Lancers Illustrated 2018-19 by ACS Athens

Our Mission:

ACS Athens is a student-centered international school, embracing American educational philosophy, principles and values. Through excellence in teaching and diverse educational experiences, ACS Athens challenges all students to realize their unique potential: academically, intellectually, socially and ethically - to thrive as responsible global citizens.

ACS Athens Philosophy of Athletics:

In accordance with the ACS Athens Mission Statement, the Athletic department’s intent is to provide students with athletic opportunities that will challenge them and will further develop each student’s educational maturity. The athletic program will always be in conformity with the general objectives of the school and at no time will the educational curriculum be placed in a secondary role. The fundamental principle of sports, particularly competitive athletics, is to augment the education of the young. Athletics should both promote and supplement the regular curriculum at the school. The athletic department’s concern is the personal development of each athlete. It is however necessary for the student who elects to participate in Athletics to understand that he/she is voluntarily making a choice of self-discipline, self-responsibility and commitment.

www.acs.gr Publisher: ACS Athens Director of Athletics/Editor: Annie Constantinides Co-Editor: Labrini Rontogiannis Photo credits: Vangelis Stolis, Valia Efstathiou Concept & publication design: Leda Tsoukia Copyright©2018-19 All rights reserved. No part of this magazine (text or images) may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher

Dear Athletes, Coaches and Guests, Welcome to the 2019 Athletic Banquet, a celebration of our students’ athletic accomplishments! As you know, teaching and learning takes place not only in the classroom, but also during activities. Educating the whole person is a central tenet of our philosophy of education. Teaching and learning can take place during activities, assemblies, community service work, group projects, sports activities, and through the many formal and informal encounters that take place between members of a learning community each day. Certainly, student athletes have a double challenge, and that is to reach for their maximum ability in academics and in athletics. Athletics is an important part of the educational experience here at ACS Athens, teaching students to be team leaders, to respect the game, their teammates, their coaches and most importantly, themselves. Our athletes have competed throughout the year in a number of sports competitions – both local as well as international, which have opened a world of cultures and opportunities for them. We hope the student athletes not only value their memories from these experiences, but that these experiences have also enhanced their character via the principles and values acquired through sportsmanship, ethos, effort, dedication, perseverance, team work, discipline and leadership. It is important for the athletes to reflect on what they have experienced, as well as thank their coaches, parents, and everyone who through their dedication, hard work and support made their successes possible. At this time, I would like to commend all the coaches who have devoted their time and energy to coaching, but more importantly for their love of coaching, mentoring and guiding all the student athletes. Without you, the coaches, we would not be able to offer all the opportunities we do to our students. Best wishes to all of you for a wonderful summer and to all Seniors best wishes for a great college life. Remember to enjoy this new chapter in your lives. Sincerely,

Stefanos Gialamas, Ph.D. President

ACS Athens Athletics “10 Commandments” • Never underestimate your opponent. • Work on your weaknesses until they become your strong points. • Remember that a great effort is usually the result of great attitude. • Win with humility, lose with grace. • Ignore those who discourage you. • Remember that how you conduct yourself off the field is just as important as how you conduct yourself on the field. • Talent is God-given – be humble. Fame is man-given – be thankful. Conceit is self-given – be careful. • Don’t ask to be deprived of tension and discipline- these are the tools that shape success. • Do what has to be done, when it has to has to be done, and as well as it can be done. • Always give your best!

Welcome! “Personal Best” In sports, whether individual or team, there is an inherent drive to perform well; often, success is measured by wins and losses, and athletes (as well as coaches, parents and fans) focus on the end results. That’s the nature of sports. But there is more to sports than the final score or final outcome… sports should be about motivation, hard work, perseverance, passion and so much more!

EFFORT RESPECT DISCIPLINE MOTIVATION SPORTSMANSHIP PRIDE

At ACS Athens, we emphasize the importance of the “journey”: success should be and can be viewed from beginning to end and at anytime during a season. It is important for everyone to understand that each one must strive to work hard in order to improve and perform to one’s best ability. We often say that each athlete must compete against him/herself every time he/she is in competition – not to worry about the competition but to focus on what each one does. Success is about challenging oneself to overcome one’s limitation. Every time an athlete performs better than the last time, it is a major accomplishment; it is a “personal best” and athletes must strive to achieve a “personal best” performance at all times! There is a special kind of pride and satisfaction that comes from such an achievement. I had the pleasure this year to witness many “personal bests” from our athletes; individually and collectively. Swimmers, cross country runners, and track and field athletes broke personal, school and SCIS records. Basketball players, soccer players, tennis players and volleyball athletes won championships, medals and sportsmanship awards and improved their skills; and all of the outcomes were a result of the individual “personal bests”. I hope that all of our athletes will continue to challenge themselves – that is the only way to succeed. Annie Constantinides, Director of Athletics

INTRODUCING THE ACS ATHENS COMPETITIVE TEAMS CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS

JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER

VARISTY GIRLS SOCCER

JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS SOCCER

VARSITY BOYS SOCCER

JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

VARSITY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS VOLLEYBALL

VARSITY BOYS VOLLEYBALL

MIDDLE SCHOOL SWIMMING

HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING

JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL

VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL

JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL

VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL

JUNIOR VARSITY TENNIS

VARSITY TENNIS

MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD

HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD

PERSEVERANCE By Ilias Karapiperis, Varsity Boys Soccer Coach

erseverance: the act of continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. No remarkable achievement in life can be conquered without perseverance, for obstacles are only there to push one to evolve whether that is as an athlete, a sportsman, a unit, a teammate or a personality. Perseverance allows one to discover talents and abilities they ignored were there, waiting to be tapped into and manifested.

No other idea can better describe this year’s Boys Varsity Soccer Team. The team consisted of very young and inexperienced players, with solely 2 seniors but “loaded” with a mission to maintain the previous generation’s achievement and conserve a spot in Division I. Not only a young team, but one with a new coach, after the stepping down of the legendary Coach Pelidis who led and inspired generation after generation for 29 consecutive years. Coach Pelidis is a great influence in my life, since he is one

of the main factors that “drove” me to a professional coaching career, since my ACS high school ages (class of 92’) when I played and was captain of the Varsity Soccer team under his coaching. But these boys had a thirst to learn and the receptiveness to redefine the main team goals. After our first team meeting, their new goals were set: sportsmanship and relentless effort to perform our best. In a total of 12 matches played throughout the season, the team was able to comply to their new goals with little effort. I can only remember one half where we failed to comply to these 2 values. The ISSTs was a challenge, for the boys faced bigger and stronger teams. Despite this, the fire

in their eyes and their passion to fight for every single ball, no matter the score or the minute of the game, did not leave anyone untouched. Throughout this, there was a great sense of sportsmanship towards all participants (players, refs, coaches, organizers etc…). They gained everyone’s respect, in spite of unsuccessful results. Most of all, they gained self-respect, for they walked on and off the pitch with their heads up. We may have failed to remain in the Division, but came back home with an award never won before by this team. An award that officially confirmed the achievement of our goals: SPORTSMANSHIP. In my eyes, there could be no greater definition of success for this team than that of playing by LANCER VALUES, while relentlessly fighting for improvement and the best possible result. A great acknowledgement to my companion coaches Mr. Spyros Paspalidis and Mr. Vassilis Mikros in this unique journey, and to every single player of this team for their exemplary presence throughout the season.

Apprehension… (Adversity) By Che Jon Fernandes, Paralympic Champion (World Games & Rio Olympics)

ailure is just as important as success! Throughout our lives, the road we choose is never straight or flat but rather one with many twists and turns, with up hills and the very pleasant freewheeling down hills. Let me begin by telling you a little story behind my apprehensions because of the adversities I have faced being in the wheelchair. Apprehension is defined as the fear or anxiety that something bad or unpleasant will happen (Cambridge dictionary) and it is this fear that stops us from even trying or attempting something. During my career in athletics, many told me that I should get involved in coaching young children. To say that I had feelings of apprehension is an understatement. More specifically, I was terrified of kids! Children are honest and they don’t understand the sharpness of their words or the weight of their facial expressions. For these reasons, I always managed

to find an excuse not to get involved. In my quest to attain a second Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management, one of my requirements was to participate in an internship and once again the opportunity arose to work with kids. How can a successful athlete be so intimidated by the possibility of working with young children? Coaching children cannot be as difficult as winning a gold medal at the Paralympics? The apprehension that I was feeling was not because of the fear of failure, but rather the fear that I might be judged and in turn lose their respect and adoration. “What if they make fun of me or laugh at me?” I asked myself. However, drawing on my life experiences, I have seen many times that just before my greatest successes, I was faced with failure. It was these failures that allowed me to take a step back to reevaluate the situation at hand, taking a fresh look and then using the lessons of failure to build my next

success. Once again, I told myself that I had no choice (even though I could have taken another internship) but to face my fears. I can only speak for myself and up until now have had a great time coaching and training the students at ACS Athens. I have not been laughed at nor made fun of but rather have seen students coming back to train with me, which in my book is a huge success! Some of the best compliments and feedback I have received so far include statements like, “Che, I forgot you are

in a wheelchair.” or “I don’t even see the wheelchair; I just see you.” and “I have seen an improvement in my abs in just a few days.” As they say, hindsight is always 20-20, and as you can see my apprehension of working with kids has proven to be a foolish waste of time. I hope to continue working and coaching young students as they offer hope and possibilities in our crazy world. They can teach an old dog new tricks. Thank you students of ACS Athens!!

(Photo by Friedemann Vogel/Getty Images)

“Warriors” by Labrini Rontogiannis, Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach

hen you think of a warrior, you think of a brave or experienced soldier or fighter. You picture swords, armor, shields and battles. (or you may think of the warrior pose in Yoga….) A warrior also happens to be a very popular emblem mascot in school athletics; and there is reason for it. Besides displaying sportsmanship, effort, discipline, motivation, pride, and respect, an athlete must also be a warrior; fighting for your version of success or what you believe it to be on your own battlefield whether that be a court, a field or swimming pool. The girls of the Varsity Volleyball team may not look like warriors at first glance,but do not be fooled by the bows in their hair and knee pads on their knees; they are warriors by definition and beware of those in sheep’s clothing, they say. Every athlete needs to have a little bit of warrior inside her. The 2018-19 Girls Volleyball team is a

group of fighters; fighting for the hard work they put in all season, fighting for themselves and fighting for their team. With a number of returning players, and very few regular season games played, they went into the ISSTs fighting; swords and shields out. Undefeated after the first day of games, they were feared. And even with a tough battle on the second day, they came out with a bronze medal game and eventually the bronze medal itself. It takes a lot to go in fighting and come out a winner. What are you fighting for in sports? Is it the glory, the win? That’s a part of it, but on your own battlefield, with your teammates beside you, and victory so close, whatever victory may mean for you, you must be a warrior to see it through.

GIVING BACK THROUGH SPORTS By Ria Pateraki, Junior Varsity Girls Basketball Coach

articipating in sports can impact not only the lives of athletes, but also the lives of people from the community, as it empowers the will of helping and caring for others. The life changing opportunities that are offered through sports, either directly or indirectly, “feed” positively the feelings of the participant and the recipient by giving hope, courage and

strength. During this year’s JV Girls Basketball Tournament, that was hosted by ACS Athens, our team in collaboration with the Charity Club and the assistance of Mrs. Zamanis and Mrs. Wang, organized a fundraising raffle and a healthy bake sale. Our student - athletes and Charity club members managed to raise a significant amount of money and the funds were donated to Christ-

odouleio Organization*. They all delivered a social awareness message by “Giving back” in the best possible way. This successful event could not have happened without the great support of our students, faculty and staff, who participated in the raffle and proved that sports connect, not only athletes with coaches, but also our ACS Athens Community with our society. However, the benefits of sports are multi-dimensional. Athletes have many opportunities to lead by example and become role models during their careers. Furthermore, student - athletes must combine sports and academics in order to be eligible to play the sport they love. They should manage their time and weekly schedule in an effective way even at the expense of their personal free time. By doing so, they motivate other students and make them realize that “having no time to study” is just an excuse. In addition, being a team member requires from athletes to work well in groups, develop social skills and learn how to collaborate with efficiency. As they have a common goal to achieve, they learn how to work in roles and hold each other accountable during hard times. Therefore, athletes develop social awareness and build emotional intelligence.

These life skills, give them the chance to affect someone’s life in a positive way and learn how to make other people, other than themselves, happy. According to our athlete, Pari D. “There are many ways to give back through sports, such as holding a fundraiser, volunteering for a nonprofit organization or donating money or items to a worthy cause. This year, our team organized a raffle and a healthy bake sale to raise money for children in need. This experience was inspiring for all of us and made us realize that giving back is a part of playing sports and being a team member. It didn’t only benefit others around us, but it also made us feel good and fulfilled.” Furthermore, athletes develop leadership skills early in life due to the competitive nature of sports. They learn how to get things done and how to “show the way” to others. Playing sports at a competitive level builds self esteem and mental strength which help athletes believe in achieving and growing physically and spiritually. Leaders in sports can later become leaders in real life. As our athlete Zoi L. says “Giving back is an important gesture and a great way to stay connected with people. Doing something for the community in which you were raised, is

a great way of rewarding the people -”leaders” who helped you grow up. We, as student - athletes could lead by helping younger children improve in a particular sport or just teach them how to play. It is also important to mention that charity and volunteer work help athletes make social connections, develop new skills, knowledge, expertise, and gain new perspectives. Giving others your time brings you interesting and challenging opportunities that might not come along otherwise. All these experiences help you grow and develop as a person.” In conclusion, giving back to society through sports can be done in multiple ways. The most important aspect of competitive sports at school level is proper character building. Student athletes learn how to become role models, leaders and improve their social skills. Therefore, if before try-outs athletes catch themselves thinking “It takes a lot to make the team and requires advanced skills. Should I even give it a try?” the answer should be “YES”, as team training might include a lot more than maximizing the athlete’s physical ability! *For more information about Christodouleio Organization, please visit: https://www.xristodoulio. gr/ (Website is in Greek)

UNITY By Orestis Charachousis & Stavros Tsichlas, Middle School Swimming Coaches

his year was, yet again, another successful year for our ACS Athens swim team! At the beginning of the season, we had the athletes set both individual and overall team goals. Being on a competitive team, also means putting in many hours of hard work and commitment, both inside and outside of the pool. These student athletes were able to overcome challenges and not only reach their goals, but also exceed our own

expectations, as coaches. As coaches, one of our main goals for this season was to have the athletes form some kind of unity. We wanted to see them bond as a team, and help support and grow from each other along the way. Despite their age gap and diverse personalities, we can proudly say that they were able to accomplish this goal. Students, we, as coaches could not be more proud of all of you! You have taught us many

things this year and have helped us grow as coaches and individuals. Thank you for allowing us to be part of this amazing experience. We look forward to continuing this journey with the ACS Athens swim team throughout the upcoming years.

Leadership By George Soukakos, Varsity Boys Basketball Player

he great Larry Bird once said “Leadership is diving for the loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It’s being able to take [shoot] it as well as dish [pass] it out. That’s the only way you’re going to get respect from the players.”

Although this team has the word “family” and “together” written all over it, taking a closer look from the inside, one can see that this unity was established by a leader. Being a player, I can tell you that the biggest loss for the team next year will be our captain, senior Jason Papadopoulos. It will not only be for his basketball skills and talent, but for his leadership and charisma as a captain. There is a reason he won the Scott Baillie Award two years in a row. The Scott Baillie Award is an award given to a member of one of the ISST teams who “must demonstrate intense, consistent effort while enjoying the competitive nature of basketball. The player must play with poise, composure

and confidence. He must demonstrate emotional control without losing competitive effort. The player must demonstrate the ability to concentrate on playing the best basketball possible regardless of the score or result.” If this describes one person I know, it is Jason. The past two years, we have won the ISST Championship back to back, one of the very few teams in ISST history to have done so. Despite having many returning players, this year we were faced with a different coach. Coach Annie told us that it is us, the players, that make this team special, not the coaches. When Jason first came in 2016, he didn’t have a leading role. During the ISSTs Jason had some very good performances, but missed the All-Tournament Team selection. The following year, he was entrusted with the role of the captain and performed up to and beyond his expectations. We won every single tournament we played and Jason was behind our success, both because of his skills but also because

of his leadership. He never put himself above the team and showed the rest of us - with actions not words how basketball should be. We finished the season with the ISST Championship, when our opponents did not believe we could do so. During the tournament, apart from the coach, Jason was motivating us not only during the 32 minutes of game time, but also in between games. He was our leader and captain on and off the court. He demonstrated his leadership continuously. That is what I believe made him stand out from every other player in the tournament. He won his first All-Tournament Team award as well as the Scott Baillie Award, which most people regard more prestigious than the Most Valuable Player Award.

When he was not on the court, he was on the bench shouting and cheering us on. Jason was deservingly awarded the Scott Baillie Award and an All-Tournament Team selection once more. His basketball skills and talent can be seen through these awards, yet his leadership and love for the team is seen by leading us to two straight championships; that is his best achievement. Whenever I told him that he would be the MVP, he kept saying that he doesn’t care about that. He said “All I care about is winning the gold medal with you guys.” And I could tell that is all he cared about. He didn’t care about any individual achievements. He was willing to do anything in order for the team to win; and he did just that.

This season we had a most demanding task and that was to defend our title; a title that the other teams were anxiously seeking. We defended our title as a team and showcased fundamental basketball on both ends of the court. We had a number of returning all star players as well as key role players (Petros, Stefano, Kosta, Yanni, Nikita, Kosta, Theo, Julius, George) that contributed to everything that we accomplished. However, behind our success was of course our captain Jason who helped the rest of us grow as players and people.

From a player’s perspective, what I can say is that the last two years, this family was built on the foundations of a great leader – Jason Papadopoulos. During the season, a coach told me that Jason had a natural trait for leadership, unlike anything he has ever seen before. I do believe that; for he is the most charismatic on and off the court, from all the teammates that I have had. Jason consistently believed in us and our capabilities and he had the ability to bring us together as a family, when it was most crucial; the qualities of a true leader.

LANCER PRIDE By Jennifer Polizos & Dionysis Papadakis, High School Swimming Coaches

here is a special sense of pride that emerges within a swim team. The confidence and respect that is shown by each member of the group is built on trust, hard work and admiration. Trust comes to the team through tests, challenges and sacrifices. Some people sacrifice their own accomplishments to better the team, stepping aside and acknowledging that “team pride” comes first. Hard work is fighting the urge to not suit-up or sleep through the alarm on a Friday morning or pushing through the mundane long sets to see if you can be better. Admiration of one’s accomplishments, no matter how small is essential, because in swimming, the small stuff matters and every millisecond counts. Admiring a teammate for their sacrifices and hard work keeps the team running; their respect for each other is what brings the pride to a team level. “My failures have only pushed me to try harder, challenge myself more

in order to strive for and achieve my goals. One needs enough strength and courage to fight through the disappointments or else they will never succeed.” – Marsia, Class of 2019 I like to think of pride as humility balanced with confidence. Whether it’s through self accomplishments or pride for your team, it starts to become the center of what can hold a team together. This year’s ACS Swim team truly showed that their pride in one another was the glue that created their bond. As a coach, I can honestly say that I felt a deep satisfaction in this year’s swimming team. Their achievements weren’t all glory but their accomplishments had grit. In 2019 ACS Lancers endured many accomplishments to be proud of: In February the team traveled to Warsaw where they again met up with long time competitors. Through the welcoming hugs and hellos, our team was able to achieve some

very hard earned goals. We took home twelve medals and the boy’s team placed 2nd while the girls respectfully placed 5th. Our second competition was in March at home. The Athens Cup brings in not only international competition but local teams as well. The Cup is always a bright and fun time had by all and also challenges our swimmers to bring their “A” game. We were able to earn 10 medals, placing 4th overall in the competition. This was the last competition of the year and for

some of our swimmers the last chance to break ACS records, earning a spot on the board. In the end, a number of swimmers accomplished this goal breaking a total of seven records!! Pride in competition brings out the best in you, pride for your teammates brings out the best in them and… pride for your school will bring out the best for future ACS swimmers. Lancer Strong, Lancer Proud!! Coach Dionysis and I

would like to say goodbye to Marsia, Elizabeth, Kayla and Nasia who will be leaving us this year. Good luck next year, and remember to show your ACS pride with whatever cap you may wear in the future. C U on DeCk! Marsia Staikidi: “I Marsia, will to my young swimmers staying behind to keep bonded and rock the ISSTs. ...And also, to reach my swimming modeling level.”

Lizzie Thornton: “I, Lizzie.. will my ability to come on time to practice to Nektaria. I also will my ability to kick to Pandelis, so he can finish a kick set.” Athanasia Polizos: “I Nasia, will Mike my ability to swim long distance, so that can finally have the confidence to swim one event before he graduates. Kayla Heliou Le Heux: I Kayla, will the ACS swim team my passion so they can continue being a great family.

An unforgettable experience By Alexandra Komnou & Angelos Dimitropoulos, Track and Field Coaches

hat started in mid March as a mission impossible proved to be one of the most memorable and successful seasons of our coaching career. After a remarkable turnout of 55 high school students in a demanding 4 day tryout, a team of 20 boys and 15 girls were selected to comprise the 2018-19 track and field team. We had 25 practice days to prepare for the SCIS Championship in Vienna, where we would have to compete against schools from Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Budapest and Austria. We had no time to waste. The ones having participated in track practices in the past, they knew that the routine would be intolerable but inevitable at the same time. Practice equals pain, sore legs, gasping and frustration. Anyone’s thinking about quitting? Absolutely not! The driving force behind practicing through pain and pressure was the mental

and physical toughness they had to demonstrate towards reaching their individual and collective goals. Balancing after school obligations with school deadlines and daily practices is never an easy task. We were fortunate enough to witness hunger for learning and thirst for improvement. On top of that, all students demonstrated noble competition on a daily basis. The students soon realized that the feeling of success in a race or even the one of completing a demanding practice, is unbeatable. You concord something you never thought you had and that makes you have a great reason to look forward to your next practice. A few weeks later, after a successful “warm up” in our local tournament, the traveling team was announced: 10 boys and 10 girls qualified for a demanding international tournament (SCIS Championship) that usually marks the end of the shortest of

the 3 sport seasons in our school. The expectations were kept low. The coaches were positive but also tried to keep the students down to earth: the best place ever achieved in similar tournaments was 2nd for the boys team, 4th for the girls team and 3rd overall. For a team with such a short lifespan, and having as a training facility a 3 lane - 80m track which is also shared with the after school activities, setting high goals is almost unrealistic. And thankfully, this year we were so wrong… Breaking 1 SCIS record, 9 school records, winning 19 individual medals and 16 relay medals and beating so many personal bests was unexpectedly magnificent. In the two day event that tests the teenager’s physical limits, our school managed to get 1st place for the boys, 1st place for the girls, 1st place overall. The highlight of our participation was the win of the sportsmanship award, a prestigious award nominated by coaches and opposition student athletes to the team demonstrating best sportsmanship! How proud and privileged have we been having lived such an unforgettable experience! A huge thank to all students who made the impossible happen. Special mention goes to the ones that did not make the traveling team but kept on practicing till the last day of

the season. You are a true inspiration to all of us! For a closure we asked our students to describe this year’s track and field experience. Track season student quotes: “Last trip of my school life had to be an unforgettable experience “ - Konstantinos Tiritas “Found the inspiration to fight harder for achieving my goals- and I managed to achieve them” - Bryana Webb “This is what I came back for and I would do it all over again” - Theo Alexopoulos “It was the most amazing, rewarding and learning experience that I will always remember” -Ornela Muca “This year’s track season was a great example of the value of fighting spirit in sports and competition” - Julius Janssen “Track is about the people you meet and the experience you have with them, training with them, being in pain with them, failing with them and succeeding with them.” -Jason Crist “Both motivational and exciting; from barely walking to getting medals, from receiving trophies to an amusement park with my whole team: couldn’t have been better!” -Nikos Taiganides

recognition By Labrini Rontogiannis, Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach

’ll let you in on a little secret….as a teacher-coach, the greatest recognition you can receive usually does not come in the form of a congratulations for a good presentation, an acceptance to present at a conference, a medal at a tournament or even a stellar end of year evaluation. Don’t get me wrong; those are valuable and well-deserved. One of greatest recognitions a teacher-coach can receive comes from the students achieving their goals; whether that be with academic material or on the court. It can be in the form of a note left on your desk, a batch of homemade cookies, a passionate high five after a game, a wet hug after coming out of the pool or even a simple thank you. Those are the gifts teachers live on…they keep us going for days, months and even years. We are in this position for the small victories, the wins and the losses, because both are priceless life lessons that accumulate over the years, and combined make for a lifetime of positively influencing young lives.

So, when a gift comes your way in the form of a formal recognition from an alumni, it’s the kind of thing that instantly fills your heart and brings tears to your eyes. Mr. Chris Kourtis is unique. You’ll recognize him by the genuine smile on his face; he’s the guy surrounded by all the kids…young and old. “Coach Chris, Coach Chris!” they will call out from across campus, as they push the rest of us aside to get a little closer. This past fall, Coach Chris received a Stanford University recognition from our alumni Takao Yatagai for his dedication as an educator and mentor, and for his incredible devotion to his students and their well being, both on and off the court. “Mr. Chris has taught me to appreciate the small details of life. From receiving World Cup Stickers as a gift to hitting hours of rallies on the tennis courts, I have been blessed with the greatest memories with him throughout my eight years of growing up under his guidance. He is always

surrounded by kids of all age, attracted by his ability to make every little experience memorable. I thank him for all he has done for me, as my mentor, my coach and most importantly my friend.” Another alumni recently described Coach Chris as having a “pure character” and that is so tremendously accurate. Ilias Sharp shared a story of his first encounter with Coach Chris when he was just 7 years old. He described how Coach Chris

willingly and without hesitation gave him a very “valuable” soccer collector card, saying “Sure man, here you go”. Ilias continued, “Little did I know that at that moment Coach Chris would become not only my coach, but a role model, leader and friend.” From tennis instructor, to elementary PE teacher, to Middle School PE teacher, to tennis coach, Coach Chris is the teacher you aspire to be and the coach you dream of becoming.

Congratulations Coach Chris!

Oh the places you ’ll go By Angelos Dimitropoulos, Varsity Coach

lthough I was considered to be an extremely active kid, my involvement with organized sports started at the age of 12. Compared to today’s adolescents, who are in organized activities almost since birth (from baby swimming to martial arts, practicing ballet/sailing/ gymnastics/soccer - the list can be endless), I was a late bloomer! The fact that I was 22 when I first traveled outside Greece for a “sports” trip to Bloomington, Indianapolis, chasing my basketball coaching dream, may seem mind boggling to our global students. At that time, I could not imagine that my passion for sports would allow me to become a world traveler. My sport travel destinations include basketball trips to the Netherlands and Turkey, baseball trips to Sydney, Cuba, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, Qatar, and finally school related sports trips to

Egypt, England, France, Poland, Austria, Germany, just to name a few. Today, at the age of 45, having traveled to all 5 continents for sports related events, I continue traveling with the same passion I had when I was 22. Although my school sport trips often take me to places I have visited before, there is always something new to discover on a morning jog, new people to meet, medals to win, records to beat and so many young athletes to inspire. To all my fellow travelers, I hope that your involvement with sports will be the key to explore the world. Are you worried about success? Well, keep in mind that participation in sports is more important than winning, placement or a personal best. Enjoy the journey and make sure that on your next sports trip, along with your toothbrush and uniform, you pack these words from Dr. Seuss with you:

“You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest. Except when you don’t. Because, sometimes, you won’t.” “I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.” “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go... I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you. All Alone! Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot. And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on... You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed!

our COACHES

Counselor

Trainer

ANNIE CONSTANTINIDES

Stavros Tsichlas

Angelos Dimitropoulos

JENNY SKOOG

Nicholas Steinke

Disciplinarian RIA PATERAKI

ORESTIS CHARACHOUSIS

Efi Karatopouzi

Role model

DIONYSIS PAPADAKIS

Alexandra Komnou

Nick Naoum

Teacher

Leade

ILIAS KARAPIPERIS

Vassilis Mikros

Innovator

Igor Schoenefeld

Jennifer Polizos

Justin Cramer

Motivator Marie Gorack

Labrini Rontogiannis

Dora Panteli

SPYROS PASPALIDIS

Manager

Eric Sougioultzoglou

Chris Kourtis

Friend

ATHLETIC COUNCIL

Below are the criteria: Athlete must be a responsible individual Athlete must be academically “fit”

The Athletic council is a Leadership group that consists of varsity student athletes; these student-athletes are nominated by coaches of varsity sports and are all high school students. Efforts are made for every sport to be represented; however, this may not always be the case. The Athletic Director may also nominate two “at large” members based on observations made throughout the year.

Athlete must be a leader on and off the fields Athlete must be capable of working with others; peers and adults Athlete must be a positive role model for peers Athlete must have shown organizational skills

Ted Soulanticas Soccer Track & Field

Marsia Staikidi Swimming

Hadeel Ghoneim Soccer, Basketball, Track & Field

Mariam Bitsikas Volleyball

Stelios Paparizos Basketball

Konstantinos Tiritas Volleyball, Track & Field

Elizabeth Thornton Volleyball, Swimming

Harry Salivaras Volleyball

Nefeli Naoum Tennis

Elena Papaspyrou Volleyball

Ornela Muca Basketball, Track & Field

Nestor Macdonald Cross Country, Swimming

Owen Weng Cross Country, Track & Field

Kayla Heliou Le Heux Cross Country, Swimming, Track & Field

Iliana Chitou Soccer

SPECIAL EVENTS 2018-2019

SCIS MIDDLE SCHOOL SWIMMING PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS 1. American International School of Vienna 2. Munich International School 3. Frankfurt International School 4. American School of Warsaw 5. British School of Brussels 6. International School of Zug & Luzern 7. International School of Basel 8. Zurich International School 9. Inter-Community School Zurich 10. ACS Athens

INTERNATIONAL TRACK & FIELD COMPETITION PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

CGS Ellinogermaniki Agogi German School Campion International School of Geneva ACS Athens

international swimming cup PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS 1. AIS Israel 2. ACS Amman 3. Cairo American College 4. AIS Riyadh 5. GEMS Dubai 6. ACS Cobham 7. ACS Tunis 8. CGS 9. Nea Genia Ziridis 10. Ellinogermaniki Agogi 11. International School of Athens 12. Campion 13. St. Lawrence 14. ACS Athens

ISST DIV. 1 TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS PARTICIPATING TEAMS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

ACS Cobham American School of London Munich International School International School of Brussels American School of Paris ACS Athens

10th International BASKETBALL COACHES CLINIC PRESENTERS 1. 2. 3. 4.

David Blatt, Head Coach Olympiacos BC Rob Fodor, Shooting Coach Miami Heat Argyris Pedoulakis, Head Coach Peristeri BC Beth O’Boyle: Women’s Head Coach Virginia Commonwealth University

ATHLETIC EVENT CALENDAR 2018-2019 FALL SEASON SPORTS September 7 50th Year ISST Celebration @ Athens, Greece October 9 Local Varsity Girls Soccer @ Campion Local Varsity Boys Volleyball @ ISA October 12 Local Cross Country Meet @ Syngrou Park November 5 Local Varsity Girls Volleyball @ St. Lawrence Local Varsity Boys Soccer @ St. Lawrence November 7-10 ISST Tournaments (Boys Soccer: International School of The Hague Girls Soccer: Bonn International School Cross Country: ACS Hillingdon, Girls Volleyball: Frankfurt International School Boys Volleyball: American School of Paris) November 13 Local JV Girls Volleyball @ ACS Athens Local JV Boys Soccer @ ACS Athens November 19 Local JV Girls Soccer @ St. Catherine’s Local JV Boys Volleyball @ St. Catherine’s

WINTER SEASON SPORTS

February 1-2 SCIS Middle school Swimming Championships @ ACS Athens SCIS high school Swimming Championships @ AS Warsaw February 11 Local Varsity Boys Basketball Tournament @ ACS Athens February 12 Local Varsity Girls Basketball Tournament @ St. Lawrence February 14-17 International Youth Basketball Tournament @ ACS Athens March 1-2 International Swimming Cup @ ACS Athens March 5 Local JV Boys Basketball Tournament @ St. Lawrence March 6 Local JV Girls Basketball Tournament @ ACS Athens March 6-9 ISST Basketball Championships (Boys: American School of The Hague, Girls: St. John’s International School)

SPRING SEASON SPORTS April 11-12 May 4-5 May 10 May 10-11 May 10-11 May 15 May 22-25 May 30

International Track & Field Meet Co-hosted with Campion 10th International Basketball Coaches Clinic Local Under 16 Tennis Tournament @ St. Catherine’s SCIS Middle School Track & Field Championships @ AIS Budapest SCIS High School Track & Field Championships @ AIS Vienna Local JV Tennis Tournament @ ACS Athens ISST Tennis Tournament: ACS Athens ATHLETIC BANQUET