9 minute read
Sophomore Nathan Chan is
from May 2021
EMMI WALKER
health & sports staff
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Shoes squeaking against the tennis court, the slap of the ball bouncing against the clay court and the whoosh of the racket slicing through air, Nathan Chan is all too familiar with these sounds. Only a sophomore, Chan has already climbed the ranks and is the number one player on the boys varsity tennis team.
“My mom got me started,” Chan said. “She was along with her.”
While Chan played in the 14 and under age Chan has moved into the 16 and under age group, he is ranked in the top 20. He hopes to continue working to improve his ranking. out looking at all the tournaments and seeing what that he was good.”
Chan trains at The Academy in Creve Coeur where he practices with trainers and other players. On a usual school day, Chan plays two and a half hours of tennis and trains in the gym at least once a day. Furthermore, on weekends, he continues his gym routine and also partakes in practice matches against other players and lessons with his coach. All of this practice helps Chan prepare for monthly or bi-monthly tournaments. where you actually have a team consisting of players in your area and you play against other areas. The tournament lasts for about a week with one match a day so you have a lot of time to hang out with your friends.” with fellow sophomore and varsity player Amit tournament six years ago and now they both train together at the The Academy, practicing together Chan have developed a camaraderie over the years
“When we are playing tennis we are trying to
Moreover, Chan has developed a close relationship with the other ten boys on the team. Chan helps lead the team by motivating his teammates and supporting them.
“[Nathan is] like the extra support to our team out me to see all the matches that closely; [Nathan] lets me know what is going on.” has been going to physical therapy twice a week. Chan continues to go to practice, though, where he works on stretches for rehabilitating his hip. mid April, making him unable to practice with his team at the same rigor as before. Although Chan cannot play regularly on the courts and compete against other players and teams, Chan receives support from his teammates.
“The teammates always check up with him on how he is feeling and how his physical therapy is pro ing our matches.” his goal for the team is to win a state championship. said. “You have to overcome a lot of adversity and involve a lot of problem solving.” p
HOT SHOT
Statistics about Chan’s tennis experience
Previously ranked Chan’s bag has Chan has played #1 8 11
in St. Louis’s 14 & under age group tennis rackets from the Babolat brand years of tennis since first grade
ABOVE: Freshman MJ Bezzant embraces a teamate during a water polo game. She has been playing water polo since summer of 2020. “I love how competitive and exciting the games are,” Bezzant said. (Photo by Ginger Schulte) LEFT: Candice Vorbeck coaches the team during a match against Oakville High School. This is her first season coaching the team. “I like to have a focus for my practices and incorporate it into drills,” Vorbeck said. (Photo by Ginger Schulte)
MAKING WAVES
Ladue initiates the first ever all girls water polo team
DEVANSHU PANDEY
staff writer
The referee blows the whistle, calling a foul and turning the ball possession to the opposing team. Players swim rapidly as a ball is passed across the length of the pool. All of a sudden, a player rises out of the water for a catch and skid-shoots the bright yellow ball straight into the goal. The fast-paced sport of water polo has grown in popularity, especially since the cre
Louis area, the sport was coed, meaning boys and girls competed against each other for playing time. However, ing to gain recognition at the high school level, making the need for a separate girls team obvious. As a result,
Ladue has joined the Marquette, Oakville, Parkway and
Lafayette school districts in forming an all girls water polo league. “We saw the fact that the girls were not being developed in the same way as the boys, because they would start out as junior varsity players, and they’d be very good,” head water polo coach Micheal Clay said. “Then, when [the girls] moved up to varsity, the boys would bench.” Coaches were right. Not only did the separation of 30 HEALTH & SPORTS sport and gave way for many new players. The creation of an all girls team has inspired players who were initially intimidated to partake in water polo.
“I probably wouldn’t have done water polo if I was play ticed with the junior varsity boys before and they have the to be going up against them.”
In contrast to previous seasons, players on the girls skills in the water. Now, players who were previously overlooked take charge of the games and score goals. Moreover, players who are new to the game don’t stay benched all season.
“People who are less experienced get to play more now,” senior Vivian Marsters said. “I remember with the [coed] junior varsity and varsity, girls weren’t put in very get a ton of exposure and they all get to play equally.”
With the addition of a new girls team, Ladue needed a new coach for the all girls water polo team. Clay spends most of his time with the varsity boys team and coach Jacob Jagodzinski helps the junior varsity boys. According to Clay, it was a stroke of luck that led Candice Vorbeck to coach the all girls water polo team. out and said she’d like to come help out and be around. I immediately just asked, ‘do you want to coach at Ladue?’ When she applied, I realized very quickly how talented
she was. We got very lucky to have her sort of just fall into our school.”
As the head coach of the girls team, Vorbeck runs practice for the girls and is always at the games. Players say that Vorbeck has played an integral role in helping the
“During games, coach Vorbeck is there talking to us, letting us know what we need to work on,” Marsters said. “Sometimes she’ll call [a] timeout and give us tips on what we’re doing and what we need to pick up on. She also videotapes us so we can go through [the gameplay] later.”
Even though there are separated teams, the girls team, junior varsity team and varsity team still practice together. This has allowed the teams to grow together.
“We usually start practicing with everybody in the pool, junior varsity, varsity and girls, for warm-ups,” Marsters said. “Then we start to split up a little bit more and become individualized. Sometimes it’s junior varsity with girls, varsity with girls or even all three of those are split ing and a lot of drills.”
Furthermore, the coaches still let some girls get a chance to play in coed junior varsity and varsity games. This helps them build experience and contribute to more of the program.
“We have the ability to say that a girl can play in a full girls game and still play with junior varsity or
POLO PLAY
varsity without a game or quarter regulation,” Clay said. “So, playing in a full varsity game and a full girls game is like playing in two leagues at the same time.” has already won several games. According to Vorbeck, the team’s most memorable game by far has been against ter, the girls were losing two to four. However, as the game neared to a close and the pressure heightened, the girls North, and not just because we won,” Vorbeck said. “Looking back, it was an awesome moment because a lot of the girls could actually implement things that they’ve been learning and see it go into action.” coaches believe that girls water polo will keep growing. They think more schools in the area will jump on board and help legitimize the girls league.
“I would bet next year we’ll have ten schools,” Clay said. “And if I look ten years into the future, I think there will be more girls than boys teams. I really think it’s going to expand that much.” p
Women’s ball
21.3 cm
Men’s ball
22.6 cm
Weight
400-450 grams
Sources: athletics.net, USA Waterpolo
Water polo equipment and game structure
4quarters in a game
8minutes per quarter Support the team on Instagram
@laduegirlswopo
2m area
Offside zone
GOAL 1 goalie
Midline
6 outfielders
Women’s pool length: 25m Men’s pool length: 30m 5m area
Penalty zone
GOAL
illustration by |
SOPHIA LIU
photo by | GINGER SCHULTE
Head cap
Equipped with a headguard to avoid concussions
Ear protectors
Protect the player against ear ruptures
Mouth guard
Absorb impact if player bites down or gets hit
Cashier: Lucy May 10, 2021 9:55 a.m
QTY DESC
panorama
1201 South Warson Road St. Louis, Missouri 63124 314-993-6447
