Cavalier captains

With a desire to guide their teammates to success, the school’s team captains share their motivations to lead

BY NATALIE FALLS, STAFF WRITER

Taking the initiative to guide their peers to championships, team captains are committed to helping their teammates. As team captain, one strives to guide their teammates and motivate them to press on towards another win, while upholding team traditions and bond through activities both during and after sporting matches. For seniors Alexander Bell, Peter Kellogg and Jasmine Morales, being varsity team captain is much more than a title. It is a role that grants them the opportunity to instill in others the same grit and tenacity that has driven their individual passions. Taking the initiative to guide their peers during a global time of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these studentathletes keep their teammates motivated to conquer their matches. From football to soccer to cheerleading, these team captains work towards the same goal: to push their teammates and ensure that they have the training to be victorious both on and off the field.

ALEXANDER BELL

Courtesy of Alexander Bell

Through his devotion to football, wide receiver Alexander Bell has dedicated himself to the game since the age of five. He has poured his time into perfecting his leadership skills and overall performance through countless hours of practice and patience. In hopes of improving the legacy of the football team and pursuing athletic scholarship opportunities through his activity on the field, he enthusiastically took on his role as captain.

Knowing how demanding leading a team of over 35 players is, Bell finds that it is crucial to maintain a balance between staying focused on the game and bonding with the team by destressing. By keeping his team energized and mentaly prepared, Bell believes that leading by example is most effective when attempting to get his teammates on the same page as him.

“I know when it’s time to play and have fun and when it’s time to be serious and lock in,” Bell said. “You must be able to take control when things go left and lead by example.”

Apart from leading his teammates and teaching them his techniques on the field, Bell finds that his experience as captain has taught him a few valuable lessons as well. As team captain, he has learned the importance of communication and how it is a key component when striving to keep the team on the same page. In addition, his teammates have taught him what it truly means to be a part of a team and how, at the end of the day, they can always rely on each other.

“He always tries to push the tempo and energy whenever he can. He has contributed on the field and has given the team momentum as well,” senior outside linebacker Troy Fredrick said.

Despite the roadblocks that this season has endured as a result of the global pandemic, Bell strives to ensure that the players continue to put in the same amount of hardwork and effort, regardless if their training over Zoom or in-person on the field.

As captain, he has also taken precautionary measures to guarantee the health and safety of his team members by dividing the players up into groups of ten. By doing so, Bell hopes that the sense of comradery and being a team remains with each player as they train, while still remaining in a safe environment.

His determination and commitment to playing the sport and serving his team, have led Bell to instill in his teammates the dedication necessary to excel in football and in life.

PETER KELLOGG

With the goal of winning district finals set in sight for this season, senior Peter Kellogg works to lead his team to victory as the boys’ varsity soccer captain.

Serving his fourth year on the school’s team, Kellogg embarked on the role of captain to share the skills he has refined for nearly 15 years. He strives to teach his teammates critical tactics to use when in a tough spot on the field and how to trust their individual judgment and capabilities as athletes.

“Peter Kellog as a captain helps to make everybody focus and to take their job seriously,” senior striker and midfielder Samuel Avellenada said. “He has helped by even giving us gear for the season so we can look more organized on the field.”

While working alongside his teammates, Kellogg has not only learned about the dedication, patience and commitment it takes to be a team captain, but also the vital role communication plays in maintaining a united team. He views these qualities as necessary components to build a healthy foundation that will allow his team to grow in order to make sure that everyone is just as strong off the field as they are on the field.

“[Being captain has] taught me a lot so far. It’s definitely been harder than I thought, but I learned that as long as there is mutual respect between myself and my teammates there will always be effective communication and support,” Kellogg said.

To help his peers, Kellogg ensures that there is a sense of organization among the team so that each player is well aware of the game plan for each game, especially amid such a challenging and unprecedented season. He encourages every player to wear their masks at all times and to attend school online as a way to ensure the safety of the entire team.

“Soccer is like a car; everything needs to be functional for it to run. That’s the same with the team on the field, everyone needs to be in it with 100%,” Kellogg said. “To be a good player you need to communicate, have passion and know when to persevere.”

JASMINE MORALES

Since the age of 10, senior Jasmine Morales has channeled her desire to spark joy in others into performing routines. As the captain of the varsity cheerleading team, Morales has used her passion to inspire her teammates by bringing out both their individual and team potential.

Upon entering high school, Morales knew she wanted to put her love for performance into something that would allow her to creatively express herself. Expanding on her prior experience as co-captain of her middle school’s dance team, she joined the school’s cheerleading team at the end of her freshman year.

Through after-school practice and teambonding exercises, Morales grew with the team and eventually earned the title of varsity cheer captain. She works to instill confidence in her squad by praising members when they excel in certain choreographies and pushing her teammates to work hard even when they are struggling.

“I have always seen the potential each individual girl had. I knew that with the right leadership, goals and inspiration the team could do greater things and that’s what I aspired to do [as captain],” Morales said. “I wanted to and still want to bring out the best in each individual girl and the team as a whole.”

In efforts to continue motivating her teammates and remaining consistent with their practices and performances at games, Morales aims to ensure that safety of each team member is of top priority. She makes sure to uphold safety guidelines and enforce social distancing during practices and at games. In light of COVID-19, she has implemented a contact tracing system, in which each cheerleader is assigned to a specific stunting group and not allowed to have contact with the members from other groups as a way to facilitate tracing in the event of a possible positive case.

Apart from working to create a safe environment, she works to create a safe space for her fellow cheerleaders to grow alongside each other. With the dedication and commitment that she has poured into the sport and her time on the team, Morales hopes she will take with her wherever her path in the future may take her.

“Jasmine Morales is an amazing captain. She is dedicated to the team, she is at every practice and game giving it 100% effort every time,” cheerleading head coach Megan Aridas said. “She works outside of practice to create cheers, dances and workouts for the team. She knows how to be a leader while also being fair and respected by her teammates.”