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Athletes of the Month
Guillan Goes for Gold!
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As an all-around athlete, Izabella Guillan succeeded at weightlifting using her athletic capabilities to perform for multiple teams.
By Sofia Chianella Just 20 short months ago, in June 2020, Izabella Guillan, a junior at J.W. Mitchell High School, was first introduced to the sport of weightlifting, leading her athletic journey to take a quick turn from soccer to a strenuous weight workout. Looking for an activity that could keep her in shape, Guillan attended a gym named Train Harder, recommended to her by her friends. Shortly after she joined the training facility, she fell in love with the atmosphere. “I like how it’s an individual sport because I played team sports all my life, and playing an individual sport gives me control of my work ethic and basically everything else,” Guillan said. In order to keep up with her high performance levels, Guillan joined the girls weightlifting team at J.W. Mitchell High School, beginning a rigorous practice schedule. “We train in the morning, four days a week depending on when our meets are. Before we trained after school every day. There was a rule about being there three days a week, but we would train after school and in the morning sometimes,” Guillan said. Multiple components are needed in order to succeed at proper lifting. Guillan vouches for the importance of positivity to those who want to participate in weightlifting. “I think a good mentality [is necessary] because if you don’t have a good mentality playing into your lifts and your actions, you’re going to do bad at your lifts,” Guillan said. With videos of failed attempts at lifting circulating popular social media platforms, opponents of the sport have argued about the dangers of this activity. Despite these situations, Guillan considered herself lucky, as she has never faced a threatening situation when lifting. “If you have good technique and you’re not ego lifting, then it’s okay, but of course there are dangers with every sport. But good technique and good form is the main thing,” Guillan said. Attempting to pursue a triumphant future, Guillan engages in Olympic weightlifting, a club where she is able to compete at national events. Along with traveling during the summer, fall, and spring to competitions, Guillan still wants to further her athletic career. “I’m trying to make the youth world champion team, but I mean, if I could go to the Olympics that would be super cool,” Guillan said. Head coach Cobie Lee complimented Guillan on her statues of team captain, top weight lifter in her class, district champion, regional champ, record breaker of school clean and jerk, and her dedication to becoming state champion. “Izzy is an amazing athlete and captain on our varsity girls weightlifting team. Her perseverance and determination in weightlifting has helped her achieve incredible numbers in the snatch and clean and jerk lifts. Her hard work and dedication to weightlifting has proven to be paying off,” Lee said. As the 2021-’22 season of girls weightlifting comes to a close with victories in regionals as well as districts, Guillan will continue to practice with a mindset toward upcoming achievements. Congratulations to this deserving athlete.
On Nov. 3, 2021, Izabella Guillan warmed up before snatching at a home meet against Gulf High School. Photo by Breanna Mahan
Dominick Phanco (’22) was awarded with Gregg Schindler Male Student Athlete for January.
By: Hanna CarberrySimmering
Starting soccer at the age of four, Dominick Phanco (’22) holds the captain position of the J.W. Mitchell varsity boys’ soccer team fourteen years later. Soccer was the first sport he started playing and decided to stay with. Phanco’s first year as captain has been successful. The team celebrated a big win against Jesuit on Jan. 8, and clinched the district championship on Feb. 2.
“[At] the Jesuit tournament we were the lowest ranked team in our bracket and ended up pulling out a win, so that was awesome,” Phanco said. The regular season came to an end with a total of 21 games played. The last regular game of the season was an away game against Land o’ Lakes on Jan. 17, that ended with a win. This continued the team’s two-week winning streak. Phanco has been inspired over the years from famous soccer players and his own family members.
“As far as soccer goes, my role models are players like Messi, but my role model in my life is my dad. Everything he does for me inspires me to push harder every day,” Phanco said.
Oscar Ubillus, the boys’ varsity soccer coach, nominated Phanco for the Gregg Schindler Male Student Athlete of the Month.
“Dom is our leader and well-deserving of this award. He’s exactly what you want as a coach from your senior and captain. He continues to put forth maximum effort on and off the field setting a good example for his teammates. We look forward to seeing how far he can lead us in the postseason,” Ubillus said.
As Phanco’s last season of high school soccer comes to an end, he is committed to University of California Santa Barbara where he will continue to play D1 soccer for the next four years. Congratulations to Dominick Phanco, the Gregg Schindler Male Student Athlete of the Month.
During the game on Jan. 17, Dominick Phanco (’22) rushes to get the ball from a Land o’ Lakes player for another chance to score a goal. Photo by Hanna Carberry-Simmering
