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VOLUME 15 • ISSUE 4 SPORTS • JANUARY 27, 2014
Warriors, Niners, and Sharks
Bay Area sports recap megy appalaraju
six game winning streak at the newly crowned SAP Center. Captain Joe Thornton carries the team with 46 assists so far, and Joe Pavelski has a total of 25 goals for the season. The Sharks were victorious against the Anaheim Ducks, where Bracken Kearns scored his first NHL goal to end Anaheim’s 10-game winning streak. “I can definitely say that this season has been one of their best, so I think their chances for the playoffs look pretty good this season,” said Samantha Madala (11). The last game of the regular season is on April 12 against the Phoenix Coyotes. The Golden State Warriors are ranked second in the Pacific Division
with a record of 26-16 at about the halfway point of the 2013-14 season. Key player Stephen Curry leads the stats boards averaging 23.5 points and 9.2 assists per game. “I think they really have the potential to go far in the playoffs this year,” Arjun Ashok (11) said. “They have one of the best starting fives in the league and with Jordan Crawford, they have a lot more depth.” Significant games include the matchup between the Warriors and Sacramento Kings in early November, where Golden State beat their rivals 98-87. The regular season ends in midApril, and the playoffs end in June with the NBA Finals.
Alumnus plays in Rose Bowl with Stanford Aquila managing editor Among the Stanford players at the 100th Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 was alumnus Gautam Krishnamurthi (‘11), who although he did not get the opportunity to play, appreciated the bonding experience he had with the team. Stanford University played Michigan State but lost 24-20. “I think the team was disappointed with the loss because we felt very prepared for the game, but obviously we think that we could have played better in the game, even though they were a very good team,” Krishnamurthi said. “I think the loss really made the team think about next year, and we are ready to
prepare for another run.” Not only was this the 100th Rose Bowl, but it was the last Rose Bowl where the winner of the PAC-12 played the winner of the Big 10. The new system, called the College Football Playoff features two semifinal bowl games a year, but will rotate through six bowl games, according to the official website of the College Football Playoff. On Jan. 1, 2015 the top four teams will play in either the Rose Bowl or the Sugar Bowl to determine who will proceed to the national championship. Krishnamurthi played wide receiver on offense and safety on defense while at the Upper School and was also a captain his senior year.
PROVIDED BY GAUTAM KRISHNAMURTHI
Gautam Krishmanurthi discusses Stanford football experience alyssa amick
ROSE BOWL Gautam Krishnamurthi (‘11) is part of the Stanford University football team that recently played in the 100th Rose Bowl. The team lost to Michigan State.
Sochi 2014: Winter Olympics reporter
year,”
“It would be pretty unfair if any athl e t e s were arrested in R ussia for partaking in any ‘gay activities,” she said. Yet, precedents exist demonstrating the IOC taking the opposite approach, such as when South Africa was banned from the Games between 1964 and 1991 on account of apartheid. The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games will be broadcasted on NBC beginning on Feb.6.
ILLUSTRATION BY VASUDHA RENGARAJAN
she said. The Winter Olympics has sparked tremendous controversy, most of which revolves around the nation’s strict anti-LGBT policies passed in 2013. Promoted by President Vladmir Putin, Russian legislation acts to ban the “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” in an effort to promote traditional Russian Orthodox values, according to CBS News. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) responded to the discussion stating that they received explicit assurances from Putin that athletes attending the games would not experience discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The IOC additionally declared that it was not within the scope of Olympic jurisdiction to influence the laws within any nation, as the central focus of the Games was to demonstrate respect and coexistence. “I don’t think the Olympic Committee has to really step in because it might not be their rightful place,” said sophomore Natasha Santhanam. Aishu Murari (10) is concerned about the legislative immunity of the athletes.
SIDEKICK Ramzi Jahshan (11) steals the ball from a Pinewood player in the boys Kicks Against Cancer game. The boys and girls soccer teams hosted the fifth annual fundraiser to send five families to Camp Okizu.
Not just for kicks
Kicks Against Cancer benefits Camp Okizu ashi gautam
Aquila opinion editor During their fifth annual Kicks Against Cancer event, the Varsity soccer teams raised money for children to go to Camp Okizu, a camp for cancer patients and families last Friday. Varsity girls and boys soccer teams both won 6-0 against Summit Preparatory High School and Pinewood, respectively, while fundraising for Camp Okizu. Four years ago, Kicks Against Cancer began as a collaboration between the Class of 2010 and the coaches on the Varsity soccer teams. Kicks Against Cancer is a charitable soccer event in which Varsity soccer teams fundraise for Camp Okizu. Okizu organizes week-long camps for families with childhood cancer in Berry Creek, California. Soccer teams raise money for families to attend these camps by selling t-shirts for $12 as tickets to their game. This year, both Varsity soccer teams brought new items such as beanies and long-sleeve purple t-shirts which were sold during both lunches last week. “Kicks Against Cancer for the soccer team is like the equivalent of Homecoming for the football team,” said Kevin Moss (12), Varsity boys
MITTY SKATER HEADS TO SOCHI
tiara bhatacharya
Elation, anger, anticipation, and resentment are just a few of the sentiments surrounding the 2014 Winter Olympics to be hosted in Sochi, Russia from Feb. 7 to 23. The best athletes from around the globe will gather in the spirit of unity and competition, participating in 15 different events ranging from figure skating to luge, each contending to bring home their own coveted Olympic gold medal. Approximately 90 countries around the world are readying their Olympic teams for the competitions, including seven countries expected to make their Winter Olympic debuts. The U.S. is sending 224 athletes. The 22nd Winter Olympic Games feature two newly built venues - the Sochi Olympic Park will host indoor events, including the opening ceremonies, and the outdoor Krasnaya Polyana is set to host outdoor competitions. With a budget estimated to exceed $50 million, Sochi 2014 is in place to be the most expensive Olympic Games yet, even surpassing the 2008 Games in Beijing. Daniel Hudkins, Director of Instructional Technology, is particularly looking forward to the skiing events. “My daughter was a ski racer before we moved out here, and skiing is something I do, so it’s something I can identify with more,” Hudkins said. Many students, however, are not watching the Olympics, such as Yasemin Narin (10). “I just don’t have time this
MEILAN STEIMLE - WINGED POST
CHEER ON Harker sports fans, Samantha Madala (11) and Adarsh Battu (12), root on the 49ers and the Sharks in their favorite player’s jerseys.
Archbishop Mitty student Polina Edmunds (10) earned a spot on the U.S. Women’s Olympic Figure Skating Team for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics after 13 years of training. At age 15, Polina will be one of the youngest U.S. athletes to have ever competed in the Olympic Games. After watching the U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Team at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, she was inspired, and her determination to seriously pursue figure skating was ignited. Now, having finished second in her first senior national competition, the Mitty sophomore has a chance to go down in Olympic history. “For the last four years I’ve been training and working as hard as I could, learning new elements to get to this point. I’m just so happy that all this work has paid off,” she said. Particularly exciting for Polina is the opportunity to return to Russia, a country she has not visited since the age of two. Because her mother and fellow coach Nina Edmunds grew up approximately 100 miles from Moscow, Sochi 2014 is a sort of homecoming for the Edmunds family. In 2010, Polina landed her first double axel - a turning point in her career. “A double axel is the stepping stone for skaters,” she said. “The skaters who can learn double axels are set up for the triples, and once you learn the triples, you’re into the competitive ranks of figure skating.” Upon returning to school after the 2014 U.S. Championships, she was greeted by a large crowd of cheering
soccer team captain. This year, English teacher John Docherty became the new coach for the Varsity girls soccer team and changed the process of Kicks Against Cancer. “I encourage the girls to take ownership this season,” said Docherty. “I never estimate the value, but I gauge it more on the enthusiasm from the community, which has been very positive.” Since the Varsity soccer players in 2010 wanted to give back to their community while playing soccer, they took inspiration from Troy Thiele, former Varsity girls soccer head coach. “For years, we had thrown around the idea of how the soccer program could give back to the greater community at large and I mentioned to them that my college had been doing a kicks against cancer event, similar to what we are doing now,” Thiele said. “Now, the soccer players have done a great job of keeping in touch with the families at Camp Okizu.” The donation amount raised from Kicks Against Cancer will be announced soon and will be sent to Camp Okizu. To donate directly, contact the Varsity soccer captains or visit www.okizu.org. Mitty students, as well as a large banner announcing her success. “I was just so surprised because I was never expecting anything like that,” Polina said. Yet, in the midst of her athletic celebrity, Polina is still a full-time high school student committed to her academics. “It is a little bit hard for us to see that she’s skated hard, she’s tired, and after coming home she needs to do homework, but she can do it,” said Polina’s mother, Nina Edmunds. Polina has attributed her success as a figure skater to immense technical training under her coach David Glynn. The routines in Polina’s programs at the 2014 U.S. Championships, where she qualified for the Olympics, were the most technically challenging in the competition. “[Glynn’s] taught me incredible technique, and that’s what’s really helped my skating,” she said. Particularly exciting for Polina is the opportunity to return to Russia, a country she has not visited since the age of two. Because her mother and fellow coach Nina Edmunds grew up approximately 100 miles from Moscow, Sochi 2014 is a homecoming for the Edmunds family. NBC will broadcast Polina’s journey through Sochi through their coverage of the Olympic OLYMPIAN Polina games from Edmunds (15) poses in her skating attire. Feb. 7 to 23.
ELLIOTT ALMOND
The San Francisco 49ers lost to the rival Seattle Seahawks in the National Football Conference (NFC) Championships on Sunday January 19 with a score of 17-23. After a 12-4 regular season, led by coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers fell short of returning to the Super Bowl after leading for the first three quarters. “I’m very disappointed about them losing,” Emma Doherty (10) said. “My expectations were that they would play in the Super Bowl.” Key players include running back Frank Gore, who led the team with 1128 rushing yards for the season and wide receiver Anquan Boldin with 1179 receiving yards for the season. One of the most significant games of the regular season was the 49ers victory against Seattle 19-17 in Week 14. Despite their setbacks, the 49ers still made it to the NFC Championship for the third consecutive time, a franchise record. The Seattle Seahawks will play the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 2. The San Jose Sharks are currently ranked second in the Pacific Division with a record of 31-12-6. The Sharks began their season under coach Todd McLellan with a
MEGY APPALARAJU - WINGED POST
reporter