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Volume IV, Issue 1 October 2010

Staff List Editors-in-Chief Mary Albertolle George Brown Will Glazier

Business Managers Sam Maliska Talia Moyal Jack Smale

Managing Editors Gracie Marshall Mariah Philips Mark Raftrey Alistair Thompson

Staff Mira Ahmad Paige Borsos Sam Borsos John Dickerson Skylar Dorosin Marina Foley Kevin Kannappan Charlie Kelsey Emy Kelty Matt Lam Alan Lamarque Brennan Miller Nathan Norimoto Shannon Scheel Alana Schwartz Ben Sneider

Design Editor Cooper Levitan Photo Editors Brandon Dukovic Alex Kershner Copy Editors Peter Dennis Sam Greene Anne Hildebrand Columnists Michael Cullen Dustin Nizamian

Contributing Photographer Matt Ersted

Adviser Ellen Austin

The Viking Palo Alto High School 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94301 650-329-3837 Email contact: vikingeds@gmail.com Letters to the editor The Viking, a sports magazine published by the students in Palo Alto High School’s Advanced Magazine Journalism class, is an open forum for student expression and the discussion of issues of concern to its readership. The Viking is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost. The staff welcomes letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity.

Advertising in The Viking The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts 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 or call 650-329-3837 for more information.

Printing Services The Viking is printed six times a year by Fricke-Parks Press in Fremont, Calif.

KICKOFF 6 | STAFF VIEW 7| NEWS UPDATES 8| ZOOMS 10| HOT/NOT METER AND

BY THE NUMBERS 12|TEN QUESTIONS WITH ANDRE GOUYET 13| INSIDE THE MIND OF JOSH RAPPERPORT 16| GREAT DEBATE: INSTANT REPLAYS

Ben Sneider and Alan Lamarque tackle a controversial issue in sports: What is to be done with instant replay?

PHOTO CREDITS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): BRANDON DUKOVIC, BRANDON DUKOVIC, ALEX KERSHNER, BRANDON DUKOVIC, MALAIKA DREBIN, ALEX KERSHNER, EMY KELTY, BRANDON DUKOVIC, TALIA MOYAL. COVER PHOTO BY MATT ERSTED

PAGE

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COLUMNS 15| FANTASY FOOTBALL The life of an obsessed fantasy manager.

by Peter Dennis

14| THE VIKING TRIES COMPETITIVE EATING The Viking attempts a challenge of pho-nomenal proportions, along with two of Paly’s biggest eaters.

by Dustin Nizamian

PREVIEWS

The L

18| FALL PREVIEWS

A quick overview of the fall sports: football, girls’ tennis, cross-country, water polo and volleyball.

13 15

18

28

PROFILES

24| BORN TO PLAY Haley Conner’s rise from water polo newbie to team captain.

by Charlie Kelsey

28| WORKING AS A UNIT Profiles of Paly’s offensive linemen

by Kevin Kannappan

30|THE JOURNEY TJ Braff: three sport starting varsity athlete and his devoted work ethic.

by Shannon Scheel

34|THE LEGENDARY HOD RAY

One of the most influential coaches in Paly history.

by Emy Kelty

Lineup October 2010 Volume IV, Issue 1

LAST WORD 58 | CALENDAR 62 | THE LAST WORD

COVER

52| SILENT IMPACT

The new California Interscholastic Federation Bylaw 313 allows referees to sideline a player for head trauma. The Viking explores concussions and their effects on youth.

by John Dickerson, Nathan Norimoto and Mariah Philips

46

Michael Cullen explores a staple of American sports culture and weekend merriment.

by Michael Cullen

50 52

61

64

FEATURES

22| TOP 10 MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENTS Athletes, coaches and staff share their most mortifying sports moments.

by Paige Borsos and Marina Foley

36| PREGAME RITUALS What athletes do to get mentally prepared to play.

by Mira Ahmad and Matt Lam

42 | VOLLEYBALL ROAD TO STATE

The story of Paly volleyball’s change from Division II to Division I and their unique opportunity to make it to state this season.

by Sam Borsos

46 | MIND GAMES

The different mindsets between team sports and individual sports.

by Skylar Dorosin

50 | SIBLING RIVALRIES

A look into sibling rivalries on Paly’s sports teams.

by Alana Schwartz

59| DI VS DIII Highlighting the differences between playing Division I and Division III at the college level based on the experiences of four Paly graduates.

by Gracie Marshall and Brennan Miller

October 2010

5

Kickoff

Staff View

STAFF VIEW Bylaw 313: Part of the Solution? days, concussions are on the rise. Everybody T hese knows somebody who managed to slam his or her

head on the turf or crack craniums with an opposing player. Whether athletes are getting faster and more aggressive or awareness is spreading, more and more kids are finding themselves stumbling to the sideline feeling like Wile E. Coyote after a collision with an anvil.

As a response to this growing problem, The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has taken matters into its own hands by implementing a law that gives referees the power to withhold a player from the game if they suspect him or her to be concussed. It’s called Bylaw 313 and it means two things for California high school sports. One,

through pain on the field, in the case of concussions, a line should be drawn. Compared to tight hammys and sore shoulders, concussions are an injury gray area. A concussion is a different breed of injury that requires different rules and standards, and Bylaw 313 is part of the answer.

While it has its benefits, the CIF’s new experiment has more than its fair share of negatives. First and foremost, referees do not want this kind of authority.

On top of their already overwhelming responsibilities, they now have to make the call as to whether or not a player has suffered an internal injury. This is a job for doctors and trainers, not referees. The referees’ training for this call is limited and it is more than likely that they will make the wrong call from time to time.

If carried out correctly, Bylaw 313 could help solve the concussion problem. referees have to add players’ health to their list of on-field responsibilities. And two, the awareness for concussions will go through the roof.

The Viking is more than familiar with the effects of concussions. A few of our own staff members have recently had their brains rattled in their respective sports. Thankfully, the local community has not seen any cases like that of North Carolina football player Jaquan Waller, who lost his life as a result of consecutive concussions (see story on page 52). The fact is, cases such as Waller’s indicate that drastic steps need to be taken to solve the concussion problem and The Viking believes that Bylaw 313 is a step in the right direction.

While giving referees more power to alter a game is debatable, the better safe than sorry clause falls into play here. By nature, many athletes will not take themselves out of game regardless of the severity of their symptoms. So now, after some direct action by the CIF, referees will step in and take players out when they are at risk. While The Viking is all for pushing

6

After looking at the facts, The Viking believes that the solution lies in education and qualification.

By qualification we mean better training for the referees. In addition, doctors and athletic trainers should be on the sideline to give the final diagnosis.

In a perfect world, every team would have a doctor on the sideline, but we realize that is unrealistic. In reality, most high school athletic programs do not have the budget to keep doctors on the payroll. For now, we can look to individual leagues to provide groups of doctors who share sideline responsibilities.

By education, we mean teaching fundamentals.

Coaches need to teach kids to hit with their heads up. Little things like this will make a big difference.

While concussions are a problem that are not going anywhere fast, education and qualification will be the surest avenues to keeping athletes safe.

The ultimate goal while approaching this problem is to allow our athletes to compete without fear of concussions. With efforts like Bylaw 313 we are well on our way. <<<

NEWS BRIEF

BY MARK RAFTREY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRANDON DUKOVIC

Volleyball, cross-country move from CCS Division II to Division I, improve chances of success With increased enrollment at Palo Alto High School this year, the volleyball team will now compete in the Central Coast Section (CCS) Division I should it qualify. And, at 22-0 on the season, doing so is not far away. Counter intuitively, moving up a division should make the path to a championship easier, as the Lady Vikes will avoid national powerhouses Archbishop Mitty and Saint Francis. Mitty was the No. 1 team in the country last year and beat Paly in the CCS final, while Saint Francis was No. 25.

“We know [Mitty and Saint Francis] are good because of their reputations,” Paly outside hitter Trina Ohms said. “In DI the schools are unknown to us so we have to go in with the mindset that they are just as good.”

Cross-country will also make the change to Division I. By doing so, the girls’ team will be much more competitive in CCS competition.

“The top two teams [Gunn and Carlmont] are in Division I but after that, we’re right in the mix with the others,” Paly girls’ head coach Paul Jones said. “Overall, CCS-wise, it puts us in better shape.”

Gunn and Carlmont finished first and second respectively last year, while Paly finished ninth in Division II. For the past several months, the Paly baseball and softball fields have undergone massive renovations. The entire playing

PUSHING THE LIMIT Matan Geller (‘13) sprints to the finish in the Stanford Invitational on Sept. 25, where the Vikings finished 27th overall in the oppressive heat.

FLYING HIGH The Lady Vikes are 22-0 as of Oct. 4 and 4-0 in league. Last year’s team set a Paly record of 33 straight victories.

October 2010

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8

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

ZOOM

Varsity cross-country runner Charlie Kelsey (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;12 ) leads a pack of runners in the Lowell Invitational held in San Franciscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Golden Gate Park on Sept. 18. Kelsey finished in 82nd place while the Paly boys finished 11th overall.

Photo by Alex Kershner

ZOOM

Paly grad and Stanford starter Teresa Noyola (‘08) attacks Santa Clara’s ofPaly grad and Stanford starter fense in a non-conference rivalryTeresa on Noyola (‘08) attacks the Georgetown Oct. 2 at Stanford. The No.1 Cardinal defense during 2-0 route in2-0, thewhile Santa defeated the No.a13 Broncos Clara Paly Classic.

The match was Stanfellow grad Kelly Jenks (‘10), a ford’s eight preseason game, as the freshman at Santa Clara, and Noyola Cardinal rose to a #1 national ranking. were reunited.

October 2010

9

Kickoff

Intro Section

BY THE NUMBERS

4 lbs (+broth) 4 lbs (+broth) 4 lbs (+broth)

Fastest time ever run at Stanford Invitational. Olympian Galen Rupp achieved this feat in 2006.

Weight of combined noodles and meat each contestant had to eat in The Viking Tries the Pho Challenge. (Page 14)

Number of Americans each year that sustain mild traumatic head injuries with no loss of consciousness and no need for hospitalization, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. (page 52)

1,500,000

58

Number of hours former lady vike forward kelly jenks (‘10) spent practicing during her double-days at Santa Clara University.

23:03.1

2

25 The best average score for a center on the NFL’s Wonderlic Test.

Back-to-back perfect seasons in 1950 and 1951 for the Paly football team led by coach Hod Ray. (page 34)

THE POP CULTURE GRID

10

Dre Hill (Football ‘12)

Melanie Wade (Volleyball ‘12)

Will Kershner (Cross-Country ‘13)

Will Conner (Wopo ‘14)

Rachel Harrus (Wopo ‘11)

Prediction for World Series

Giants

Giants

Giants

Tampa Bay Rays

TV time reserved for E! and Planet Earth only

Favorite Vegetable

All Veggies

Broccoli

Melons

Do potato chips count?

Bean Sprouts

Favorite Jersey Shore Character

Snookie

Sammi

Vinny

“The Situation”

Vinny

Leather or Lace

Leather

Leather

Leather with lace

Now I feel uncomfortable

Lace

Guilty Pleasure

Talking to myself

Eating peanut butter

Bubble baths

Family Guy

Sleeping

Images licensed by

Kevin Anderson (‘11), Explain yourself....

HOT

The Weather So, right when summer ends, summer weather starts? Running around the track and wearing camo pants when its 100 outside is not fun to say the least.

New Paly Administration It’s nice to see the administration out on the quad, shooting some hoops and handing out wireless passwords.

Photo by Alex Kershner

“I really prefer opera. Really, guys. They have this great program at Stanford...”

-Bill Glazier “Like” The Viking on Facebook to see your caption for “Explain Yourself” in future editions.

Xenith Helments With the “shock bon-nets” protecting the craniums of our gridiron warriors, we hope concussions will become less of a problem.

NOT

Cal Budget Cuts The Bears’ athletics program is in hibernation and no one knows when they’ll come out. BYU now holds a monopoly in short shorts in the NCAA.

Paly Volleyball With a 22-0 record, the Lady Vikes seem to have forgotten the word “lose,” although they still think “winn” is spelled with two “n’s.”

c

or

San Francisco Giants The Giants stomped on the San Diego Padres, 3-0, on Sunday, Oct. 3, to clinch the National League West.

Infinite Campus With some teachers no longer posting on InClass, Students who cannot access Infinite Campus are falling “infinitely” behind.

Campaigning for Senior Polls Send out a late night text to any senior you’ve ever talked to?

Sorry, we vote for the people who actually deserve it.

SPOTLIGHT GAME 10/3/10

NCAA Women’s Soccer

Want Paly sports updates sent to your phone?

Follow us on www.twitter.com/thevikingmag

In a non conference showdown, the number one ranked Cardinal and the 13th ranked Broncos faced off for Bay Area bragging rights. Former Paly teammates Teresa Noyola (‘08)(above right) and Kelly Jenks (‘10) battled in Palo Alto once again as Stanford prevailed 2-0. The same day, the two varsity stars were reunited with Paly coach Ernesto Cruz (above left).

Photos by Alex Kershner

No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 13 Santa Clara

11

10 Questions

with

Andre Gouyet

WHO KNOWS JUNIOR XC RUNNER ANDRE GOUYET BETTER? TEAMMATE NIKOLAI SOLGAARD, COACH JOE GINNANI or BROTHER STEFAN GOUYET? as told to Peter Dennis and Charlie Kelsey

Photography by Brandon Dukovic

Andre Gouyet

Nikolai Solgaard

Joe Ginnani

Stefan Gouyet

Real Madrid

Favorite European Soccer Team

Arsenal

Manchester

Real Madrid

America

France or America?

America

France

America

Dream Date

Lauren Wong

Nora Rosati

No Answer

Favorite Class

French

Math

History

When Niko nip-twists me

Pet Peeve

People teasing France

Injuries

People insulting Real Madrid

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Favorite PS3 Game

Corso

Corso or Niko?

Corso

Corso

Niko

Getting beaten by D-Lim [David Lim] in a race

Biggest Fear

Women

My dog

I don’t know him well enough

What Do You Say?

by Mickey Avalon

Favorite Song

“Teenage Dream”

by Katy Perry

“Should Have, Could Have” by Corner Street Light

“Uprising” by Muse

Nick Forlenza

Funniest Teammate

Nick Forlenza

Niko

Charlie Kelsey

40% Correct

15% Correct

30% correct

Any of Cristiano Ronaldo’s exgirlfriends Humanities

Images licensed by

Call of Duty: Modern Call of Duty. No...Fifa Call of Duty: Warfare 2 Modern Warfare 2

(french flag) commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_France_1790-1794.PNG

Inside the Josh Mind Rapperport

“

BY JAC K SM A LE

ON WATER POLO

I did Stanford [Water Polo Club] to get introduced to the sport the summer of my sophomore year, but it felt impersonal. So, I switched to the Palo Alto Water Polo Club this summer, which was really fun. I started playing [for Paly] when I broke my foot in basketball and I thought I’d go out for the sport with the best looking guys. I always thought it would be a sport that would be really fun and it looked really physical, which I liked a lot. But I swam and went out the next season. I’ve played since I was a junior.

ON SWIMMING I swam a season before I started water polo and I’ve almost quit because it’s so hard. Basically, you just go all night and almost drown. I’ve been swimming for three years now and I’m still not as fast as I should be. We don’t do too much swimming for water polo during the regular season. Usually we just swim a thousand yards or so, or just sprint [a few laps].

ON SPEEDOS Speedos are the best part of the sport, really. I spend about as much time in mine as I can. I’d wear it to school on game days if [the school would] let me.

That’s what makes [water polo] so popular in Europe. They’re the best jerseys you could have, right?

ON HIS BODY During the season it’s hard to work out much.

There’s no way I can keep up with Brandon Nguyen (’11) though, but I try.

of

AKA Rappy J

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

ON BEING A TEACHER’S WORST NIGHTMARE I hassle [Economics teacher] Mr. Blackburn as much as humanly possible. Even if he’s right, I tell him he’s wrong. But I try to get along with teachers, unless we don’t agree on something.

ON WATER POLO COACH GIOVANNI NAPOLITANO Gio’s our big, Italian Stallion, national team [water polo player for Italy] coach. Don’t mess with him or he’ll punch you in the face. His English isn’t always perfect, but that just adds to our team’s communication. The best days are when he gets in the water with us and he shows us his moves.

ON HIS NICKNAMES ‘Rappy J’ is the main one, but there are a lot of variations off of that. [Eng [English teacher] Ms. Angell even guessed ‘Rappy J’ on the first day [of school] and she had never met me before. There are a few I need to stop from getting [too] popular.

ON HIS EGO

“

Josh Rapperport (‘11), a water polo stud with the body of a god, was kind enough to talk to the The Viking about what goes on in his mind.

I like to think I’m a nice guy but at times I can get a bit overexcited. During high school, hopefully I’ve calmed myself down, but I can definitely be assertive.

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Columns

Viking Tries

Tries Competitive Eating

BY DUSTIN NIZAMIAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TALIA MOYAL

The world of competitive eating can be a funny and painful place

We’ve certainly come a long way since the first two dudes at a wing-stop thought they’d go head-to-head for nothing but bragging rights and who had to buy the tums afterwards.

Although people have been unhealthily gorging themselves since antiquity (ask Nero what he would do for a Klondike Bar, I bet you wouldn’t have guessed “Burn down Rome”), it seems that turn-of-the-century America is where competitive eating as we know it got its start. The first annual “Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition” took place on Coney Island in 1916 and things have proceeded to spiral out of control from there. In recent years, the profile of competitive eating has exploded, giving us Kobayashi, Man vs. Food, and Major League Eating, which, at least on the Fourth of July, is the most popular professional sports organization around.

Why people are so captivated by watching gluttony in action is beyond me, but you know what they say, “Don’t knock it ‘till you’ve tried it.”

Challenge accepted.

The Challenge

tion had consisted of a football game the previous night, some hard labor that morning, and a strict moratorium on CHALLENGE The three contendfood for about 15 hours ers take to the field, ready to gorge. prior to the challenge.

Nerves ran high in we three contenders. I’m not sure which was more intimidating, signing our lives away on waivers or the sight of the unhumanly large chopsticks and spoons we were given. We sat, quivering in fear, uneasily making the odd joke as we waited. And then it came, a veritable aquarium of noodles and meat.

And yet, as we started we were quite confident, absurdly so looking at it in hindsight. We received some helpful advice from our waiter—our strategy was essentially just noodles first, then meat in order to avoid letting the noodles soak up broth and expand—and we were off.

We all started off strong (Kevin was moving at record pace, shoveling noodles down with his hands and an occasional chopstick) and kept up a decent clip for about the first 20 minutes.

Kevin was the first to hit the wall, and when he hit it he was knocked out COLD. For Josh and me the ordeal was extended as we tried to keep chugging long after our stomachs told us not to. Long story short, try as we might we couldn’t do it.

Which was really pretty disappointing because by the time we finished we were all in indescribable pain.

But here, I’ll describe it anyway. Imagine swallowing a belt of grenades and then having Mike Tyson punch you in the gut until all the pins came out.

The Aftermath

LIKE THREE-FOURTHS OF A BABY — Believe it now?

The challenge, you ask? Why, how about a bowl of noodles big enough to be a Japanese hot tub. And for this test of willpower, bravery, and gastrointestinal might—mind you all in one hour— one need venture no farther than Castro St. in Mountain View, where you can find Pho Garden: “Home of the Pho Challenge”.

For those of you without a Vietnamese friend, Pho (Actually the “o” has some squigglies and it’s pronounced “fuh”) refers to a rice noodle soup, usually served with beef or chicken—Or, in our case, two pounds of noodles and two pounds of beef in an ocean of broth.

Yeah. Not kidding. We’re talking like three-fourths of a baby.

But hey, Joey Chestnut took it down in 14 minutes.

Judgement Day

Hey, we’ve all gotta die one day, right?

That was our motto on the drive down anyway. Our prepara-

14

So there we were, sitting dejected on the curb outside the Pho Garden. Now officially 22 dollars in debt to the kind folks inside. So what did we make off with besides lighter wallets, T-shirts and stomach aches? Oh I’m not sure, I certainly hope there aren’t any lasting health problems... but in a strange way it was actually sort of a valuable experience.

Our waiter told us, “It will all fit in your stomach, it’s just your head that stops you.” And this thought might shed some light on why we love these feats of gluttony after all. It might be a little barbaric, but heck, competitive eating is as powerful a test of will as you’ll find anywhere in the world of sports.

DEFEAT The Viking did not stand a chance: Pho Garden 1, Viking 0.

Living the Fantasy Life

BY PETER DENNIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEX KERSHNER

I have an addiction.

I’m not proud of it.

But I have learned to cope with this addiction, and live with the consequences. Depending on the week, you may find me moping around school as though my dog had just died, or skipping around the quad like a giddy schoolgirl.

I am, of course, talking about my addiction to fantasy football.

For all those who do not know, fantasy football is a game in which managers, like myself, draft professional football players onto a “fantasy team.” Depending on how the players play

ing for a Spanish test on Tuesday, finishing a math assignment, and managing my team. Managing a fantasy football team is arguably more difficult than all of my other assignments combined, and with this kind of addiction, it is the most attractive, and the most time consuming. Why do schoolwork when you can fret about imaginary points?

The preparation is killer, even without the schoolwork.

Managers need to prepare before the season starts by strategizing who they will draft and when. Then on draft day, the

Why do schoolwork when you can fret about imaginary points? in their NFL games, managers earn points. Two fantasy teams are pitted against each other and the team with the most points wins. The season is played out with different teams matched against each other. The win-loss records determine standings in the playoffs, which lead to a league champion.

For instance, in week one, Arian Foster, the Houston Texans’ starting running back rushed for 231 yards and three touchdowns. In my league, the guy who drafted Foster got 42.8 points from him alone, which is pretty substantial when you realize that teams average around 125 points per week. In other words, Foster accounted for about 34 percent of the team’s points and the other 10 players accounted for merely 66 percent of the rest.

Fantasy football is in a league of its own, if you will excuse the pun. No wonder more than 23 million men and women play it every year, costing companies $10.5 million in lost work time, according to a Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. study, while the employees whittle the hours of their workday planning out how their team will fare in the coming week.

As one of the 23 million, I love the thrill of multitasking. I do not mind juggling an AP US History essay due on Monday, study-

preparation gets tested. Adaptations are necessary, especially when people pick kickers, the player who earns the least points for the team, in the fifth round, with 11 rounds to go.

But it does not stop there.

I lose the most sleep when it’s time to decide who to place in my lineup for the week. It is surprisingly difficult to predict who will play well in certain games. Now, in some cases it is easy to anticipate a monster performance. If one of my players is playing a team with a horrendous defense, say, the Detroit Lions or the St. Louis Rams, which have won two and three games respectively the past two years, then my player will almost certainly do well.

However, most teams are not like that and it is up to me to predict how they will do, depending on who is on the oppositions’ defense, whether or not my players will be in full health for the game, how my players’ attitudes affect the rest of the team...the list goes on and on. Needless to say, it is tough.

So next time you see fantasy football managers around school, looking like they are about to die, you will know why.

October 2010

15

THE GREAT DEBATE: I n s t a n t

In this edition, The Viking’s Ben Sneider and Alan Lamarque attack another controversial issue in sports. What should be done with instant replay?

Replay’s gotta go.

Not at all, there should be more.

Frank Lampard of England had the equalizing goal stripped from him in the 2010 World Cup.

Dude, it ruins the game. It takes away from letting the official have the call and the arguing that follows. You know all those things you learn as a kid, “don’t argue with the umpire, don’t argue with the ref.” If it can all go to replay, whenever there’s a close call and an umpire doesn’t know, they’ll make the call one way knowing that it’ll just go to replay.

What if that call determines who wins the game? I mean if the player hits a home run and it’s good but the ump makes the wrong call…

Well, think about it. He just hit that home run. That team just won the game and if they don’t go to replay they’re going to lose it.

And that does happen. Then all the ESPN reporters get to talk about it for like four hours.

Yeah, but it’s not going to get overturned and everyone’s going to know you screwed up that call and it’s going to stay like that forever. And they lost, even though they actually won. It’s just like soccer.

Ok, you’re just making a big deal about the World Cup.. That aside, if you add instant replay, what I would do immediately is go apply to be an umpire and I will sit in a chair at the first base line and every single play I will just swing out or safe, fair or foul, just for fun, knowing that it’ll go to instant replay and I get paid–

Yeah, well you’re not even going to get that job in the first place if that’s all you’re going to do, you gotta do it right. Instant replay isn’t just to replay any old thing, at this point instant replay is– Do you think expanding Instant replay promotes umpires and officials to work harder to get the call right or just say forget it?

They should still do their job, but sometimes there are moments when they don’t know.

You don’t think instant replay makes them look like their doing their job badly?

Yeah, if you go to replay every five seconds like they do in football, then– It’s not about that, it’s about getting the call right. My team just got scored on because their guy was way offside. Or with that Detroit Tigers guy,, he lost a perfect game and a place in history because of a bad call.

So you’re saying soccer and baseball teams should have challenges? Or should it be up to the umpires whether it goes to replay? Its an excuse for 350 pound fat guys to wait for a close call so they can go to replay!

You’re not going to keep your job if you ump a game where you do nothing.

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IT

en B –

LOSE

If you make the case that replay is okay just for that call, then you can use it for any call.

Getty Images

Replay

But the more things that get added to sports – look what happened with baseball with the steroid era, you discredit the sport. Look at the games back in the day where there were no helmets and facemasks had one bar.

Ph il

Wol ff

Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers was robbed of a perfect game by a wrong call back in June.

FSN Detroit

PAN

T DI

Alan – EX

Yeah, but that was before you had these 300 pound fools who’ll kill you in one hit.

I would rather play in the black and white era of sports than now, if there were replay. Right now it’s okay because in high school sports there’s no replay, but if replay becomes a serious part, it’s going to become ridiculous. A cameraman will end up calling balls and strikes from centerfield.

I still think if it’s like the last homer, bottom of the ninth, a close play. Don’t you go to replay?

No, you leave it to the umpire But that’s the game winner right there! Like they call a guy out and he’s actually safe– Well there’s collaboration between umpires.

Yeah, and it turns into that Twix commercial.

Well then that sucks, you’re a bad official.

Exactly! You can’t have bad officials!

You don’t argue with the ref and you don’t argue with the rules.

Yeah but if there are bad officials, you gotta have back up!

Then cry over the game tape man, cry over the game tape. You’re win got stripped, get over it, I’m sorry if it’s the seventh game of the World Series or it’s the Super Bowl, life isn’t fair.

Yeah, and for the next 100 years you’ll be known as the team that got screwed by the umpire who’s full of [stuff] ‘cause they decided not to go to instant replay.

But it should be like that, there should be an uncertainty where it’s up to the umpire, and they make the call. A big part of the culture of professional sports comes from cheering and booing Yeah ‘cause they don’t like the call, even if they know it’s right.

So then ‘booing’ and ‘ahhing’ will go away when you know it’s going to go to replay. Nobody will get worked up because they know the call can be changed

e rs h n Phot o b y A lex K

er

That’s not true! ‘Booing’ and ‘ahhing’ will never go away!

I like 30 seconds of boos more than five. They’ll shout a couple boos and then realize, oh wait, we can just replay it.

Yeah, but in a basketball game, whether it was a foul or not, people are going to call it a bad call.

If you add instant replay to all these big sports, they’ll become just as incredible as NASCAR. October 2010 17

Previews

Fall Previews

2010 FALL PREVIEWS

Sam Banks (‘11) Photo by Matt Ersted

Football The Palo Alto High School football team (4-0) is off to a strong start after a mediocre victory in its season opener against Burlingame High School (12). The Vikings overcame sloppy play to defeat the Panthers 21-9 for their first win of the season. Quarterback Christoph Bono (‘11), who has thrown for 581 yards over three games, is back and healthy after sitting out the last half of the 2009-2010

Coach: Earl Hansen Record: 4-0 (1-0) season with a broken clavicle.

In the backfield, Paly’s running back Dre Hill (‘12) looks to have a promising season with 212 yards and five touchdowns in just three games, including a breakout game against powerhouse

Archbishop Mitty High School in which he ran for three touchdowns. The Vikings defeated Mitty 20-7 to avenge last year’s loss and will play a key game at Los Gatos High School on Oct. 15.

Mic

uri ce

Williams

Ma

(‘11)

18

hael Cul l

en ‘11)

Girls’ Tennis

Coach: Andy Harader Record: 3-4 (2-4)

) Emi ly Efand (‘11

The Palo Alto High School girls’ varsity tennis team kicked off league play on Thursday, September 23rd with a 6-1 win over Homestead High School.

After preseason play, the Lady Vikes are ready to improve upon their 3-3 record. They will host the Palo Alto Invitational tournament on Friday, October 8th from 1-6 p.m. and Saturday, October 9th from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The team is counting on number one singles player Mira Khanna (‘11) and doubles players Sabrina Yeung (‘11) and Amy Ke (‘12) to lead the team to a successful season.

Photo by Emily Brown

Volleyball

‘11)

Coach: Dave Winn Record: 22-0 (2-0)

The Lady Vikes have yet to lose a game with a perfect 22-0 record overall and 2-0 record in league. The Paly squad, which lost only one starter from last year’s Central Coast Section (CCS) runner-up team, looks to improve upon their stellar 36-5 overall record from last year. The team will rely on the leadership of senior players Trina Ohms

and Megan Coleman as well as returning starters Kimmy Whitson (’12) and Melanie Wade (’12). Because the Lady Vikes have moved up to Division I, the team is even more confident about winning a CCS championship because they no longer need to face Archbishop Mitty and Saint Francis.

nig Koe kie Jac

2) (‘1

October 2010

19

Previews

Fall Previews

Boys’ Cross-Country

Nikolai Solgaar d (‘1)

Despite the losses of Phillip MacQuitty (’10) and Josh Newby (’10), the Palo Alto High School boys’ cross-country team is looking to climb back to the top in the Central Coast Section (CCS). After switching from Division II to Division I, the Vikings may have an easier road to a championship. Corso Rosati (’12) and Nikolai Solgaard (’12) will anchor the team along with a collection of other runners including Charlie Kelsey (’12), Andre Gouyet (’12) and Matan Geller (’13). In the Vikings’ first two meets, they finished 11th at the Lowell Invitational and 27th at the Stanford Invitational. The Vikings will face their biggest tests at the Crystal Springs meets on Oct. 7 and Nov. 2.

Coach: Joe Ginanni

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

Girls’ Cross-Country

Leigh

i (‘11) Dairaggh

Despite losing last year’s top runner, Kathleen Higgins (’10), the Palo Alto High School girls’ cross country team has placed well in its opening meets, and looks to make a strong push towards the Central Coast Section (CCS) Championships.

Captain Susan Heinselman (’11) has placed first for Paly in all three meets this season, and in the top 10 overall in the first two races.

The Lady Vikes look to improve on last season’s performance by qualifying more runners for CCS and state competitions.

The team will race in the Artichoke Invitational in Half Moon Bay on Saturday, October 28, and in the SCVAL Preview Meet Crystal Springs on Thursday, October 7.

Coach: Paul Jones

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

20

Boys’ Water Polo

Coach: Giovanni Napolitano Record: 5-4 (3-2)

Aaron Zel i ng er ( ‘12 )

The Paly varsity boys’ water polo team (3-2 in league) has had a solid start to the season. The team, although young, expects to improve as the season progresses.

League play started off with a big win against Los Gatos High School on September 14 with a final score of 9-6.

The team lost to Los Altos High

School, which is ranked first in league.

The Vikings capped off wins against both El Dorado and Homestead high Schools. Captain Ken Wattana (’11) leads the team with 13 goals in league play. Other key players in the pool include goalie Daniel Armitano (’12) and driver Aaron Zelinger (’12). The Vikings look forward to a rematch against Los Altos on October 13 at 6:45pm at home.

Photo by Alex Kershner

Girls’ Water Polo

Coach: Cory Olcott Record: 7-7

Halfway through the 2010 season, Palo Alto High School girls’ varsity water polo team’s record stands at 7-7. The team had dominating victories over Burlingame, Monta Vista, and Homestead High schools. The Lady Vikes are in the middle of their Central Coast Section (CCS) standings. The team is lead by strong play by senior captains Haley Conner (‘11), Anna Glaves (‘11) and junior starter Skylar Dorosin (’12).

Kati e

Ma

ser

The Lady Vikes look to improve throughout the season.

With a young roster, the team has high hopes for the next seasons. The team aims to clinch a CCS title.

Looking forward, the Lady Vikes will face cross-town rivals, Gunn High School, at home on Oct. 28.

(‘11

)

Photo by Matt Ersted October 2010

21

Features

Top Ten Most Embarrassing Sports Moments

10 most

Top 10

10

embaRRassing EMBARRASSING

moments sPoRts sPoRts

BY PAIGE BORSOS AND MARINA FOLEY

Photo by Allie Shorin

After countless hours of training, strenuous workouts and sweat-inducing practices, the only thing on an athlete’s mind is showcasing his or her hard work. But even Palo Alto High School’s star athletes make mistakes.

When embarrassing moments happen in front of the critical eye of a rowdy crowd, athletes can feel the mortifying effects beyond belief. Whether these mishaps are insignificant or downright traumatizing, they tend to lead to a good laugh in the end. Paly athletes, coaches and staff shared their most traumatizing moments during games and practices. The Viking ranked Paly’s own top 10 most embarrassing sports experiences.

T.J. Braff (‘11)

1

Most Em-bare-essing Moment

Varsity swimming, Alex Lin (‘12)

“One time during swimming, we were doing sprint dives and I was on the blocks getting ready. I was wearing a tight two-piece because it was really hot outside and I wanted to get a nice tan. We go down, [my coach] blows the whistle and we go, and my bottoms completely fell off! I had to wiggle back into my bottoms and still sprint at the same time, but basically my bare [butt] was just out there.”

Coaching Calamity

Junior varsity football coach, David Duran

“I was yelling at the kid for not lining up, or doing something, I forget what it was. But I was getting all worked up and I walked straight into a pole and broke my glasses in half. All the kids were laughing at me. They are still running to this day.”

3

Singlet Setback

2

Varsity wrestling, Ryan Oshima (‘12)

Photos by Allie Shorin

“At a wrestling tournament in Watsonville, I walked onto my first match with my singlet backwards. I didn’t even realize it until the match started, so I just rushed the whole match trying to pin the guy [down] as fast as I could so [that] the coaches wouldn’t see. But I guess they did, because they were laughing when I got back to the bleachers. Everyone on the team had a good laugh.”

Lindsay Black ( ‘12)

22

Wade Hauser ( ‘10) with Will Glazier ( ‘11)

Scotty McComas ( ‘12)

Kevin Anderson (‘11)

Varsity water polo, Katie Maser (‘11)

Fish Out of Water

“Last year, we had a morning practice and we were scrimmaging. I was super tired and it hadn’t been a very good practice. I got open, and I got super excited. I get the ball, and I’m going towards the cage. I pick up and shoot and score! But it turns out I scored for the wrong team. My coach just ended practice after that and it was really embarrassing.”

5

Ice Breaker Paly Athletic Trainer,

4

Josh Goldstein

“Last hockey season, [my team and I] were playing in the championship game, and I was standing by the goal. I played forward.

The puck gets passed to me, and as I am standing backwards to shoot it, I fall and totally whiff in front of everybody. There was nobody around me, I just slipped and fell. No effort, nobody around me. It was pretty embarrassing in front of a big crowd in the championship game.”

Shannon Scheel ( ‘12)

Varsity football, Kevin Anderson ( ‘11)

Celebration Catastrophe

“Last year, I had an interception, and as a lineman those are fairly rare. I never really imagined getting one let alone what I would do to celebrate. So in the heat of the moment, right after I scored, I ended up clapping my hands over my head while skipping back to the bench. I did not think it was that weird until I saw the video of it and realized how goofy I looked. To this day, I still cringe when I see the clip. And now all of my teammates imitate it and make fun of me for it.”

7

Braid Backfire

6

Junior varsity volleyball, Maddy Dahm (‘12)

“It was our first match, we were warming up, everyone was super pumped up and I had just gotten a braid in my hair, because everyone had [one]. I just did a really good hit and I was super pumped, really excited. I went under the net to shag my ball and as I went up to the net, my braid got caught in the net and I got completely clothes-lined. I fell flat on my back in front of this entire crowd of people.”

Varsity football, Christoph Bono (‘11)

Locked Out

“Last Friday, before the San Benito game, I locked my keys in my trunk where I had all my football gear. We broke into the sunroof and shoved a hockey stick in the car to press the unlock button. The alarm went off and there is an override safety lock so we couldn’t open the trunk. We tried to reach into the trunk through the back seat to get the keys but it was too far. We struggled for 30 minutes until we got the spare key from my mom. In the end, all we had to was press the unlock button and the trunk at the same time.”

9

Dunk Disaster

8

Varsity basketball, Davante Adams (‘11)

“We were playing against Wilcox my JV year in basketball. I got a dunk, and everyone was going crazy. I was running backwards. The floor just got redone and it was really sticky and I was wearing new shoes. I just went, ‘Eek!’. I fell and tumbled backwards. I actually probably turned red.”

Varsity girls’ soccer coach, Ernesto Cruz

10

Foul Play

“Back in El Salvador, we used to play our neighbor team and we were really poor. Our coach was a very good coach but he didn’t have a wife so we used to play with the uniforms. He used to put the uniforms in a bag all sweaty together. So, the next game he took it out, still dirty and smelly. That day I was the captain, we went to play with the rich town. The other captain, when he went to shake my hand [after the game], turned around and he almost threw up [from the smell].”

October 2010

23

Profile

Born To Play

HALEY CONNER WAS...

BORN TO

PLAY

BY CHARLIE KELSEY

Photo by Emy Kelty

24

INNATE Haley Conner (‘11) winds up for a shot against Monta Vista

Y

ou never have to look too far to figure out what sport people play. Whether it is the clothes they wear, the rituals they partake in, or the scars and tans they hold as a result of their physical poison of choice, all athletes carry with them an intangible badge of pride. University of California Los Angeles basketball coach John Wooden once said that “Sports do not build character, they reveal it.” When Haley Conner (‘11), the starting driver of the Palo Alto High School water polo team, first leapt into a pool just under four years ago, she could not have known that the world of water polo would reveal her athletic excellence, determination, and abilities to both lead and succeed. From these humble beginnings, her aquatic home would unlock her talent and take her to the top level of high school athletics.

Even without the crazy game-day outfits, and the trademark water polo walk that never seems compatible with dry land, the aura that radiates from Conner hits you like a blast of chlorinated water or one of her own powerful shots. It is a testament to the fact that, with a person so innately adapted to her sport, Paly’s rivals better watch out this coming fall.

As a co-captain of the varsity team along with Anna Glaves (‘11), Conner leads the cannonball of spirit and determination that defines Paly girls water polo. Together, Glaves and Conner captain a team of eight seniors and a wealth of junior talent that looks set to

take a serious shot at the Central Coast Section (CCS) title.

“The team has worked very hard over the last year: playing winter polo, swim team, double practices over the summer and playing summer club polo,” varsity coach Cory Olcott said.

“They certainly have put in the work it takes to go far.”

This season, Conner looks set to lead the team both in spirit and attacking power. But this status has an impressive, and remarkably short-term history behind it.

An unusual phenomenon in a school where many athletes hit their respective fields at early ages, Conner’s jump from land mammal to amphibious water polo star took less than two years.

In the winter of her eighth grade, due to external pressure from her water polo playing brother, Will Conner (‘14), she hopped in the pool for the first time as a driver for Stanford Water Polo Club, who she plays for to this day.

“Haley started playing water polo because she couldn’t let me be better at a sport,” Will said. “We’ve been competing since that day.”

Previous to this transition, Haley played a number of other sports including basketball and soccer, all of which she says helped her with water polo due to the athletic discipline and skills she learned.

But her union with water polo was not love at first sight - or rather, whatever love she held was not returned.

“It was scary at first,” Conner said.

“I was smaller than the other players, slower than the other players, and I didn’t know anybody.”

During freshmen year, the junior varsity underling of a senior dominated powerhouse varsity team, she struggled to make a name for herself, and spent most of the season on the junior varsity bench.

At one point, she was even told that due to her small size and lack of speed in the pool, she would never achieve varsity status.

“This [size disadvantage] made me determined and I worked really hard over the summer,” Conner explained. “I think that summer of work shaped the water polo player I am today. I’m definitely driven by peoples’ doubts.”

Through summer training on the Stanford team, she achieved her goal. Conner was one of three sophomores pulled up to a team that had lost its dominant seniors, and helped in a difficult process of rebuilding their name.

“All three sophomores [Conner, Rachel Harrus (‘11) and Sabrina Lee (‘11)] demonstrated a good understanding of the game when they got pulled up,” Olcott said. “They were also not afraid to shoot, even as underclassmen.”

Over the next two years, Conner emerged as a leader for a young team that finally, beginning this year, has reestablished itself as a team of veteran and highly trained players.

Haley Conner is a powerful weapon for the team, but as a captain, she is far October 2010

25

Profile

Born To Play

more than just a person to pass to.

“She’s a great captain,” teammate Sam Banks (‘11) said. “She really helps motivate people in and out of the water.”

The respect she has earned from her fellow players proved itself when they elected her and Glaves as captains last water polo season.

“Haley’s greatest asset is probably her attitude,” Olcott remarked. “Even as a sophomore she approached the sport in such a positive and mature manner.”

He also commends her ability to stay calm in the face of adversity, a key characteristic in any leader and in any sport.

“In tough games, Haley maintains her poise and keeps the team’s spirits up.” Olcott said. Through the leadership of her and Glaves, the girls’ water polo team has become a symbol of team unity and spirit.

Playing under her Paly coach, Haley stepped up to the Stanford 18A’s team, joining some of the best players in the country.

“By the end of the summer she was really asserting herself in games, dictating the play rather than merely acting as a role player.”

Her presence in the pool was even noticed by Stanford-bound national team player Kaitlyn Lo, who told Olcott how lucky he was to have a player like Haley on his team, one that never backs down and strives to make her teammates better.

But the water polo life Conner leads goes beyond the Paly and Stanford campus. It invades her social life, her style and her family. With two water polo players, four teams and a never-ending stream of team events and games, it is

“We’re all friends in and out of the pool,” Conner said. “This gives us great team chemistry.”

The numerous dress up days, team activities, and exclusive “wopo” activities all reflect the nature of their team.

“They genuinely love being together,” Olcott said. “In 10 years we may not remember the score of the Gatos game, but we will never forget Paige Devine (‘11) doing the waka-waka dance.”

Conner’s natural leadership and her incredible dedication to the sport throughout her high school career have taken her to the height of her game and this past summer brought her into the big leagues.

“Haley’s attitude has really enabled her to maximize her potential,” Olcott, who also coaches her Stanford club team, said. “These last two years her game has continued to develop, and she now plays at the highest level.”

26

– Varsity coach Cory Olcott

not surprising the Conner’s are used to the scent of chlorine and the feel of soaked bleachers. In general, the Conner family household thrives on water polo.

“We never compete over water polo because everyone knows I’m better,” Will, who now plays for the boys varsity team, said. “Just kidding, yeah there is competition. But Haley is definitely somebody I look up to.”

The Conner elders may have some cross-country water polo viewing to do when Conner continues on to college next fall.

“I definitely want to keep playing in college,” Conner says. “[Water polo] is my life.”

Eight of the nine schools that Conner is visiting and plans to apply to have water polo teams, and despite a lack of recruiting activity for college water polo, we can expect to see her in the pool next

Photo by Matt Ersted

ph Du oto by Bra don an

kovic

“Haley’s greatest asset is probably her attitude. Even as a sophomore she approached the sport in such a positive and mature manner.”

VISION Haley Conner (‘11) looks for a pass against Campolindo High School in the Lady Vikes opening game at Stanford, where she scored four goals on Sept. 3. year.

Haley Conner has played basketball and soccer. She swims and studies, and hangs out with her friends. But when you look at her, you don’t see any of these things. You see a ball hitting the back of the cage. You see a four year, waterlogged success story that embodies athletic determination and spirit. You see a 16 year old girl dressed as a cat burglar on a regular school day.

Haley Conner is a water polo player, and that’s one thing you can figure out pretty quickly. <<<

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27

Profiles

Working as a Unit

20

30

Working as a

UniT X

BY KEVIN KANNAPPAN HEADSHOT PHOTOS BY ALEX KERSHNER BACKGROUND PHOTO BY BRANDON DUKOVIC

50 Left Tackle - Kevin Anderson (‘11)

Left Guard - Tory Prati (‘12)

Team captain and returning starter Kevin Anderson (‘11) heads the Paly offensive line at left tackle and is set to play Division I football at Stanford University next fall. Anderson’s role is to block the defensive ends and linebackers on run plays and protect the quarterback’s blind-side on pass plays.

“If anyone comes around the line I have to get him and stop him because the quarterback can’t see him,” Anderson said.

Anderson had to abandon his high school baseball and basketball careers.

“I lifted in the off-season and trained to get ready for it,” Anderson said. “I decided I’d rather be better at one sport than be mediocre at three.”

Returning starter Tory Prati (‘12) is a powerful force at left guard. Prati’s role is to block the defensive tackles and to pull to the correct holes. When a lineman pulls, he abandons his current place on the line and sprints down the line of scrimmage to block another defender.

He feels that to maintain his level of play, he needs to run and lift weights in the off-season. Prati is unfazed by the lack of attention focused on linemen.

“I think game by game we don’t get much credit, but when the season goes on, the quarterbacks start putting up big numbers and the running backs start putting up big numbers they come to appreciate it,” Prati said. “I think we do a lot more than people think.”

30

hey are the biggest, strongest, and toughest players on the field, yet they get the least attention. When watching a football game, fans hardly ever look at the offensive line. Instead, their minds are focused on the running backs, receivers and quarterbacks, who get most of the accolades, while everyone on defense shares the responsibility of making a tackle and stopping the opposition.

According to The New Thinking Man’s Guide to Pro Football by Paul Zimmerman, offensive tackles and centers rank the highest in the National Football League’s intelligence test with respective scores of 26 and 25 out of 50. The NFL uses the Wonderlic Test on prospects coming into the league in hopes that it will give the coach’s an idea about the player’s cognicogni tive abilities. Typically, it is the linemen who are the smartest, most adaptable and solution oriented when it comes to game time. Five upperclassmen anchor the Palo Alto High School offensive line in its 3-0 season.

20 10 G

28

X

40

T

40

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X

X

X

X

Right Guard - Dustin Nizamian (‘11)

Right Tackle - Nate Velasquez (‘11)

The offensive line is centered by Jackson Moses (‘11). Moses leads the line and makes sure that each player is doing his job. Centers start the plays on the field by snapping the ball to the quarterback. Moses perfected his play throughout his years at Paly, beginning in his first year playing as a freshman.

“I started playing freshman year, and I stuck with it and worked hard and worked out a lot,” Moses said.

Despite an injury early in the season, Moses is back on the field and looks forward to a strong season.

Right guard Dustin Nizamian (‘11) fends off the defensive line with quickness and agility to block defensive tackles. He, like Prati, shoots over to other holes to block oncoming defenders.

“Guards are the speed demons on the line,” Nizamian said.

Additionally, Nizamian feels that the line’s performance can only be seen as a whole, rather than by individual performances.

“It is hard to talk about any individual’s role on the line, because we work as a unit,” Nizamian said. “If we want to have any success on the line, we will need to play as a unit.”

The position of right tackle is dominated by Nate Velasquez (‘11). His role is to make a pocket on pass plays, and to block the edge rushers. On a running play, he shoots out and blocks the closest guy to him. Being apart of the line means that he needs to be dedicated and work hard.

“We got to go 110 percent every time, you never know what happens behind you,” Velasquez said. “We need to do our assignments and our part to get it right.”

Velasquez recognizes that offensive linemen do not receive as much credit as they deserve.

“I don’t think it’s right, we don’t get yards or touchdowns, but we make the plays possible and we make it possible to get the yards,” Velasquez said.

G

10

20

Center - Jackson Moses (‘11)

October 2010

29

Profiles

T.J. Braff Photo by Allie Shorin

The Journey T.J. Braff knows it is not about where he is now, but what got him there

BY SHANNON SCHEEL

NO “I” IN TEAM T.J. Braff (‘11) relies on his teammates for support and to keep him in check for practices and games in all his three sports. both a leader and motivator distinguish athlete is a rare and honorable acBraff enters the library at 9:45 him from other varsity athletes. For complishment at the high school level. on Monday morning, towering over the these reasons, he belongs in a category Making one roster is difficult enough, dozens of younger students chatting at entirely his own. nearby bookshelves and computers. In- especially at Palo Alto High School, “[Sports] are something that I’ve stead of demanding attention, he strolls where 44 percent of the student body always loved to do,” Braff said. “I would participates in athletics. Braff (‘11) has leisurely to a chair at a nearby cubicle. always try to have fun when I was been on the varsity baseball, basketball A few minutes later, the librarian comyounger.

Even in close, nervous situaand football teams since his sophomore pliments Braff on his performance in tions I’ve got to remember to have fun year. During his junior year, he took a last Friday’s football game, joking that and that it’s just a game.” the other team’s coach would want him year off from basketball in order to foAthletics have always been a central cus on school and college recruiting in as a player. He laughs before thanking component of Braff’s life: his father, his other two sports. Now, Braff is part her with a smile. He has no reason to Jon Braff, played tight end on the Saint of all three starting lineups. To most, draw attention to himself: Braff’s athMary’s College football team, and has his athleticism is the most obvious letic talents speak for themselves. always encouraged his son to experireason for his varsity status. However, Becoming a three-sport varsity ment with different sports.

Thanks to Braff’s work ethic, maturity and role as

T.J.

30

now, there is still that team chemistry involved,” Braff said. “I think an individual sport would be fun, but if you mess up, it’s on you. With baseball there’s still that individuality with you against the pitcher, but there’s still the team aspect involved. [Being a part of a team] is the big thing [for me].”

During football season, he is an active member of both offense and defense, playing strong safety, tight end, receiver and back-up quarterback. He plays forward for the basketball team during the

son sports in order to maintain his technique. This enables him to make smooth transitions from one sport to the next.

“Right now it’s football season and that’s usually what I spend most of my time practicing,” Braff said. “[I’ve learned that] it’s hard just to jump right into something [else]. Right now I’ll still hit [in the batting cage] and shoot around with the basketball. It’s really hard to stop one sport and jump to the next and still be in shape and ready to

career as an athlete],” T.J. said. “He definitely knows what he’s talking about. Just having someone there to talk to about different sports really helps out a lot.”

Jon has always encouraged his son to display his talents by pushing himself to the limit on the field, while keeping a modest demeanor.

“Working hard is something we talked about when he was young,” Jon said. “If you have a good game or you receive a certain award, never let that go to your head. Continue to work hard and be humble.”

Braff has relied on this advice since he first began playing sports and it has become instilled in his mentality as an athlete. “[My dad told me] to always work hard and give 100 percent and never take plays off,” Braff said. “That’s something I’ve always tried to do: play every game hard and practice hard and pretend there’s always someone watching me.”

As he grew up, Braff developed a passion for football, basketball and baseball because he could depend on his teammates.

“With all of [the sports] that I play

winter and switches between playing first and third base and pitching for the baseball team in the spring.

Currently, Braff’s focus is football.

He has proven to be a weapon early on in the season with five receptions for 64 total yards and two touchdowns on offense, and two interceptions and 33 tackles on defense as of Sept. 24th.

Braff is confident in the capability of his football team as well as in his other teams.

“In all three of the sports, [the team] wants to win league and try to go as far as we can in the playoffs,” Braff said. “I know last year we won league, but [Paly football] lost our first game to Bellarmine [College Prep], and we definitely want to go farther this year.”

Braff knows that to achieve these goals he must work hard throughout each season, while fitting in training sessions during the offseason.

“I have first and second prep, so I always go in [the weight room] for football on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” Braff said. “I try to get in as much as I can.”

Not only is this extra training time for the sport in season, but Braff also keeps up his skills in his offsea-

go.”

Although these additional hours sometimes leave Braff’s muscles sore, he motivates himself by remaining focused on the purpose of his work.

“Sometimes I catch myself feeling a

“He works out with his dad before school [and] he works out after school. He works really hard and deserves everything he works for.”

- Charlie Jones (‘11)

Photo by Alana Schwartz

ts.

Jon’s college career, T.J. and his younger brother were introduced to football much earlier than most kids. His parents exposed him to tee ball soccer and basketball at four years old.

Even though he is no longer coached by his dad in Pop Warner football or Little League baseball, T.J. still recognizes his dad’s prominent influence on his sports career today. After each long day of school and sports, Jon and T.J. discuss the day’s practice.

“He has had a huge impact [on my

Photo by Alex Kershner STRETCH IT OUT T.J.Braff (‘11) laughs with his teammates during a practice.

October 2010

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T.J. Braff

Photo by Allie Shorin

Profiles

100% EFFORT Braff slides into first base during the 2010 CCS championship game vs.

Burlingame in May. The Vikings would fall 7-4, ending their 24-game winning streak.

viewing the extra work as a burden, he embraces it with the knowledge that it will only benefit him later on.

According to Jon, the thing that stands out most about his son is that he enjoys working hard.

“I always tell him: it’s nice when you can find something that you really like,

Photos by Alex Kershner

little lazy or trying to get out of [working],” Braff said. “You have to think of the big picture. I know the only way to accomplish those goals is by hard work.

“Those goals] are always in the back of my head when I’m doing something.”

It is this mentality that distinguishes Braff from other athletes: instead of

so you like to work hard at it,” Jon said.

“He knows it’s just kind of in him to do extra work...and he knows generally it’s going to pay off.”

Braff’s work ethic has also had a significant impact on both his teammates and coaches.

“He runs sometimes after practice with a couple of other guys and he’s always jumping in line [to be] one of the first ones [during drills], and helping people with other things,” starting quarterback, baseball teammate and friend Christoph Bono (‘11) said. “He’ll even get water for someone if they need it. He’s always working hard and just trying to lead by example.”

Longtime friend and basketball and football teammate Charlie Jones (‘11) has known Braff since first grade and understands that his extra hours of practice are necessary in order to achieve his goals.

“He works out with his dad before school [and] he works out after school,” Jones said. “He works really hard and deserves everything he works for.”

Paly head football coach Earl Hansen has known Braff since he joined the varsity squad his sophomore year.

“He tries to improve every day; he asks the correct questions,” Hansen said. “He has no complaints: he just plays. He’s outstanding both as a character and athlete.”

PRACTICE HARD, PLAY HARD As captain, T.J. Braff (‘11) leads his teammates by hard work and a positive attitude at practice.

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Photo by Allie Shorin POWER T.J. Braff (‘11) makes contact in the 2010 CCS championship vs. Burlingame.

is beginning to look toward the future.

After tackling four years of homework and high school sports, his passion for sports is far from exhausted. He hopes to maintain athletics as an integral part of his life.

“I’d definitely like to go as far as I can in a sport, and right now it’s between baseball and football,” Braff said.

“I haven’t made up my mind which one yet.”

Though he has not yet received an offer, the future is promising for Braff. He has been in contact with the baseball coaches of Santa Clara University and San Jose State University while also receiv emails and letters from other smaller schools.

But for now, Braff remains a Viking. Alongside his teammates decked out in Paly green, Braff adjusts his helmet before joining the huddle. In the back of his mind are his goals for the game, the season, and the lessons Jon, his coaches and friends have taught him. He jogs onto the field, knowing that the combination of these lessons and his hard work will always remain a part of his athletic life. <<<

Photo by Alana Schwartz

Braff’s self-motivation has revealed his athletic growth over the course of 14 years.

“It’s neat to see,” Jon said “He was always a decent athlete, but nothing ever really came easy for him. Growing up he always had to work hard. Now I’ve noticed the past two years in high school he’s continued to work hard.

He’s started lifting weights, running and eating right, and I think that’s made a big difference for him.”

Hansen has observed both a physical and mental growth in Braff from when he first started playing football.

“He’s bigger and stronger, he knows exactly the level he has to play at now,” Hansen said. “Defensively, he’s much more aggressive and confident in what he can do.”

Both Jon and Jones believe T.J.’s familiarity with his sports has enabled him to loosen up and fully enjoy playing in games. This has also enabled Braff to distinguished himself as a commanding presence on the field “Just recently in our last game...he

was motivating people,” Jones said. “It’s cool because it’s senior year and he’s becoming a leader and that will help him when he goes on to college and wherever he takes himself.”

As is the case with any high school athlete, Braff still must focus on being a student. However, because he spends hours keeping up with his offseason sports during another sport’s primary season, Braff must overcome the challenge of incorporating both schoolwork and extra training into his busy schedule. Although the balancing act of managing the different aspects of his life seemed difficult early on, Braff has learned through experience, and developed a system that keeps him focused.

As T.J. has progressed through high school, Jon has noticed his son’s awareness of the importance of his schoolwork and social life greatly increase.

“Towards the end of his junior year, he realized the importance of academics and started to work as hard academically as he was athletically,” Jon said. “It’s challenging for him, but he does a good job of mixing in some social [time] too. I give him credit.”

As Braff takes on his senior year, he

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS T.J. Braff (‘11) takes a breather between plays during the Viking’s 21-9 win over Burlingame. Braff finished with two interceptions on the night.

October 2010

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Profiles

The Legendary Hod Ray

Source: Campanile archives 1951

Legendary

HOD RAY

The man who started the Paly football team and coached Paly athletics for 30 years

T

First 6 photos Source: Campanile archives 1951

he Palo Alto High School football team runs onto Hod Ray field in their sharp green and white jerseys. Almost 90 years ago a similar scene would have taken place, though with a few differences. The team would have would have sported leather helmets without masks, the gear was always mismatched and there were only 18 boys wearing Paly jerseys. Despite the cosmetic differences, the community spirit rose high. At every game, the crowds roared, with nearly the entire Palo Alto community supporting the team from the stands. On the Paly sidelines one could have make out a quiet and smiling Paly coach with a clipboard and whistle standing. The coach’s name was Hod Ray, and in the future, the field that he was standing on would be named after him.

When Ray joined the Paly Athletic

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BY EMY KELTY Department in 1921, the principal handed him 18 new football jerseys. Ray scrapped together other old football gear from Stanford and led the team to its first championship in the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL), the division set up prior to

Pede a senior rson as

HOD RAY Ray was a pillar in the community for the 30 years he coached at Paly.

‘50 an ‘51 Ray coached impressive backto-back perfect seasons.

Palo Alto Online, in a recent review, described Ray’s ‘51 team as “more than just formidable, [it was] downright glorious.”

“He was a real good coach, but more than that, he was a real good person,” -Pete Pederson (‘51)

the Central Coast Section, in its first year.

This first season set the tone for the next 30 years of the Hod Ray athletics era at Paly.

Under Ray, the Vikings brought home eight PAL championships, 17 second place finishes, and three third place finishes. In

Along with coaching the football team, Ray also coached the Paly basketball, track & field, swimming and baseball teams.

These teams also achieved impressive successes under Ray. Between 1921 and 1946, Ray’s basketball teams posted a league record of 108-45 with

ATHLETE Ray was an exceptional athlete in FIRST TEAM With the assistance of the players FATHER FIGURE Ray was like a fahigh school at Paly and in college at Oregon on this first team, Ray built the first Paly football ther to many outside his own famState College. In his older age he played golf. program and led it to a league championship. ily. Here he holds his own daughter.

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

12 league championships. From 1921 to 1926, Ray led the baseball team to six PAL championships. His track & field team saw comparable success, winning four PAL titles.

“He [coached] track and baseball [in the] same season, which is pretty difficult to do,” current athletic director Earl Hansen, whose father played for Ray, said. Hansen’s father characterized Ray as firm and respected.

“When he spoke, you listened,” Pete Pederson (‘51), who was quarterback for Ray, said.

Although Ray was known around the community for his news-making teams, his persona off the field is what made him the most memorable.

“He was a real good coach, but more than that, he was a real good person” Pederson said. Pederson recounts an example of this when he suffered a knee injury his junior year.

“He came to the hospital to see me,” Pederson said. This left a strong impression on young Pederson. Rays’ kindness extended beyond the athletic teams and into the Paly Community. He would even go as far as letting students live at his house. “[Ray] usually found a kid who was not getting enough to eat and brought him home for a few days,” Frances Ray, Ray’s wife, said in an 1951 interview with the newspaper Daily Palo Alto times. “Sometimes it turned out to be six weeks, sometimes three years.”

Throughout World War II, Ray received hundreds of letters from his former student-athletes who were serving

THE FIELD This sign stands at the entrance to the Howard C. “Hod” Ray field as one enters Paly through Churchill. The field was named after Hod at his death 1951. in the military. He believed in the youth of Palo Alto and dedicated his life to their well-being. Ray believed that he could improve kid’s lives through sports.

The Daily Palo Alto times described Hod as having a “selfless devotion to the welfare of Palo Alto youth.”

Ray was quite the athlete himself. Throughout his high school sports career, Ray played multiple sports. He was an all-around great athlete and was offered a part-time job, the equivalent of a scholarship, to play basketball at Oregon State College (OSC). At OSC, he was a starter for all four years and won all-conference his junior and senior years. Aside from being an incredible player, he also coached the team at the same time. After this first coaching job, Ray went straight into coaching at Paly.

In 1951, Ray’s coaching career

ended abruptly, when Ray died of a heart attack just three weeks after the Vikings completed their second perfect back-toback season. His death sent shock waves through the football team and the Palo Alto community.

“The football team, the school, the community, everyone took a step back and realized that we had lost a really fine person,” Pederson said.

At his funeral, the entire football team was introduced and a memorial plaque was placed in his honor at the newly named Hod Ray field. On the plaque there is an engraving of him with his trademark clipboard, whistle and smile. This is the plaque that Paly athletes, from sports ranging from football players to crosscountry runners, walk by every day. Let it serve as a reminder of Ray’s message— keep faith in the Palo Alto youth. <<<

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

CHAMPS AGAIN In his last year as Paly coach, Ray lead the team to its eigth league championship and a perfect season.

ASSISTANCE Ray discusses tactics with his assistants in one of the last pictures documented before his death.

HOD’S PLAQUE This plaque made, in honor of Hod Ray, stands at the entrance of the Paly football field by the snack shack.

October 2010

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Features

Pregame to Performance

Pregame to Performance Pregame routines affect an athlete’s state of mind before a game

Photo by Hannah Brody

BY MIRA AHMAD AND MATT LAM

JUST PRAY The Paly varsity football team kneels in prayer before their game against rival Gunn on October 9th, 2009 at Gunn.

T

he New Zealand All Blacks face their opponents, the English, in the 2004 Rugby World Cup. As seen on the youtube video “All Black’s Haka (Good Quality)”, the captain of the All Blacks, Richie McCaw, stands in the middle of two rows of men lined up shoulder to shoulder.

Suddenly, the stadium fills with the sound of McCaw’s yelling.

“Slap the hands against the thighs, puff out the chest, bend the knees, let the

36

hip follow, stomp the feet as hard as you can,” McCaw commands. All of the players move in rhythm and begin to chant “Ka Mate,” which is a form of the Haka, an ancient war dance used by Mauris before battle.

The All Blacks adopted the Haka in 1888, but it was not well known until they toured Britain in 1905. The All Blacks now perform the Haka before every game to mentally prepare themselves.

“Ka mate, ka mate, ka’ ora ka’ ora,” translates to “I die, I die, I live, I live.” The screaming increases as the All Blacks gain momentum. A universal “hé!” or “rise” ends the ritual calling out the other team to either accept or deny the challenge.

Various athletes from the high school to the professional level go through pregame routines and rituals before game time. These rituals can range from ancient dances, such as the Haka, to simply going

KA MATE The New Zealand All Blacks perform the Haka before each game.

http://tinyurl.com/26yz9sh

through the same set of actions before every game.

Some teams adopt a spiritual approach to prepare for each game through prayer.

Players on the Palo Alto High School varsity football team, after meeting at center field, circle-up, take a knee, hold hands, and listen as Davante Adams (‘11) leads a prayer. The team repeats Adam’s words back to him and then they take the field prepared to play.

Free Safety Gabriel Landa (‘12) believes that these prayers help provide the team a certain spiritual support.

“It unifies us and helps us to relax and focus on one thing,” Landa said.

Many athletes agree that their state of mind affects how they perform, and today, whether individually or as a team, players all over the world have different

“If I do my responsibilities, then everyone else on my team will fulfill their responsibilities and we will play as a team,” Cullen said.

Teammate and cornerback Bill Gray (‘11) thinks that Cullen’s ritual helps motivate other players on the team to focus before game time. Gray and the rest of the team know it is time to get serious and get ready when they see their captain’s concentration.

“Because he’s a key player and a captain, when other people see him getting ready, it lets them know that it’s time to focus and get ready to go,” Gray said.

Colin Palmquist (‘11) also knows something about motivating his teammates. Palmquist is the captain of his club rugby team,The Woodside Bea Bea-

Photo used with permission by Colin Palmquist (‘11)

ways of taking their mental game to the next level.

Paly football player Michael Cullen (‘11) goes through the same steps before each and every football game. He starts his ritual by making sure that all his gear is put on in the correct order.

“I put my socks on in the right order, left sock first, then right sock,” Cullen said.

“Then, if we have a good game, I will wear the same shirt the next game. If I don’t play well, I wear the other shirt. After I’m all geared up and ready, I basically just don’t talk to anyone until we are actually on the field.”

Cullen’s deep concentration allows him to recognize that it is game time and helps him get into the zone, which he needs to be to perform well. While for some people not speaking to their teammates would make them feel disconnected from what is going on, Cullen believes that it helps him do his job better.

SCRUM Colin Palmquist (‘11) and his team, the Woodside Beavers, play as one unit against Bellarmine College Prep on February 27th, 2010 at Woodside.

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

“If I do my responsibilities, then everyone else on my team will fulfill their responsibilities, and we will play as a team.”

- Michael Cullen(‘11)

vers, which has a special pregame ritual of its own.

“We huddle up and we chant “mabui, mabui” three times,” Palmquist said. “I’m the captain so I stand in the middle and lead the chant.”

Like the Haka, this chant is designed to help get the team pumped up while building energy before taking the field.

Palmquist gets his team energized and in gear for the game.

“I get into the zone first, but I keep the team on track and get them ready for the game,” Palmquist said. “Everyone gets ready to go and really pumped up. You get an adrenaline rush before the game, and get locked into the zone.”

According to Palmquist, the chant is not used to intimidate the other team, but rather to prepare the Beavers for what they have to do during the game.

It allows the Beavers to play as a cohe October 2010

37

Features sive unit and helps them build unity on and off the field.

For Emilee Osagiede (‘12), a member of the Paly girls’ varsity basketball team, getting mentally prepared for games requires some time to be alone to visualize what she is going to do during the game.

“I write down the team I’m about to play on a piece of paper and then I burn it,” Osagiede said.

The tradition started during Osagiede’s sophomore year before her first league game of the season. Now, she always goes through the ritual before stepping onto the court with the Lady Vikes.

“When I see the paper burning, I envision the game and how I’m gonna play during the game and I feel like there is nothing keeping me and my team from winning,” Osagiede said.

To this day, the junior point guard feels that she cannot take the court without going through the process. According to Osagiede, when she does not do her ritual, her game feels off, and she cannot perform to her full potential. Going through the same process before taking the court each game helps Osagiede get into a rhythm of play, and a confident state of

Pregame to Performance

“Being mentally ready, will bring being physically ready. You know what to do in your head, and you’ll field.” know what to do on the field - Gabe Landa (‘12) Photo by Mira Ahmad

mind.

Unlike Osagiede, some players feel that pregame rituals have no effect on their game or how they play. Varsity soccer and lacrosse player Kris Hoglund (‘12) does not have a pregame ritual, has never used one, and does not believe it affects how athletes play.

“Some people are superstitious to think that you need to do the same thing before every game to do well,” Hoglund said.

To Hoglund, no ritual or sequence of actions can determine the outcome of an athlete’s performance once he or she

steps on the field.

“It’s just how you play that day.” Hoglund said.

Pregame rituals can make all the difference to players. The mental focus that pregame rituals provide is something that many athletes try to tap into before a game. Although not all players use routine pregame rituals, many find that repetition prior to the game helps them achieve the consistent results they strive for.

“Being mentally ready, will bring being physically ready,” Landa said. “You know what to do in your head, and you’ll know what to do on the field.” <<<

Photo by Brandon Dukovic LET IT BURN Emily Osagiede (‘12) burns the name of her opponent’s team to raise confidence before each of her basketball games.

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Volleyb ll road to state

BY SAM BORSOS

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

A closer look at Paly’s jump from Division II to Division I T

he gym was packed with excited fans and parents, decked out in white and green, hoping to witness volleyball history. Even a crowded set of bleachers with Palo Alto High School fans going ballistic for every point the Lady Vikes earned did not change the game. Intimidated by Archbishop Mitty’s reputation and energy, Paly lost the match, crushing the title that they had aimed for all season.

This happened one year ago when the team marched into Independence High School in San Jose with high hopes to set a new tone for Paly by being the first Palo Alto volleyball team ever to win a Central Coast Section (CCS) championship.

This was far from an easy feat because Mitty not only had seven girls on the team already committed to Division I colleges for volleyball, but it also has historically dominated the CCS division for over 30 years.

Despite the fact that the Lady Vikes have never won a CCS title, it is widely believed that this year, the team has the greatest chances ever based on last year’s successful season. The difference this year is the team’s jump from Division II to Division I, giving Paly a window of opportunity for it’s first ever section title.

“Our team would love to hang four banners in the gym after this season for league, CCS, Northern California (Nor-

cal) and State,” Paly head coach Dave Winn said in an email.

“One of our themes is ‘carpe season,’ meaning we are going to do our best to take advantage of every moment to get better.”

With a school record-breaking season of 33 straight match wins last year, it seemed as though the team had mustered up enough confidence to take on Mitty, a task yet to be seen. The Lady Vikes have not placed first in their division since they began playing in the CCS division in 1989.

The Lady Vikes finished with a record of 36-5 overall in Division II last year, the same division that both Mitty and Saint Francis Mountain View were October 2010

43

Photo by Sam Borsos

Volleyball Road to State

“One of our themes is ‘carpe season’, meaning we are going to do our best to take advantage of every moment to better” – Paly head coach Dave Winn get better

in. All five divisions of CCS are based on school population. Due to Paly’s increased enrollment this year by about four percent, Paly has moved from Division II to Division I, which includes 23 other schools with roughly the same population size. Mitty and St. Francis will be in a different division than Paly this year, as they remain in Division II. “Moving up a division certainly means we’ll be playing far different opponents in the CCS playoffs and hopefully Norcals,” Winn said. “Division II is widely known to be the toughest division in CCS, so [moving to Division I] does present us with a unique opportunity this year, with so many players returning from last year’s successful season.”

Both Mitty and St. Francis have historically have dominated their divisions.

Starting in 1976, St. Francis claimed the Division I championship title for two consecutive years. Between 1990 and 2002, St. Francis took 11 of the 12 division championship games played in both Divisions I and II with the exception of 1993 when the team lost to Leland High School. In its history, St. Francis has won a total of different divisions.

Debbie Whitson, a Paly teacher and parent of Paly setter Kimmy Whitson (‘12) has watched the team compete for several years, and recalls match ups between Paly and St. Francis.

“I remember seeing the big girls on St. Francis, Presentation [High School] and Mitty,” Debbie said. “I was thinking they were so big and strong, and Paly had no chance at all Mitty is similar to St. Francis in that the team has claimed 17 division championship titles in its volleyball history.

Mitty first entered the CCS, and went undefeated its first eight straight seasons, starting in Division V, and switching to Division I in 1995. Mitty eventually

moved to its current spot in Division II. With the exception of losing to Presentation, Mitty won another nine division titles, including its victory in the finals against Paly last fall.

“At the Mitty game last year, it just seemed like David versus Goliath, but Goliath wins,” Debbie said. “David doesn’t really have a chance.”

Debbie is also a parent of Ally Whitson (‘09), a former outside hitter for Paly who currently plays volleyball at University of California, Davis. During Ally’s years on the team, Paly won the league championship three years straight and Ally, who at the time was the team captain, was named co-Most Valuable Player of the league. Not only is Debbie an economics teacher at Paly, but she has also been a fan and parent on the team for nearly five years now.

Debbie has seen both of her daughters

compete in CCS playoffs. The difference is that Ally never experienced the opportunity in Division I at Paly like her sister Kimmy has this year.

“It always seems like we [could] win our league, but then in CCS [last year] it was like you hit the wall,” Debbie said.

“Back [when Ally was on the team], we were still kind of the underdogs. It was all about, ‘is it possible?’”

While the Lady Vikes have a greater opportunity this year to earn a division title, there are still obstacles to overcome within the team and in the rest of the league.

“We know that anyone in our league or in the playoffs can knock us off if we’re not focused and cohesive together,” Winn said. “We don’t need Mitty or Saint Francis to remind us of that.”

Winn also recognizes the teams that could potentially give the Lady Vikes a

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

44

Features

SET, SPIKE, WIN Paly setter Kimmy Whitson (‘12) assists middle blocker Jackie Koenig (‘12) with a set, as Caroline Martin (‘12), Megan Coleman (‘11) and Maddie Kuppe (‘12) prepare to set up defense. Whitson contributed 23 assists during this match, along with three kills.

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

good match as the season progresses.

“We expect Salinas, Carlmont or Menlo Atherton [High Schools] to provide plenty of challenges towards the end of the season in Division I,” Winn said. “We also know there are some very tough teams in Norcal that will stand in our way of our ultimate goal of winning a state title.”

So far, the Lady Vikes are off to a 22-0 start. The team has a league record of 4-0 as of Sept. 30, 2010, after beating Los Altos, Monta Vista, Homstead and Mountain View High Schools. They also placed first in the both the High Sierra Volleyball Tournament in Nevada, and the Harbor Tournament in Santa Cruz.

While the physical aspects of volleyball are key, there are emotional and mental connections in what it takes to be the best.

“Obviously there’s [how far we go as a team] when it comes to team goals,” Paly captain and outside hitter Trina Ohms (‘11) said. “We want to win league, again, we want to win CCS and this year we have big hopes for trying to make it to state, but those are just trophy settings. We have a lot of experience and it’s going to be quite the adventure of finding a routine again and finding the rhythm that we had last year.”

Regardless of a perfect record so far, the Lady Vikes have a long way to go before reaching the CCS playoffs. The team is on the verge of taking hold of the greatest opportunity in Paly volleyball history.

“The team focus throughout playoffs

PLAY TO WIN Outside hitter Melanie Wade (‘12) defends the net against cross-town rival Gunn’s offense, one of her two blocks in the match. Wade had 11 kills and zero errors in the match which Paly won in three short games, 25-10, 25-10, and 25-12. and even through league is going to be keeping our mental game up, and keeping the communication up as a team,” Ohms said.

The division change may or may not lead to a first CCS title in the 21 years of Paly volleyball history, but it is certainly

2010 VOLLEYBALL CCS DIVISIONS

DIVISION 1

GRADE ENROLLMENT

# OF SCHOOLS

a new opportunity for the Lady Vikes whether or not they seize it.

“We have so much depth and experience within all the players this year,” Ohms said. “It’s just going to come down to mentally staying strong and mentally being prepared for whatever comes at us.” <<<

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Features

Mind Games

Mind Games The differences between team and individual sport mentalities

Photo by Alex Kershner

BY SKYLAR DOROSIN

ADRENALINE The varsity girls’ water polo team gets pumped up during half time of its season opener game against Campolindo on Sept. 3

sounds of whistles and balls T hesmacking the water envelop the

pool deck as the Palo Alto High School girls’ water polo team practices in the late summer sun. Driver Paige Devine (‘11) throws a quick, direct pass to a teammate, who fires the ball forcefully into the cage, sailing past the goalie’s outstretched arms. The goal would not have been made without Devine’s strong defensive efforts at the other side of the pool; the entire sequence was a cohesive effort.

Splash. Months later, Devine dives into the pool, her body in a tight stream-

46

line as the early spring sunlight reflects off the bottom of the pool. She pushes herself through the race. She reaches for the wall and pops up. A time - her time - shows up on the scoreboard.

Devine controlled the entire race, and comments that all mistakes are blamed on herself, all success attributed to the individual.

In individual sports, athletes have complete control over how they are going to do. They are their own “team.”

Wrestlers, swimmers and runners decide how they are going to perform. An individual athlete is the only one that

dictates how he or she is going to execute. In a team sport, athletes feed off the energy and intensity that they bring to the playing field or pool. Teammates rely on each other to bring the intensity to the game, because without it, they, as a team, cannot perform to their full potential.

“The team, all those people, is looking to you to do your part,” Devine said.

“And for swimming it is you. You control everything. No one can tell you that you didn’t do your best.”

TRAINING

wouldn’t be able to train hard at all,” Rosati said. “Even though it is an individual sport, the team is huge. At the end of the day, we are just pushing ourselves throughout the whole run to go fast.”

Rosati has been running cross-country since his freshman year. He has

“We have to rely on each other when we get in that pool. We can’t do it by ourselves.”

-Paige Devine (‘11)

at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center.

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

you do whatever they say,” Guo said. “In individual training, you are telling yourself how far you can go.”

Guo listens to her soccer teammates on the soccer field, and Landa listens to his on the football field. He spends the fall season on Paly turf, weighed down by pads, and the winter season wrestling in a singlet on the mats of the

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

The hot, early fall sun beats down on cross-country runners Corso Rosati (‘12) and Nicolai Solgaard’s (‘12) backs.

The varsity cross-country runners’ shoes hit the pavement in unison, each pushing his fatigue and pain aside to remain in stride. Rosati wants to slow down, but he refuses to go slower than Solgaard’s quick pace. Despite the fact that cross-country is branded as an individual sport, teammates play a large role in the training mentality of the athletes.

“If I didn’t have my teammates, I

also been swimming since elementary school, which he continues to do during spring. As a kid, he played team sports such as soccer, but he soon learned that he thrived in the competitive, individual environment that running and swimming foster. Teammates like Solgaard, however, are not far away. This constant competition in training, forces the boys to constantly push themselves through their pain.

Solgaard and Rosati run at similar paces and use each other to increase their speed. As some athletes use dumbbell for weight training to get stronger, cross-country runners use each each other to get stronger.

“Everytime we go out running we are competing against each other, [seeing] who is going to finish the hill first,” Solgaard said. “With constant competition we are getting a lot better.”

According to cross-country and track runner Lydia Guo (‘12), a lot of individual training does not directly affect her teammates. If a runner does not put 100 percent into his or her training, it only hurts that athlete. Team sports, on the other hand, are a different story, which Guo, a soccer player by winter, can also attest to.

Multiple-sport athletes like Guo, varsity wrestler and football free safety Gabe Landa (‘12) and Devine balance indi-

vidual and team sports. These athletes cite individual training as a personal choice, but intensive training for teams as the entire team’s choice. Each athlete listens to his or her teammates- each player has a part.

“In soccer, you listen to someone else,

CONCENTRATION Cross-country runner Nikolai Solgaard (‘12) pushes himself to the finish in the Stanford invitational on Sept. 25

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“[In team sports] whether you win or lose, it is dependent on everyone, whereas in cross-country or swimming, it is just going to be your race and nobody else’s.”

-Corso Rosati (‘12) entire life following the black lines up and down the pool in competitive swimming. When she moved to California as a sophomore in 2008, she decided to begin playing water polo. She went from swimming, a sport where she controlled every variable, to a sport where knowledge and skill of the game are required by both her and her teammates.

Water polo taught Devine to push her teammates to work harder, which forces them to reach their full potential. She uses this mentality, which she learned playing a team sport, to help her teammates in swimming.

“If [the water polo players] are all prac-

Photo by Alex Kershner

Paly gym. In football he trains the way that the coaches enforce through a series of drills that he and his teammates execute, each person working with his teammates of the same position, all working with a common goal. However, on the mat, he is on his own. Hard work remains constant, but means of motivation vary. In wrestling, ironically, he keeps himself focused by thinking about his important role to score points for the team, even though its only him on the mat.

Similar to Landa, Devine uses her teammates to motivate herself, but in a slightly different way. Devine spent her

Mind Games

INTENSITY Paige Devine (‘11) looks to pass the ball in the varsity girls’ water polo game against Campolindo. The Lady Vikes lost 11-6, fighting back after a rough first quarter.

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ticing and playing strong, then it makes me want to work hard,” Devine said. “In swimming, it’s different because there are a lot of different speeds. If I’m having a good day then I’m working hard, and if I’m having a bad day then I can work as little as I want and I don’t think anyone would say anything.”

COMPETITION

Fast forward to game day. Ditching her individual iPod, Devine uses when she swims, she spends the afternoon getting pumped up with her teammates, listening to music together and circling up as a team. The pool glistens in the afternoon sunlight, the red and yellow meter markers on the side of the pool contrast with the clear, blue water. Devine lines up for the sprint. She says she feels nervous, more nervous than she would feel before an individual swim race because her mind is preoccupied with thinking about the other six girls on her time lined up with her.

Devine finds water polo much more stressful because a team relies on everyone, each person is valuable in the pool.

It’s a really big thing that we tell each other that we can do it because we have to rely on each other when we get in that pool, we can’t do it by ourselves,” Devine said.

Move away from the pool to the crosscountry course. Guo stretches herself, contrasting with her collective team warm up she runs through before soc-

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

SPRINT Wide reciever Gabe Landa (‘12) hustles to catch a Burlingame player in a 21-9 win at Burlingame on Sept. 10 in Paly’s season opener.

“If you are having a really good day and you are in a team sport and you pass the ball to somebody and they make a mistake, then you have no control over that,” Rosati said. “At the same time, if you are having a bad day, you could let

other people down. Whether you win or lose, it is dependant on everyone.

Whereas in cross-country or swimming, it is just going to be your race and nobody else’s.” <<<

Photo by Allie Shorin

cer games. In cross-country races, she to pushes herself harder mentally because she does not have her teammates with her to constantly push and assist her, as she does on the soccer field.

Standing under the bright lights on the Paly turf in preparation for a football game, Landa, similar to Guo and Devine, builds off the team’s energy getting ready for a game. Fast forward to December, and Landa readies himself for a wrestling match. Landa relies on himself to pump himself up and prepare to compete.

“In wrestling it’s a lot harder to get pumped because it is just you, and in football, you are with the team,” Landa said. “If your teammate makes a good tackle, that makes you want to do better.”

Like in training, a team needs everyone to try their hardest in order to succeed.

One person cannot win the game for a team, everyone adds something on the playing field.

BREATHE Paige Devine (‘11) takes a breath during the 100 yard butterfly during SCVAL leagues.

The Lady Vikes took first place in the meet, beating Gunn who trailed close behind.

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Features

Sibling Rivalries

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

Sibling Rivalries

BY ALANA SCHWARTZ

TWIN TELEPATHY Sisters Savannah (left) and Haley Owens (‘13) (right) feel the sibling connection when together on the court.

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he 2009 women’s Wimbeldon grand slam finals were set to start just like every other year. The stands were filled, tickets sold out. Fans waited anxiously for the match to start. But that year something was different − the finalists were sisters, Serena and Venus Williams.

The match ended in two sets with Serena beating Venus 7-6, 6-2.

Since their childhood, the two have competed head to head countless times. In singles matches they are fierce competitors, but as doubles players they have the opportunity to work together and combine their strengths.

Palo Alto High School has many pairs of siblings who have felt the same competition before but, like the Williams

volleyball team last year as freshmen.

They both play outside hitter, so they are constantly competing with each other for a starting position.

“Over the season, we’re really supportive of each other, and it’s really nice because we can give each other tips on what we’re doing wrong and we won’t take it offensively,” Haley said. “But this year, since we’re on different teams, it’s strange being without her.”

Close friends off the court, the Owens enjoy the comfort of having each other on the court. This year, Savannah is on the Paly varsity volleyball team, while Haley is on the junior varsity team.

“I hate not having Haley on the court with me,” Savannah said. “It sucks

(‘12) Moses play together on the Paly varsity football team. Their dynamic as teammates is different because they play the same offensive and defensive positions, but they each have a starting spot on the field “I guess it’s fun because we get to go at it every once in a while, see who’s better,” Sam said. “But we each have a starting spot, so it doesn’t really affect our relationship that much.”

In Sam’s eyes, they are not very competitive with each other, but in Jackson’s eyes, they are competitive in every aspect of their dayto-day lives.

“Everything we do is a

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because she isn’t in on some of the jokes or things that happened at practice. I really wish she was on the team with me.”

Brothers Jackson (‘11) and Sam

o

by A

competition between one another,” Jackson said.

In some cases, a coach treats siblings similarly, but just because they share a last name does not mean they are the

llie Shorin

sisters, they too can put their strengths together and work as a team.

An example of this dynamic are twins Savannah and Haley Owens (‘13).

The duo played for Paly’s junior varsity

Phot

“We get pretty heated during Madden [an Xbox game] and one-on-one games in the front yard, but with baseball, it’s more about working out together, throwing and hitting or lifting to help each other get better.” − Jack Witte (‘12)

same person.

“Jackson and Sam are different people,” Paly head football coach Earl Hansen said. “They don’t act alike, they don’t look alike, we don’t treat them the same. They both play very well and they both work very hard. I haven’t seen them arguing on the field.”

Scott Witte (‘10), varsity baseball pitcher and Santa Clara Valley Athletic League MVP, left big shoes to fill for his younger brother, Jack Witte (‘12), who will be on the varsity baseball team this spring.

Being the older brother carries an extra weight that most of Scott’s teammates did not carry throughout the season. He knew his actions would always affect Jack, and because they are only two years apart in age, Jack would have many of the same teammates Scott had.

“I feel like I have to set a good example and be a better role model because I have to be an older brother, so I don’t want him doing any dumb stuff or saying anything that I wouldn’t want my younger brother to say,” Scott said.

Having an older brother who was so successful as a high school baseball

player can make siblings feel like they will never live up to the 2) Jac k Wite (‘1 expectations of their coaches. Jack, however, knows he is a different player than his brother Sc ot and does not feel any Wit te (‘10) extra responsibilities.

“He was Pitcher of the League and I’m not a pitcher, so I don’t have to live up to any expectations other than being the best I can be,” Jack said.

Though they never played baseball together in high school, the Wittes work as a team when it comes to offseason training or strategic input of the game.

They would rather see each other succeed in baseball than be competitive and try to beat each other out.

Photos by Allie Shorin “We get pretty heated during Madden [an Xbox game] and one-on-one games in the front yard,” Jack said. close with each other, they can use their “But with baseball, it’s more about competitive nature to their advantage. working out together, throwing and Players who grew up competing against hitting or lifting to help each other get one another now have the opportunity to better.” push each other to combine and create a Having siblings on the same team can force built twice as strong. <<< be a challenging situation, but if they are

Photo by Alex Kershner HEAD-TO-HEAD Brothers Jackson (‘11) (left) and Sam Moses (‘12) (right) face off as teammates on the varsity football team.

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Photo by Allie Shorin

Silent IMPACT

BY JOHN DICKERSON, NATHAN NORIMOTO AND MARIAH PHILIPS PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY COOPER LEVITAN DESIGN BY COOPER LEVITAN AND WILL GLAZIER

Imagine your body being slammed into artifi-

cial turf by a 200 pound linebacker wearing a helmet with padding as hard as wood. Imagine your head smacking the ground, then whipping back into place, all in under a second. Ask Palo Alto High School offensive tackle Michael Lyzwa (‘12) how it feels. Actually, ask the players on the sidelines, because Lyzwa will not remember; he suffered a concussion.

“I just remember being in one play and then things just started going bad,” Lyzwa said. “I couldn’t open my eyes, I felt really light headed.”

In between the lines of the patchy story Lyzwa tells lies the scary reality that his teammates witnessed during that late August practice at Paly. Lyzwa was unable to speak fluidly, open his eyes or recognize his teammates after his concussion. He could not stand on his own, and had to be propped up. No matter how many times Lyzwa hears the story, he will not remember this occurrence, which became a red flag to all who witnessed it.

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FALLEN The varsity boys’ soccer team gathers around injured teammate John Richardson (‘11) after he takes a hit in the Vikings 1-0 victory against the Gunn Titans on Jan. 12, 2010. Kris Hoglund (‘12) scored the lone goal.

Photo used with permission of Riley Smith

Think a friend or teammate has suffered a concussion?

Here are some signs: * Appears dazed, confused, confused * Unsure of score, game, opponent * Clumsy movements * Answers questions slowly * Can’t recall events prior to event * Loss of consciousness

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he word concussion derives from the Latin word “concutere,” which literally means “to shake violently.” A force to the head can cause the brain to move around inside the skull. This shaking can cause bruises, nerve injuries and blood vessel damage, resulting in memory loss, and in the most severe cases, death.

“The symptoms [I got after my concussion] lasted for a few days,” Lyzwa said. “I was feeling really [bad], sensitive to light and sound, [my] reaction time was really slow. I had on and off headaches.”

Lyzwa is not the only person around Paly who has suffered from these post-concussion symptoms. Despite the fact that the football team has played just four games this year, both Lyzwa and lineman Kevin Kannappan (‘12), whose concussion occurred 15 days af-

concussion. After a second case of head trauma, he was diagnosed with Second Impact Syndrome (SIS) and later died.

Another example of SIS occurring in high school sports took place much closer to home.

Matt Blea, a football player at San Jose Academy High, suffered from a concussion in a game against Lincoln High School on Thanksgiving Day in 2009. After passing out on the sideline, Blea went to the hospital where he had three different brain surgeries and was diagnosed with a fractured skull and Second Impact Syndrome. Doctors kept Blea in a medically induced coma for a week while he was considered to be in critical condition. Then, after seven days had elapsed, Blea awoke to the relief of the entire community, with memory of the game up until that play.

SIS occurs when two head injuries, even if

ter Lyzwa’s, have fallen victim to concussions this season.

Concussions can cause cognitive problems, which can lead to difficulties playing or thinking. Symptoms last from a few hours to several months.

Concussions can occur in any sport, at any time. They can compromise athletes’ ability to think, but if addressed with proper medical attention, a player may return to the field to finish out the season. In attempt to curb the amount of concussions that occur at the high school level, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) created a new rule to raise awareness about this growing issue in high school sports.

they are relatively minor, occur in a short period of time, and the auto-regulation of blood supply in the brain is immediately cut off. A brain herniation takes from two to five minutes to form. The outcome can result in lifelong physical and mental problems. According to a report by ESPN’s Outside the Lines, 50 percent of cases in football resulted in death.

Although Blea’s story ends with recovery, the incident instilled a sense of urgency in the high school football community, and serves as a reminder that adolescents playing contact sports, according to ESPN, are the most susceptible to SIS. However, football is not the only affected sport. Riley Smith (‘11), a former Paly student and avid soccer player, was forced to hang up his cleats prematurely due to multiple concussions (see sidebar).

Boys like Lyzwa suffer head trauma from

RILEY SMITH (‘11), a former Paly student and avid soccer player, was forced to hang up his cleats prematurely due to multiple concussions.

After a concussion during his sophomore year, Smith suffered another one while playing in a game only a month later.

“I had another concussion when my head got slammed into the turf,” Smith said. “I lost consciousness for about 20 seconds and it took a really long time to feel normal after [the concussion].”

Smith noticed a drastic change in his mental state, which he attributed to his concussion history. “[The concussion] definitely affected my cognitive skills for some time after,” Smith said.

“My memory was crap and I was always forgetting one thing or another at home. It probably took about four months before I felt totally [normal] and sharp.”

“The big thing is, if a player has had a hard hit, not only in football, but in any sport, to let the coach know. [He needs to] realize that he is not letting people down but quite honestly he is helping the team by letting them know that he has a problem and can’t continue playing.”

- Frederick Mueller, Ph.D. director of the National Center for Catastrophic Injury Research

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n a highly publicized worst-case scenario, Greenville Rose High School (N.C.) running back Jaquan Waller (see sidebar) suffered a

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

This theory argues that due to the lack of neck strength, girls’ heads are at a higher risk of being shaken.

Without the stability that many boys develop through lifting, the female brain can be knocked around more.

H o l l y Mckenna SPEARING Maurice Williams (‘11) dives into a hit on a Burlingame receiver during the Vikings 21-9 (‘11), a socvictory on September 10th to open the season. cer player for Henry playing contact sports, and others such as Smith suffer head M. Gunn High injuries from sports with less contact. However, boys are not School, sustained three concussions. She admits to being always the most susceptible. scared of future complications related to concussions, but still According to The Journal of Athletic Training, in soccer, girls continues to play. suffer from concussions 68 percent more often than boys. Al“My doctor kind of scared me,” McKenna said. “He was just though there are no medical explanations for this, some theo- saying that I would get Alzheimer’s so he was trying to scare ries argue that girls have weaker neck muscles than boys. me into not playing. It’s definitely scarier going back [into Paly Athletic Director and head football coach Earl Hansen soccer] and going up for headers is a lot scarier, because I’m agrees with these theories. He believes that girls are often not the type of person that would change my [style of play].” more susceptible to concussions due to weaker muscles, and McKenna’s actions could be called brave, but when does a lack of head stability. acting brave turn into acting recklessly? In sports, players are “Good workout procedures, as far as building lats and traps often taught to tough it out and keep playing. In the circumto build stability [help strengthen the neck muscles and can stance of a concussion, not only is this extremely dangerous, prevent concussions],” Hansen said. but also can turn lethal.

Symptoms of a Concussion

Post Concussion Symptoms

1. Dizziness 2. Fuzzy vision 3. Sensitive to loud noises or light 4. Confusion 5. Nausea 6. Headaches 7. Feeling sluggish or foggy

* problems concentrating * problems remembering or learning new information * impulsive behavior during class * greater irribility * longer time to complete tasks

JAQUAN WALLER, a junior running back for Photo used with permission of WRAL.

Greenville Rose High School in Greenville, N.C., is an example of the seriousness of this condition. On Sept. 17, 2008, Waller was diagnosed with a concussion during practice.

Two days after an athletic trainer deemed his symptoms gone, Waller collapsed on the sidelines during a game. He was rushed to Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

By Saturday, Waller’s brain was not functioning

Clay Carey (‘12) played football during his freshman and sophomore years, and continues to play baseball for Paly.

During his sophomore football season, Carey obtained a concussion.

“Now I don’t worry about [SIS] because it’s only been one [concussion], but if I get a few more then I’d start to take preventative measures,” Carey said.

With such a risk for SIS and concussions in high school athletics, and a splurge of media coverage including features in Time Magazine, The New York Times and ESPN, the public is becoming more aware.

due to inter cranial swelling, and he was removed from life support. Jaquan Waller died from second impact syndrome.

Reports show that Waller experienced “headaches” and felt “woozy” on Wednesday and he suffered from a grade-one concussion. Two days later, Waller suffered from another mild concussion, which was just enough to trigger SIS. Neither one of the concussions alone would have been enough to cause death, but combined they ended the life of a high school student.

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Photo by Allie Shorin

Even with careful use of this power, people harbor concern about the referees’ ability to dictate the severity of an injury.

“It’s a lot of pressure on the ref, especially since they are not doctors,” Paly lineman Kevin Anderson (‘11) said.

While some are cautious of this rule because referees are not doctors, the referees are instructed on how to properly diagnose a concussion. A free online program is available through nfhslearn.com (the National Federation of State High School Athletics) that deals with concussion protocol. All coaches and referees have access to the program. he CIF passed Bylaw 313 (see “We have got some good sidebar) on May 7, 2010, in an access to educational material attempt to raise awareness about on concussions that will make the damaging effects of concuspeople aware,” Santa Clara Valsions in high school sports. Bylaw ley Athletic League referee Ray 313 allows referees to determine if Miailovich said. an athlete is concussed, and whethStacey Kofman, an athletic er or not he or she will be able to trainer at Paly for 17 years, bereturn to the game. A player canlieves the rule is a step in the not begin to participate again until right direction, but it needs he is examined and cleared by a more work. doctor.

“If it were just up to the This rule gives referees the pow- HEADS UP Forward Zac Hummel (‘11) goes up for a coaches, they [would] always er to significantly alter a game, by header during the Vikings 1-0 victory over the Gunn play the player, but if there is removing players from the com- Titans at Gunn. somebody there who is qualipetition, or by choosing to leave fied [to assess a player’s condithem in. People in the sports world tion], it should be left to those question whether this is effective who are qualified to make the due to officials’ lack of medical expertise. decisions,” Kofman said.

Certain referees share this uneasiness, citing that it is not With Bylaw 313 giving referees more power, coaches have their responsibility. voiced some concerns about the rule’s impact on games. “[The problem] that the officials are having is that they “So far the refs have been very responsible,” Hansen said. don’t feel qualified,” CIF assistant commissioner Duane Mor- “It’s not the player’s choice [on whether a player should be gan said. “Honestly, they have always had the power to pull a taken out of the game].” player from the game, [but] some of them never realized that.

Because this rule has been in effect for less than a season, It now becomes their responsibility.” it is difficult to measure its success.

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tories about big hits in football dominate the headlines, but the most dangerous outcomes can be a result of consecutive, relatively minor head traumas that occur within a short time of each other. They can happen to both genders in any sport.

While some players like former football and baseball player Carey are not scared of concussions, the realities of worst case scenarios like those of Waller and Blea often reside in the back of athlete’s minds.

“The big thing is, if a player has had a hard hit, not only in football, but in any sport, to let the coach know,” Frederick Mueller, Ph.D. and director of the National Center for Catastrophic Injury Research, said. “[He needs to] realize that he

Xenith X1 Helmet

“Helmet standards haven’t changed in 40 years,” Xenith’s western regional manager Damon Fererra said in a phone interview . “Original helmets were made to prevent skull fractures”.

is not letting people down but quite honestly he is helping the team by letting them know that he has a problem and can’t continue playing.”

No athlete dreams of having his or her career cut short by injuries. Parents never want to see their child endure a debilitating and mentally traumatic head injury. Concussions are a huge concern in the high school sports community and cannot be overlooked. Whether from the hit of a 200 pound linebacker or from the impact of colliding with a player in a soccer game, a concussion always needs to be treated seriously.

In the words of Riley Smith, one youth forced to give up his passion due to three concussions, “I hope this article keeps people from doing what I did.” <<<

Shock BonnetTM Technology

With concussion stories being brought to light, athletic companies have been attempting to create safer gear for players to wear. Football, for example, has seen constant advancement of helmet technology.

According the it’s website, the Xenith helmet “was founded with the goal of reducing the risk of concussive episodes by providing both innnovation and education.”

Photo by Allie Shorin

According to the NFHS, both girls’ lacrosse and girls’ soccer carry higher concussion rates than boys’ lacrosse and boys’ soccer. Here, Brianna Boyd (‘10) tackles a Los Gatos player last spring.

Shock Bonnet® adapts the helmet’s compression to the magnitude and direction of the impact, reducing the sudden movement of the head that can cause traumatic brain injury or concussion.

Chin strap with Fit SeekerTM technology Creates a customized fit keeping the helmet secure during impact. Players pull the chinstraps outward, which snugs the Shock Bonnet around the head.

Photo by Allie Shorin

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at SHP (3:30)

11 18 25 1 8

12

at Lynbrook (3:30) at Paly vs. Saratoga (6:45)

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at Homestead (6:45) at Homestead (3:30) at Paly vs. Mountain View (6:45)

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at Paly vs. Mountain View (6:45) at Paly vs. Saratoga (3:30)

at Paly vs. Gunn (3:30)

2

at Gunn: City Championships (TBD) at Gunn: City Championships (TBD)

at Homestead (6:45) Crystal Springs: SCVAL Championships (TBD)

Crystal Springs: SCVAl Championships (TBD)

9

13

CCS 1st round (7:00)

10

3

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at Paly vs. Los Altos (6:45) at Paly vs. Los Altos (3:30)

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at Paly vs. Los Altos (6:45)

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at Paly vs. Gunn (6:45) at Paly vs. Homestead (3:30) at Saratoga (6:45)

at Paly vs. Gunn (5:45)

at Los Altos (3:30) at Paly vs. Los Gatos (6:45)

21

at Monta Vista (6:45)

at Saratoga (3:30)

at Monta Vista (6:45)

at Monta Vista (5:45)

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16

Boys’ XC Volleyball Football Girls’ XC

COPY AND PASTE PALY FANS!

KEY

Girls’ wopo Boys’ wopo Girls’ tennis

15

5

at Sara-

12

at Paly vs. Mountain View (7:30)

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at Paly vs. Leland (11:00 AM)

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6

at Homestead Ocktober- at Independence High fest (TBD) school Spikefest 2 Tourney (8 AM)

at Paly vs. Homestead (7:30)

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at Milpitas (7:30) SHP or Paly North-South SHP or Paly North-South Challenge 2 Games (TBD Challenge 2 Games (TBD PM) PM)

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at Toro Park: Monterey (TBD) at Toro Park: Monterey (TBD)

at Los Gatos (7:30)

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2010 SUN

17 24 31 7

CCS quarters (TBD) at Toro Park: CCS Championships (TBD) at Toro Park: CCS Championships (TBD)

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VS

DIII Photo by Hana Kajimura

Photo by Allie Shorin

DI

BY GRACIE MARSHALL AND BRENNAN MILLER

COPY AND PASTE PALY FANS!

HEAD TO HEAD Paly grads Scott Witte (‘10) and Maeve Stewart (‘10) showcase the differences between playing DI and DIII in college.

“It definitely takes a lot of time away “I always wanted to play at the highports fans are accustomed to from my schedule that I would have if est level,” Jenks said.

“As I got older seeing the bright lights, the big I weren’t playing a sport,” Witte said. “I names, the packed stadiums. But and throughout high school, I decided haven’t really been too interested in clubs I wanted to play D1.

I went to this nabeing on prime time ESPN is not posor frats or anything but I think with basetional soccer camp where the coach told sible for every college athlete, in fact, ball it would be too much to handle.” me I could play at a lot of D1 schools.

I very few college athletes receive that D1 sports take priority over everything. was really excited because I wanted to type of attention. So what if you are not Not only is there no time for outside activibut needed a little assurance from a being recruited by the biggest names ties, but also, in order to solve the conflict in the business? What if you are good, knowledgeable coach.” between overlapping academic and athJenks, who led the Lady Vikes with 10 but not good enough? Do you reach for letic schedules, D1 athletes get first choice goals and 8 assists in the 2010 season, a Division I program merely to ride the when it comes to registering for classes. has 11 games under her belt at Santa bench, or settle for a Division III school “There is no time for other extracurricClara, and only one week of school.

Alonly to wonder “what if?” ulars,” Jenks said. “D1 is all about playing though it is the off-season, her training Scott Witte (‘10), formerly a Palo your sport and doing school, that’s about Alto High School pitcher, chose not to schedule is no joke. She has already beit. D3 on the other hand, allows for you come accustomed to a 5:00 a.m. wake spend his life wondering and now atto have a more balanced life. People say up call. tends the University of Washington in academics always come before athletics “[The team] got there on Aug. 3rd Seattle. which is the case at D3 [schools], but at D1 and had double-days for about three “I wouldn’t have been able to live [schools] I feel like it is an unspoken belief weeks,” Jenks said.

“We trained from with myself if I didn’t try to play at the that athletics come before academics.”

9-11 a.m., [and] then from 3-5 p.m., highest level possible,” Witte said. “I 3,165 miles away from Santa Clara every day of the week.

After that span also didn’t especially want to go to a University lies Medford, Massachusetts, a we’ve had single day trainings.” small school; I like having something to D1 sports are certainly challenging, small college town located fifteen minutes be a part of.” but many underestimate how much outside of Boston. Medford is home to the Kelly Jenks (‘10), formerly a forward time the athletes put in. During her Tufts University Jumbos, whose soccer for the Lady Vikes’ soccer team, and three-week-long double-days, Jenks team roster now boasts Maeve Stewart, a current forward for the D1 Santa Clara put in a whopping 84 hours of practice 2010 Paly graduate and starting forward University women’s soccer team, set and 21 hours of film study. Witte agreed for the Tufts women’s’ soccer team. Stewthe bar high for herself as well, decidart already holds the Tufts about the demands of D1 sports. ing from a young age that she would

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October 2010

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Features

DI vs DIII

Joe Mabel

FANCY FACILITIES Husky Ballpark, home of the University of Washington baseball team and former Paly pitcher Scott Witte (‘10), women’s soccer single game scoring record. In the Jumbos’ first game against Middlebury College, Stewart scored a hat trick, leading the Jumbos to a 3-0 victory.

Although both Jenks and Stewart were on an even playing field through-

letic Conference (NESCAC), have very stringent rules regarding the number of games and practices a team can have outside of its regular season bounds.

The team can only have up to twelve practices and games combined before the regular season officially begins. For

ferent mentality on the field. There are less games to play and each game counts towards the post season, so everyone is playing to win.”

Jenks and Stewart are not the only pair of same sport-athletes to graduate last year. Wade Hauser (‘10), who at-

out their high school careers- both were four-year varsity starters and played on very competitive club teams- the decision to play in two different divisions has landed them in two very different places.

While Santa Clara’s gruelling off season consists of double-day practices, 12 league games and four tournaments, the D3 Jumbos, who are members of the New England Small College Ath-

this reason, the Jumbos do not play in any tournaments.

Even though D3 regulations cause Stewart’s schedule to be a lot less soccer-intensive than Jenks’, Stewart still sees a significant difference in the competition between the high school and college levels.

“The games are more competitive than high school and club, not just skill-wise,” Stewart said. “There is definitely a dif-

tends Chapman University, and Witte both played on Paly’s wildly successful baseball team, which finished the season 26-3. Similar to Jenks and Stewart, their post-high school plans both included college sports, though they differed on which league to select. Hauser agrees with Stewart that although D3 sports do not attract nearly as much media attention as D1 powerhouses, the competition is still a great step up from

“The soccer is more competitive than my club and high school, but I’m not married to the sport.” — Maeve Stewart (‘10)

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is a prime example of D1 ballparks, equipped with a personalized clubhouse for the players and two fan amenities buildings. what he faced at Paly.

“The competition is much more cut throat here than I think it would be in high school or club [baseball],” Wade Hauser. “There are a lot of guys who go out their freshman year, [there are] and only a select few who make it, so it’s real important to give it all you got.”

Hauser and Stewart attribute their decision to play D3 mostly to playing time. They felt it was more important that they have a sudden impact on their team’s success, rather than filling in here and there until they earned a starting position.

“It’s really hard to walk on to a D1 program and I had a choice-work my [butt] off and maybe make the team in a D1 program or come into a competitive D3 program and be able to be an impact guy right off the bat,” Hauser said.

Stewart also took into consideration the level of involvement in other school activities that a Division 3 school would allow versus a D1 school. A D1 training regime such as Jenks’s, allows minimal

time for extracurricular activities.

“I decided to play D3 because I can play soccer and be involved with other things around campus,” Stewart said.

“The soccer is more competitive than my club and high school, but I’m not married to the sport. If I want to take a semester abroad, the spring season isn’t holding me back. I can join clubs, take the classes I want to take and not feel pressure from my coaches or teammates to only think about soccer.”

For all of the Paly graduates participating at a collegiate level, one thing is for certain-the level of competition exceeds anything that they had experienced in their years as a high school athlete. However, with their respective decisions to play either D1 and D3, the two sets of former teammates have landed themselves on two different playing fields. Hauser and Stewart’s progression from high school athletics to playing at the D3 collegiate level can be seen as a step up in the soccer and baseball hierarchy, while in Jenks’s

and Witte’s case, it is more accurate to say that the transition from high school sports to D1 collegiate competition is better represented by a five-foot box jump.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Jenks said. “Both physically and mentally you have to be really tough. It’s more like a job. It is also fun and you play because you love the sport but there’s definitely this added pressure that you’ve been recruited and give money to play here so you’d better perform and ‘do your job’ as my coach puts it.”

Witte also recognizes that playing at the D1 level is comparable to playing professionally in the sense that D1 schools grant huge sums of scholarship money to get their athletes on the field.

However, he also sees great value in playing D1 sports despite the grueling practice schedules and constant travelpersonal betterment.

“I might not even make the team after 4 months of practice,” Witte said. “But at least I know I tried.” <<< October 2010

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The Last Word

Setting the Bar

The Last Wing Setting the BAR

BY MICHAEL CULLEN

T

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

his past summer, while on a college visit to schools in the Los Angeles area, I fell in love. The first time I laid eyes on her, my knees buckled and I let out an elated gasp, like a 6th grade girl at a Justin Bieber concert. I led my family through the bustling crowd of Universal Avenue and we stepped through the glorious doors of a ONE WING TO RULE THEM ALL The pristine establishment “atomic wing” at Wing Stop utterly fit for the gods. I don’t incinerates Mr. Cullen’s taste buds. know if Jillian’s Billiards Club does weddings, but to my future spouse out there, wherever you are, you can pick the honeymoon destination, because we’re getting married at Jillian’s.

There is no atmosphere in the world like that of a sports bar.

Plasma screens and sports memorabilia will satisfy any sports nut, but when you couple that with an arcade full of flashy and obnoxious video games, for someone like me with an aggressive case of ADHD, it’s a wonder Jillian’s got me, or anyone for that matter, to leave. I told my aunt that I wanted to live at Jillian’s, and immediately began to put together a plan that would allow me to sleep discretely in between the Skee-ball and Time Crisis II machine.

It may be absurd, and I know what you’re thinking: “Michael, that is an absurd and illogical fantasy, for one must have shelter and food to make a random location their residence.”

Well that, my friends, is the beauty of it. Were I to live at Jillian’s, I would have unlimited access to what I consider five-star food. Bear in mind that the food served at sports bars fall into the most miniscule and dreaded section of the food pyramid, and the likelihood of a ‘Pizza Burger’ making it into Food and Wine Magazine is about as likely as me getting into Columbia University. Despite this, as I sat on my throne with a Coke in one hand and a pulled pork slider in the other, I stared at the massive

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projector screen displaying the Giants whooping on the Dodgers, and it dawned me that there is no tandem quite like the union of food and athletic competition.

Take the chicken wing–a staple of sports bars across the nation. A chicken wing embodies the spirit and essence of the sacred union between man, food, and a fat HDTV on a Sunday.

Like sports, a chicken wing requires strategy. You can’t blitz it and chomp down from a random angle, nay, you must go for the meatiest, sauciest portion first, and then methodically eliminate the remaining flesh that lingers on the bone. Another aspect of wing consumption that parallels athletic competition is the need for creativity and spontaneity. You can go straight in for the kill, but you can always call an audible at the last second and go for a dip into some ranch dressing.

I don’t think I have ever eaten a food which literally mimicked a sports related emotion, except for the time I was forced to try an Atomic Wing. If there is a taste of defeat, it can be found in a tray at Wingstop. I never thought food could make me cry, but I underestimated that little piece of poultry. My eyes watered, my lips burned, and the mere scent singed my nose hairs.

I couldn’t talk for 10 minutes, and no amount of water poured down my throat, swished around my mouth, or rubbed on my teeth could eliminate the sensation of my mouth being exposed to an open flame. You think you’re tough? I’ve got a chicken wing that will take you down.

Sports bars across America captivate customers with delicious food, gigantic screens, and a wide variety of micro brews.

The true beauty of a sports bar is its individuality: no two sports bars are exactly alike. The Old Pro, one of my all time favorite places in the world, has a mechanical bull, which is beyond awesome. I challenge you to suppress a smile after watching someone go tuchus over teakettle off of a mechanical bull. Compare the Old Pro to Jillian’s, where the essence of its distinct individuality is epitomized by the dance floor, complete with a DJ playing music videos and inebriated couples gazing lovingly into one another’s eyes. It hit me that wonderful summer day, that sports bars are a combination of all life’s greatest treasures: food, sports, women, shelter from the elements, and of course for the adults out there, beer on tap. This is why you shouldn’t be surprised if you see a sleeping bag and pillow with my name on it under the corner table the next time you visit your favorite sports bar. I’m not crazy or homeless - I’m just one step ahead of the game, baby. <<<

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all Partners in Education At Paly, PiE funds:

Career and College Counseling

Including 100% of the Teacher Advisory Program

Student Guidance

Including Link Crew for freshman orientation

Career/Technology Electives Including Biotechnology and a Java class at Foothill

Go to www.papie.org to donate today.

Extraordinary Gifts Town & Country Village (near The Cheese House)

October 2010

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