance or not. Professional athletes are major role models, especially to the youth of society, but does this mean they need to be held to a higher standard?

Children look up to sports players as if they are heroes, and for many of them, they serve as some of the only role models in their lives. If a kid’s role model commits a crime, and is then welcomed back to his sport and to society as if nothing happened, the kid may well think the crime committed isn’t a bad thing. While the average fan cannot affect the legal consequences an athlete faces, they should acknowledge the incident and decide for themselves if they can return to supporting the athlete. In many cases, the crime is easy to forgive; but either way, it shouldn’t be swept under the rug.

“I know specific people at [Paly who committed crimes]... but I’m uncomfortable with the fact that it occured on campus and even while it was being investigated, he wasn’t off the team,” Bliss said.

“In so many cases, people excuse bad behavior for talent.”

Football fans are plenty familiar with making these tough decisions. When NFL quarterback Michael Vick was arrested for dog fighting, it became a serious issue to football fans to make it clear that his actions were not okay. At the time, he was considered by many to be the face of the NFL, and much of the youth idolized him.

Vick was given a second chance by the NFL after he served his time in prison, but the NFL fan-base as well as Vick himself continuously made clear that his actions should not be repeated by any-

one in the future. Vick also went on to support many foundations that worked to prevent dog fighting, and with his platform he was able to become one of the biggest advocates for the issue.

While athletes are subject to the court of public opinion and often mentioned in the news for their actions, they usually face punishments from their leagues whenever they commit a crime. Professional athletes are oftentimes charged with crimes related to alcohol and drug use as well as assault, leading them to face a suspension. Depending on the severity of the offense, it’s possible t h a t they are banned from the league.

What m a n y people don’t consider is that these professional athletes are human, and playing sports is their job. While the average person might not get fired from their job if they commit one of these crimes such as a DUI, athletes that face much more public scrutiny can, or at the very least face a suspension.

So the fame that accompanies being a professional athlete is a double-edged sword: while it may offer an athlete second chance after second chance to return, even after committing serious crimes, the extra attention on every move an athlete makes can cut short what could have been an illustrious career.

Overall, not all athletes are troubled individuals, but for the many who are, it is up to the fan-base to determine their image. Different leagues may give their players a wide range of punishments, or passes, based on the crime. But in the end, it’s the fans that get to decide whether they are welcomed back or not.

While it may seem that we as fans are powerless, sitting behind a TV screen watching our heroes, we decide the reputations of these players. We decide whether their apologies are sincere or not. We decide whether to forgive them for their offenses.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

“It’s easier [to support someone if they’re winners] because if they’re important to the team, you don’t want them to be taken off.”

-Jaquari Jenkins (‘21)

The choice is yours.

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

VIKING TRIES wonderlic TEXT AND PHOTO-ILLUSTRATIONS BY: RYAN BARA and WILL DeANDRE

T

For this issue of Viking Sports Magazine, we decided to take the Wonderlic Test and see how the writers of Viking compare to some of the premier NFL players.

he National Football League requires every player who wishes to play in the organization to take a test. This test consists of 50 multiple choice questions in a period of 12 minutes and is called the Wonderlic Personnel Test.

For this issue of the Viking Sports Mag, we decided to take the Wonderlic and see how the members of Viking compare to some of the top NFL players.

Some students chose to take this in the computer lab, but the more intense students stepped out of the lab to take the

32 | V I K I N G M A G A Z I N E |

exam in a silent room.

Among these serious students was EIC Stan de Martel (‘19).

“We needed a silent environment so it was frustrating when people would come into the room and interrupt the test,” de Martel said.

After 12 stressful minutes, we were able to get the scores for many members of the Viking community.

The average score for the class was 39 out of 50, just above 78 percent. As a whole, this is an exceptional score considering the average for NFL players is about 20 out of 50, or 40 percent, and the average score for all people is 21 out of 50, or 42 percent.

The top scorers on the staff were nearing the highest NFL score of all time from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick is a Harvard University graduate and the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recently receiving the nickname “Fitzmagic” for the way he has started the 2018 NFL season.

Below these top Viking scorers, the most common score in the class was 41 out of 50. This score is comparable to the retired receiver of the Detroit Lions, Calvin “Megatron” Johnson. Produced

by Georgia Tech, the future Hall of Famer deemed “Megatron” (because of his physical stature) has an excep-

w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m

A new phone sells for $250 and a used one sells for $75. How many of each are sold if the sales for the day totals $625? tionally high score in relation to his fellow NFL players. He also has the third highest score among wide receivers.

Luckily, no one in the Viking got less than a 25, but there are many NFL players who have gotten well below this score. One of the great running backs of his generation, Frank Gore, only got six points. At the level just above that, there is wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin and running back Tavon Austin. Both of these players got seven points out of 50 possible and probably would not have made the league if not for physical gifts of size and speed for Benjamin and Austin respectively.

Senior Nathan Ellisen thought the test was much harder than he expected.

“I went in thinking that I could do really well, but in the end my score came out a little lower than I had initially expected,” Ellisen said. The general consensus among most of the students who took the test was that while each individual question was not too hard, it was difficult to finish in the short time period.

Person Position Comparison Ryan Bara

QB

Lincoln Bloom Will DeAndre

G QB

P. Baumgarten

RB

Stan De Martel Nathan Ellisen Dexter Gormley

WR WR QB TE

Ella Jones Josh Kasevich

QB QB

Griffin Kemp

Conner Lusk Joey Passarello Zach Phillips

Johnny Manziel Ezekiel Elliott Pete Kendall Jason Maas Eric Decker Calvin Johnson

Carson Wentz Benjamin Watson Phillip Rivers Blaine Gabbert

QB

Alex Smith

LB QB

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Luke Kuechly

39 Class Average 46 Highest Score 28 Lowest Score

Photo Courtesy of NFL

“It was almost like the SAT, where each question individually is easy to answer but when you’re given a time limit you don’t have enough time to think through everything,” Ellisen said.

While every NFL player is forced to take the Wonderlic to enter the league, there is lots of controversy on whether the test determines one’s intelligence. Many players believe their intelligence does not play a big factor in their ability to be a good football player. One person with this mindset is ESPN staff writer James Walker.

“Physical ability trumps the aptitude to take a 50-question test in the NFL,” Walker said. “The Wonderlic also does not account for ‘football intelligence,’ which is an innate knowledge of the game that comes from playing experience and film study.”

“To be a good player you don’t need to be good at math, so it’s stupid to base a player’s draft stock on an irrelevant factor,” Ryan Stanley (‘20) said.

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

Finding Equity

Jackson Chryst (‘19) (left) wears Paly’s old Riddell Speedflex helmet, facing off against Jurgen Dittrich (‘20) (right), wielding Paly’s new $1,500 VICIS ZERO1 helmet.

I

Although Paly’s sports funding may be inconsistently distributed, we found the year-to-year funding fair.

by DAVID HICKEY, JOEY PASSARELLO, NATHAN SETO

n any team, the players, parents, fees. The majority of the money that and coaches always want what’s Sports Boosters uses comes from best for the organization. Whether generous donations from athletes and it be better fields or new uniforms their families and the rest comes from and equipment, each sport PAUSD funding and Boosters’ fundraisers wants their fair share of funding. such as the 5k Fun Run, Golf Tournament, At schools with athletic programs as and the Holiday Tree Lot. immaculate as Paly’s, this leads to the So, how is the money distributed and great debate of how the funding is is it fair? distributed.

According to Paly Sports Boosters At Paly, the decision lies with the President Rebecca Passarello, there is Athletic Director, Therren Wilburn, and no set amount or percentage that each Paly Sports Boosters. Sports Boosters team receives. is an organization that raises funds to “It varies by team and by year,” support all Paly sports that compete in Passarello said. “Track just got new the Central Coast Section (CCS). It pays hurdles, so we’ll spend more this year for uniforms, officials, transportation, than last. ”Field hockey equipment was awards, equipment, additional practice purchased this year but won’t need to facilities, and league and tournament be purchased again [except for updates/ 34 | V I K I N G M A G A Z I N E | w w w . v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m

repairs].”

Sports Boosters has an annual budget of around $365,000, with $200,000 coming from donations and another $50,000 from PAUSD. The remaining $115,000 comes from ticket sales, fundraisers and direct donations. The majority of the district’s money funds transportation and coaches’ salaries while Sports Boosters covers everything else.

While Boosters strives to equip all teams with the necessary funds they need to compete, some sports end up getting more funding than others, meaning that other teams are left with older uniforms and equipment, albeit without needing replacement.

Despite prevailing belief, sports that

earn more money from tickets, gear, 4.4 pounds. and food don’t receive all the money The difference in scores they make. All the money from tickets comes down to the build and Paly Gear and Grub sales, roughly of the helmets. Unlike $37,000, goes into a general account the Speedflex and other that is distributed among the teams that common helmets, the VICIS need funding.

ZERO1 is a soft top helmet: Despite a $365,000 budget, Sports when impacted, the surface Boosters did not cover the new VICIS of the helmet bends inward ZERO1 helmets bought for the football to reduce the impact felt by program over the summer. Even with a the wearer. Underneath the discount, the regularly $1,500 helmets soft top, multiple columns came with a steep price tag of $760 per reinforce the helmet and helmet. The team bought around 80 further reduce the force helmets with the total cost coming in at felt during a collision. The $60,800. innermost layer of the “No money was taken away from any helmet consists of a plastic shell covered other teams,” Passarello said. “The VICIS in foam, which is closest to the player’s helmets are being paid for by donations head. from family and community members.”

Running back Aiden Chang (‘19) Are the new helmets really worth the had only praise for the new helmets, price? Founded in 2013, VICIS’s first reinforcing that the ZERO1 helmets are helmet is already much better known as one of than their “We believe that when given predecessors. the safest helmets the option of available. In an “I think that effort to increase they are really improving player safety it publicity, VICIS has nice, definitely given test helmets is our responsibility to make better than the to all 32 NFL and Speedflexes those changes.” selected college with head-to-Nelson Gifford, teams. head contact,” Virginia Tech, Paly Football Head Coach Chang said. “I one of the colleges feel completely that received the fine and [have] helmets, graded a variety of helmets no concussion symptoms. The helmets based on reduced impact force and a were worth it.” decrease in concussions: the lower the Paly Football Head Coach Nelson score the better protection the helmet Gifford similarly stated his complete faith offers. in the helmets.

The VICIS ZERO1 gained the best score “We bought the helmets because of 1.92. This score received the award the research suggested that they were of the safest helmet ever tested, due to a significant improvement over any years of researching and designing by existing helmet technology,” Gifford multiple neurosurgeons and donations from athletes such as Russell Wilson.

According to the VICIS website, “The VICIS ZERO1 is a highly-engineered football helmet designed to reduce impact forces. It is the culmination of a 3-year, $20M research and development effort shaped by some of the world’s leading athletes, engineers, and neurosurgeons.”

So how do the ZERO1s compare to the former top Paly football helmet, the Riddell Speedflex? The Speedflex received a score of 4.49 from Virginia Tech, placing it four slots behind the ZERO1 in a list of 34 helmets. Both helmets seem relatively similar, receiving 5 stars (meaning that they were the best available) and having an equal weight of

said. “We believe that when given the option of improving player safety it is our responsibility to make those changes.”

Fortunately, the upgraded football helmets were able to be supplied thanks to the charitable donations of families and community members. In other words, the $60,800 spent on VICIS football helmets this summer did not take away from the funding of any other sport. This allows Boosters to serve other sports’ needs as the athletic year begins and continue to allow Viking athletes to be appropriately funded.

Although the distribution of money isn’t consistent every year, changing with the conditions of the equipment and in the development of new tech, we believe it is still fair. Sports Boosters uses the money to help every team compete from season to season, aiding whichever team is in need. Ultimately, the Sports Boosters and Athletic Director prioritize the players’ wellbeing and ability to compete and will continue to make decisions to support it with the equity Paly’s diverse, talented group of athletics deserves.

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

1

VICIS

ZERO

The nation’s best available helmet debuted at Paly this season.

SPEED

FLEX The Speedflex was Paly’s safest helmet until this season.

“I like the [Speedflex’s] design better and it fits my head better.”

Max Giovannotto (‘20)

“[The ZERO1s] are really nice, definitely better than the Speedflexes with head-to-head contact.”

Aiden Chang (‘19) Soft Outer Shell Vertical Struts Customizable Inside Padding #1 Rated Helmet* Increased Visibility 4.4 lbs $760 / Helmet * according to Virginia Tech

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w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m

Hard Outer Shell Extra Rubber Pads Easy Fit Air Padding Helmet Buckles to Reduce Force Easier and More Convinient Chinstrap Release Button Quick Release Facemask 4.4 lbs $400 / Helmet

Supports Paly Vikes!

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

Sitting Your Way To

SUCCESS

As a top tier public high school sport program, the Vikings have a abundance of dedicated athletes yet not all of them have the opprtunity to start on their respective teams. Sometimes a team’s success on the field comes by virtue of a hard working bench player.

By DEXTER GORMLEY, SANAZ EBRAHIMI, KEVIN CULLEN, & ZACH BAUMGARTEN

O

Photos By DAVID HICKEY

tto Berndt starts his pregame ritual, stretching and listening to the coach strategize, explaining matchups and plays. Then, after warm up, the team swims to the gutter of the pool. His voice reverberates through the gutter, leading the team in a cheer. He’s the energizing force on the team who sets the tone of intensity for starters and bench players alike. A senior, and four year veteran of the team, Berndt is no stranger to water polo. He comes to every practice, even the ones at 6:45 A.M., and pushes himself and his teammates to perform at their highest level. And yet, Berndt isn’t a starter.

Last year, the Vikings had many successful teams full of star players, and behind every one of these teams there is a troop of bench players. Like Berndt, these hard working athletes stay dedicated, and push their team through the season, working alongside their team’s star players. Although they don’t play every minute of every game, or start, bench players have an integral role on their team nonetheless. Behind every successful endeavor, there is a supporting cast that has just as much of a role as the front

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lines.

Athletes are traditionally judged by their physical ability and performance in games, and for this reason, the starting lineup is perceived as the most critical component of any team. However, the cliche that a team is as good as its weakest player, is in fact the truth when it comes to Paly athletics. The player that never steps onto the playing field, and for that reason, is considered the weakest link, is just as important as the players that play every minute on gameday.

These second string players work hard at every practice, sweat just as much as a starter during conditioning, wake up just as early for morning practices, and dedicate just as much time to their sport, and yet they often get no recognition. In fact, there is a negative connotation towards the benchwarmers who, in reality, have just as important a role as the starters.

By highlighting a couple of the experiences of our local Paly athletes, the mental strength, toughness of character, and importance of the second string players will be highlighted. Competition breeds greatness, and no one is more competitive than someone who is fighting every single day for another minute

w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m

of playing time.

The prospect of commiting time and effort to a sport that doesn’t recognize your skill is daunting to many, but not to those whose contribution extends far beyond the field, these strongwilled players linger in the background as unrecognized stars. What is it that keeps these athletes dedicated to a team that won’t even play them? What enables them to choose perseverance over playing time?

For Vikings like wide reciever Walker Rosenthal (‘19), it's because he prioritizes the team's success over playing time.

“I stayed dedicated because I liked my team and felt that just being there in practice was helpful,” Rosenthal said. “I don’t quit.”

Whether it’s simply a component of stubbornness or strong character, the mental ability and physical perseverance required of athletes to simply refuse to quit is something that every player, starter and bench, should strive to incorporate into their gameplay and personality.

Thanks to these qualities and the mental toughness that Rosenthal obtained from a year of battling on the bench, he secured a spot in the starting lineup for the 2018-2019 football season.

“A lot of times last year it seemed

pointless to try because I thought I would never be able to play, but I spent a lot of time in the off-season lifting and running, trying to get better,” Rosenthal said.

In the end, passion and drive lead to talent. You can’t teach character, but you can learn skills. Now, Rosenthal has the opportunity to display both.

For athletes like Ryan Gwyn (‘19), just being a part of a larger group is enough to keep him competing for a spot in the starting lineup. “ There’s much more to a team sport than games,” Gwyn said. “I respect [my coach’s] decisions and just enjoy being a part of the puzzle.”

One big part of that puzzle is practice. A starter is constantly Photo By SANAZ improving his or her skills in order to keep their position. If they don’t, then that second string player who has been right by their side for every practice is going to capitalize on the opportunity. When playing as a starter, it’s hard to be motivated 100 percent all of the time, especially during practice.

It is during these times that subs can be important energizing factors that a team needs.

Berndt understands the importance of pushing starters and how his efforts translate into the starting lineup.

“I give my teammates moral support and go all out during conditioning to push the starters to perform at their best,” Berndt said.

Whenever games get arduous or the

conditioning gets tough, bench players push the starters and subs alike, forcing them to give all they have. This means the team is in better shape across all lineups. As a result, the starters can perform at their highest level for longer, and the bench players are in much better shape for the few minutes they get each game.

Ethan Look, the varsity water polo coach, believes in the importance of a strong group of bench players.

“Benchwarmers are a critical part of a team” Coach Look said. “While nobody gets the same minutes in games, everyone practices the same amount. Quality practices with focused work throughout our lineup lead to EBRAHIIMI overall success for the squad.”

In addition to pushing the starting lineup during conditioning, bench players serve an important role when it come to plays. They must be ready to simulate opponents so the starters can practice defending a known play that the opposition could run. Bench players must also be able to play offense at a high level to allow starters to practice defensive schemes.

As a bench player for the varsity baseball team, Ben Civjan (‘19) is well aware of the importance of dedicating practice time to helping the starters prepare for a opponent.

“The non starters would often scrimmage the starters,” Civjan said. “The

Competition breeds greatness, and no one is more competitive than someone who is fighting every single day for another minute of playing time.

coaches setting up particular in-game situations that the bench players would replicate to help starters prepare for a upcoming game.”

On game day, the subs take a background role. Although seemingly unimportant, the influence of a second string on a game is much more than is initially perceived. Although bench players get little playing time in a game, these minutes, which can be few and far in between, can be the difference of a win or loss.

Look utilizes the bench to his advantage, putting in players with specific skill sets to better match up against the opponent.

“Bench players are our role players,” Look said. “We ask those men to play quality minutes and focus on particular things. For example, we look for [a player with] interior defense, perimeter defense, or solid ball control, depending on the opponent.

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

Those minutes allow us to rest starters and play with a fluid rotation”.

As the season progresses, more games and tournaments are added to a team schedule which can be taxing on the starting lineup. This is where the depth of a team can be vital. Without subs, starters can become fatigued quickly on weeks with many games. If the second string isn’t strong enough, the starters never get the much needed rest to continue to perform at their highest level.

Take the Warriors for example. Stephen Curry can perform at a very high level for most of the game, but coach Steve Kerr usually gives him some rest at the beginning of the second and fourth quarters. This allows him to perform at his highest level. The bench player that subs in for Curry must be physically and mentally strong to take up the slack left when Curry is subbed out.

This is most definitely paralleled by many Paly teams. While the starters need their rest throughout a game, the subs must be able to perform at a high enough level to compensate for the lack of a complete starting lineup on the field. This is known as depth, and can be one of the most important aspects of a team. Without these behind the scenes bench players, a team loses depth and their ability to sub which can greatly affect a team’s success.

In addition to the many vital roles that second string players have on a team, they also develop essential and far-reaching life skills that starters don’t usually obtain. Life on the bench is hard.

It’s physically hard, with practices and conditioning taking their toll on an athlete’s body, but it’s also mentally hard.

These players come to every practice and game hoping to scrape up minutes here and there, and when they don’t get playing time, or not as much as they hoped, staying motivated can be hard.

This is where bench players rise above even starters. They have the mental toughness and grit to come back after riding the bench an entire game and continue putting 100 percent into everything they do. This is a skill that extends far beyond the field.

When you don’t attain the goal you hope for, maybe fall short by just a bit, continuing to push forward can be challenging. Bench players know more than anyone the struggle, and yet they are able to come back to practice every day and continue to work hard. As a result, these athletes can persevere

40 | V I K I N G M A G A Z I N E |

and achieve more far beyond the field or court.

“Working hard throughout the season is tough without as much playing time, but it helps make me a better player and a better person,” Berndt said.

In fact, countless people experience

"Working hard throughout the season is tough without as much playing time, but it helps make me a better player and a better person" -Berndt ('19) a metaphorical “bench” in their day to day lives. Many jobs give new employees a spot on the sidelines where they can learn and develop before their “debut”. This allows people to learn more and have a larger impact at their company. Bench players know how to sit on these sidelines and improve through observation much more than any other demographic. These life skills can carry second string athletes far beyond starters who are accustomed to living life on the main stage. As a result, the second string players eventually become starters. Coming in off the bench and playing at a higher level, proving themselves as players that are willing to give more for their team. This is when every minute on the bench spent analyzing plays and strategies pays off and this is when sitting leads to success.

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Professional Bench Players An accountant's 14 minutes of fame.

B

ench players are also important beyond the fences of the Paly fields.

Sitting in the stands of the Chicago Blackhawks stadium, an accountant watched as the starting goalie left warmups due to an injury. Then, with 14 minutes to go, he watched the substitute goalie leave the game with cramping. The accountant’s name was Scott Foster. He played hockey in college and was the emergency backup goalie the Blackhawks kept on hand for a situation just like this.

After watching the only remaining professional goalie leave the ice, he got a call from the coach. He put down his nachos and walked down to the locker rooms to change.

Stepping out onto the ice was the ultimate bench player. He proceeded to make seven “pretty good saves” according to Even Karambelas, another emergency substitute goalie, in an interview by the New York Times. Foster carried the Blackhawks to a 6-2 win against the Winnipeg jets, and by the end of the game, all 20,000 spectators were cheering his name.

“From my perspective, this is a dream,” said Foster in a post-game press conference.

Foster showed how coming in from not even the bench, but the stands, doesn’t mean you can’t achieve athletic brilliance. Although the team ended the season with their worst performance since 2007, Foster’s game against the Winnipeg Jets was a highlight and one that Foster will never forget.

THE OAXACAN KITCHEN

www.oaxacankitchenmarkets.com

Visit us at the Famers’ Market!

Cal Ave Palo Alto

TAKE A BITE A look at the misunderstood world of competitive eating, and those who are ubiquitous with the sport. by: Lincoln Bloom, Josh Lai, Weston Walters

C

B

ompetitive eating has been a growing sport in recent years.

Every Fourth of July, the top competitive eaters in the world compete on the sport’s biggest stage. The Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest is watched by millions of people each year. Some eaters have become household names, such as Joey Chestnut. Competitive eating not only requires physical excellence, but mental toughness as well. Here, professional eaters discuss the essential qualities it takes to compete at the next level.

ay Area Native Joey Chestnut has been the king of competitive eating for the past decade. His career began in 2005 and immediately won a deep-fried asparagus eating contest. Since then, Chestnut has won 11 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest titles and has broke his own record five times. He also has a plethora of other records including eating 141 hard boiled eggs in eight minutes and 182 chicken wings in eight minutes. There is no questioning Joey Chestnut’s GOAT status, arguably being the most dominant athlete of all time.

Joey's Records

Food

Amount

Time

Twinkies

121 Twinkies

6 min

18,150

94 Chocolate Donuts

Chicken Wings

182 Wings

30 min

13,104

7 Pounds of Cheddar Cheese

Burritos

14.5 Pounds

10 min

16,884

55 Plates of Spaghetti

Apple Pie

13 Pounds 74 Hot Dogs

8 min

26,040

44 Big Macs

10 min

20,580

823 Carrots

Hot Dogs

Calories Calorie Equivalent

QUOTES FROM PROS

Nick Wehry - Ranked #15

Gideon Oji - Ranked #6

Juan Neave - Ranked #17

Bodybuilder, can bench 405 lbs, squat 455 lbs, deadlift 545 lbs.

Former Division One basketball player. 6’9” 230lbs, 7’2” wingspan.

Nintendo 64 Enthusiast, Biggest Fear is the Ocean.

“A good competitive eater has stubborn persistence, consistency, and maybe a dash of masochism.”

“Whatever you, do stick to it.

Eating competitively should be your last option. The food will fight back.”

“Build up your capacity and try doing local contests before going up against pros.”

Paly ' s Perspectives

% N

O

“I think I could eat like 30 hot dogs in 10 minutes if I really tried.” - Cameron Legrand (‘19)

We asked Paly students if they could eat double digit hot dogs in one sitting. Here were the results...

90

“I think I could eat like 11 [hot dogs] if I hadn’t eaten that day but I would have to be really hungry.” - Louis Passarello (‘20)

“The most of anything I have ever eaten is 30 pieces of chicken... They were a little bigger than nuggets.” - Raylen Boudreaux (‘19)

Ye s

10

%

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

New Coaches

CLEAN SLATES

by ALANA ABEYTA, GRIFFIN KEMP, TINA LAGERBLAD

Palo Alto High School is known for their excellent athletic achievement. Behind every sports team is a dedicated coach, and Palo Alto High School is excited to welcome four new coaches for the fall season.

F

irst day jitters, we all get them.

Whether it’s on the first day of school or the first day of work, feeling anxious when going into a new environment is inevitable.

This is exactly how it feels to be a new coach at Paly.

“I remember when I started coaching, the kids were super motivated and talented,” veteran coach Peter Diepenbrock said. “The athletic director did a great job at supporting us but at the same time gave us

DON’T

Look Now!

enough freedom to work on our own.”

Several new coaches are coming to Paly for the 201819 athletic year. Football, field hockey, boys water polo and girls volleyball will all experience a change of leadership in hopes of reaching new heights. Nelson Gifford will lead the football squad, Jenny Crane will coach the newly created field hockey team, Benji Saetang takes on the coaching position for volleyball, and Ethan Look will coach boys water polo.

Ethan Look looks to drive the boys water polo team to victory

Coach Look, who gradu- has been working hard to reated from Paly in 2014, came build the program through back to coach the team he new techniques. His coaching once led to the Central Coast style differs from the previous Section (CCS) semi-finals as a coach in that he has a larger player. When speaking on his focus on team bonding and goals for the team he said that cohesiveness. Every Wedneshe is most excitday, the boys ed to win a league “I always imagined have mandatochampionship as I would come and ry team dinners vengeance for not give back to a which allows winning one during program that gave them to spend his time as a player. so much to me” time together “I always imagoutside of the ined I would come and give pool and strengthen the team back to a program that gave chemistry. During matches and so much to me,” Look said. practices, Look encourages So far the team looks strong, team spirit as he believes it is starting off their season with an essential part of the game. three consecutive wins. Look

44 | V I K I N G M A G A Z I N E |

Photo by David Hickey

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Photo by David Hickey

READY, Set, PLAY!

Benji Saetang sets up the volleyball team for success

Similarly to Look, volleyball works vigorously at practices focoach Benji Saetang has been at cusing on strength and skill develPaly before: not as a student, but opment drills. rather as coach for the girls JV vol“If you are not nervous for leyball team year. starting a clean slate, you are “At first I actually did not want not human,” Saetang said. to come back to coaching school Another challenge Saetang facseason volleyball in general. [How- es is the constant change in leadever] once in the ership within the vol“If you are not school, I felt that the leyball department. staff and faculty were nervous for starting More specifically, the behind my back and a clean slate, you girl’s team, which has wanted me to grow not had a coach stay are not human” the program into the with them for more high level volleyball culture that it than two consecutive years. This once was before,” Saetang said. could result in difficulties down Saetang has huge shoes to fill the line due to a constant change due to the success past coaches in the style of play. have had. In the last six years, the “Our goal right now for this Vikings have brought home two season is for the girls to believe state championships. Saetang is they can perform and sustain the working hard to make his team game of volleyball efficiently and succeed by focusing primarily on consistently at the highest level their technical abilities. His team possible,” Saetang said.

STICK IT To ‘em

Photo by David Hickey

Jenny Crane takes over the inaugural Field Hockey season

New coaches already have team in college for Cal, she was loads of responsibility placed upon tasked with beginning the process their shoulders during their first of introducing the new sport. year but in Jenny Crane’s case, she “I have an athlete’s mindset and has a whole other obstacle to deal I obviously want to win, but I also with: Coaching a sport that is new have to go back to square one to Paly. Crane will coach the newly since 98% of the athletes who tried formed field hockey team this year, out have never played field hockey and will deal not only before,” Crane said.

“I have an with coaching a roster When she’s not athlete’s mindset coaching, that was previously unCrane familiar to her, but also works as a special and I obviously one with a lack of expeeducation teacher at want to win” rience.

Paly, which allows her When Crane first came to Paly, to bring a different perspective she was very surprised to learn that onto the field. Crane is very patient there was no field hockey team, and understanding when it comes especially because of the close to her players, and she is conproximity to Stanford University. stantly making sure no one feels Stanford’s field hockey team is di- discouraged about their abilities. vision one, placing as second best Combined with her competitive in the nation. It was not until a par- mindset and past experiences ent approached her about starting Crane is an ideal fit to lead this new the team that she got the idea. Be- Vikings’ squad. ing the captain of her field hockey

Photo by Jason Shorin

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

KICKIN’ it Off

Nelson Gifford tackles the upcoming season

The varsity football team also each member of the team fill out experienced a change in lead- what he calls “commitment cards”. ership this year. Coach Gifford On these cards, team members is amongst the seven new staff write their goals for the week and members, taking on the responsi- share them with the group. With bility of coaching the varsity Foot- this exercise teammates are able ball team. He has brought positive to support each other and motichange with his unique strategies vate one another to accomand strong beliefs. plish their goals, which “It was really about “Respect, honesty, strengthens their reestablishing our own preparation, tough- lationships and builds culture and focusing ness and competi- team character. This on the values that we tion are our five core is just one example of thought were the most the many new aspects values” important to ensuring of Paly’s football team. that we’re not only a good football “Respect, honesty, preparateam but [also] good players,” Gif- tion, toughness and competition ford said. are our five core values that’s what Correspondingly to coach guides us through everything that Look, Gifford believes strongly in we do and that’s what we’re always teamwork and solidarity. At the emphasizing,” Gifford said. beginning of every week, he has

“One thing I like about coach Gifford is how he is always so truthful with us and he will ride with us until the end as one whole family” - Jamir Shephard (‘20)

“His [coach Saetang] on the mental side of the game has been really beneficial to us.

Coach Benji is also really good at reading our play and finding out what we need to work on in practice” Amelia Gibbs (‘20)

A MESSAGE to Future Coaches

Paly’s new coaches bring a fresh set of principles to their respective sports that they hope to implement this year in order to lead their teams to success. While the coaches have different individual goals for their teams, they all share the sentiment that the new change in leadership will only make their teams stronger

and more unified.

“I would advise new coaches to do their best to seek out other coaches that have been here and know how things work and get as much information as they can about the school and the inner workings so they can really focus on just the coaching and nothing else,” Diepenbrock said.

Photo courtesy of David Hickey

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Photo by David Hickey

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“I like how he [coach Look] holds players accountable and makes sure we play the best we can play” - Javid Alasti (‘19)

“If I were to describe Jenny Crane in one word I would say ‘determined.’ I’ve never had a coach work this hard and care about a team so much” - Natalie Hmelar (‘22)

Final Word... by NATHAN ELLISEN and WES WALTERS To start the new school year, the CEOs (Chief Executive Opinionsts) give our take on the NFL’s soft new targeting rule. Our very own CEO Wes was victim to this outrageously cowardly rule change and no one else inside and outside of the Viking staff should have to deal with this atrocity any longer. Always trust the word of the CEOs and the Final Word. We have never been wrong.

T

he new targeting rule is the most beta rule to ever exist in the National Football League.

Players and coaches alike are coming out against the rule, stating that it will ruin the integrity and the competitive nature of the game.

Richard Sherman posted on Twitter that the rule will “be a disaster,” and his take is perfectly accurate.

The rule not only gives a 15-yard penalty to any defender leading with their head into a receiver or hitting the receiver anywhere above the shoulders, but also increases the referee’s ability to eject players based on questionable hits. This creates an environment where receivers won’t need to worry about getting hit by a safety and can roam around the secondary carelessly. The brute force era of football has officially come to an end and the NFL is struggling to keep up their ratings, something they will inevitably fail at again this season.

The main influence the rule will have on the league is not allowing defenders to scare their opponents and intimidate receivers. Getting inside the head of an

Paly football player Chris Martinez (‘19) blocks a defender while leading with his helmet.

(Photo Courtesy of Karen Ambrose Hickey)

offensive player with a big hit has always been the primary method of dominating on the defensive side, and the NFL is trying to remove this crucial aspect of the game with this regulation.

The difference between applying this rule in high school and college football compared to the NFL is that students are in need of more safety in order to continue their education despite not getting compensated.

Professional players are getting paid millions of dollars to play their sports and they should not be coddled for any reason whatsoever, whether or not it will appease fans or the league management.

One way Paly football has followed suit with the new regulations is by limiting the team to only two full contact practices per week. Most think this will limit injuries, but in reality, this will only make the players less prepared for full contact games where they will be more likely to injure themselves without time to toughen up. Contact practices are far more likely to benefit the players in games than injure them.

In week one of the NFL season, the new rule came into full effect early.

Bengals Shawn Williams was penalized 15 yards and ejected after his dirty hit on Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. A few yards from the first down, Luck slid

towards the marker, and Williams came into the play from the side, leading with his head and attempting to knock Luck away from the first down marker. Williams was not attempting to injure Luck or to lead with his helmet, but the play came to a point where the easiest way to stop the third down conversion by Luck was to lead with the head. Although Williams could have handled his defensive duties better, there was no reason for him to be further penalized other than a personal foul call and possibly an ejection.

In addition to the unnecessary penalization of players and wide receivers’ new ability to run fearlessly in the secondary, players have to relearn how to hit. The overall defensive ability of the league will decrease as all the formerly dominant hitters will need time to understand how to hit within the rules.

The adapted skills veterans like Williams have learned over years of preparing for professional football will nearly be put to waste with this unnecessary change.

Although concussions and head injuries in football are rightfully a sensitive topic that should be regulated well by the league in order to keep players safe, the new targeting rule is a decision that will further lower the NFL’s already decreasing ratings and completely change the league.

@vikingsportsmag | SEPTEMBER 2018

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