page 30
December 2013 Volume VII Issue 3
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Volume VII Issue III December 2013
ZOOMS Slice o’ cake Fake ‘em out Starting Strong
KICKOFF
11
Staff view & News brief
12
Hot or not & Pop culture
13 14
Ten Questions
with Charlotte Alipate (‘14)
Inside the Mind
of James Giacca (‘15)
SHORTS
15
Hittin’ the slopes
16
Wrestling with tradition
24
by PAIGE BARA
photo by Paul Bienaimé
4 6 8
photo courtesy of Malcolm Slaney
LINEUP
by OLIVIA SCOLA
Viking tries by ROWAN McEVOY
36
Bon appétit by AMI DREZ
COLUMNS 18
Great Debate
by GILLIAN CHRYST and ALEX MURRAY
Last word
46
by ZACH RIZK
FINAL STRECTH Emily Zhang (‘16) climbs the starting hill of the 2.95 mile course at Crystal Springs during the Central Coast Section (CCS) event. The Vikings finished ninth overall and failed to qualify for the California state meet.
STANDING STABLE 32
BREAK AWAY
36
A TURNING POINT 40
Irene Ezran (‘14) goes beyond typical horseback riding when she vaults, doing gymnastics and dance on top of the horse. by HAYLEY POORE
Breakdancing, although uncommon at Paly, has a large impact on those who are part of the immense dance culture.
Ballerinas Jennifer Wang (‘14) and Maya Kitayama (‘14) reveal the challenges of the time consuming art form.
by CLARA HARRINGTON and MADDIE KINNAMAN
by ANNA DUKOVIC and MEGAN VALENCIA
THE 85TH SEASON 20
RAISING THE BAR 28
ON THE COVER
by ZOE BHARGAVA and KATIE FOUG
by SHEILA SUBRAMANIAN
Jennifer Wang leaps in her San Francisco dance studio. Photo by Oliver Endahl
DECEMBER 2013
ZOOM SLICE O’ CAKE Avanika Narayan (‘17) stretches to hit her forehand against a Stevenson School opponent. Narayan won her match 6-3, 7-6. photo by Tara Lawrence
ZOOM FAKE ’EM OUT WInston Rosati(`16) gears up to shoot against the Pioneer High School goalie in the first round of CCS. The Vikes went on to win 16-7. photo by Tara Lawrence
ZOOM STARTING STRONG
The Paly boys’ cross-county team sprints to begin the city championship. The team finished in second place, losing to the Gunn Titans. photo courtesy of Malcolm Slaney
Editors-in-Chief Pippa Raffel Josh Stern Managing Editors Audrey DeBruine Ami Drez Chris Smith Design Editor Julia Saul Photo Editors Tara Lawrence Paul Bienaimé Columnist Zach Rizk Multimedia Editor Paul Bienaimé Business Managers Tara Lawrence Staff Paige Bara Priscilla Bell Zoe Bhargava Gillian Chryst Tori DeStefano Anna Dukovic Katie Foug Ido Gal Clara Harrington Maddie Kinnaman Rowan McEvoy Alex Murray Niall Patrick Hayley Poore Olivia Scola Sheila Subramanian Megan Valencia Staff Adviser R. Michael McNulty
The Viking Palo Alto High School 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94301 650-329-3837 Email contact: vikingeds@gmail.com Advertising and Sponsorship Contact: vikingads@gmail.com
10 | T H E V I K I N G |
From the editors Dear readers, We hope you had a thrilling Thanksgiving break and are ready for a wonderful winter. In this issue our staff addresses the question of what classifies as a sport as many Paly student athletes compete outside of school in athletics that are not particularly common among kids their own age. By highlighting girls in wrestling and competitive weightlifting at the high school level, we hope to show how Paly students have not only overcome various challenges but have dared to step into new boundaries. We further look into the competitive dancing careers that several Paly students have maintained throughout
Staff view
There are countless way to be considered an athlete whether you run on a treadmill, take classes at a gym or are on a team. But what makes an athlete a participant in a sport? Where is the list? How do we know exactly what is a sport? The Olympics are where the most prominent athletes take part in their sport, but some of the included sports could be considered less of a sport than what are not in the games. And even if an event is taken out of the Olympics, like baseball and softball were for the 2012 Summer Games, that doesn’t mean they are any less of a sport. The Viking believes that a spectrum for activities can show the differences between what is a skill and what has sport aspects with it as well. On one end of the spectrum would be pure skills, and on the other end would be sports, which require skill and some more traits. There can be extremes on both ends, but the spectrum allows for things to fall in between. To fall towards the sports end of the spectrum, the activity being considered would have to require physical exertion. All sports require some effort, but some more than others. The more sweat, the more it is a sport. Also to push something more to the sport end is the Letters to the editor The Viking, a sports magazine published by the students in Palo Alto High School’s Advanced Magazine Journalism class, is an open forum for student expression and the discussion of issues of concern to its readership. The Viking is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost. The staff welcomes letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity.
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high school. Such athletes include horse vaulter Irene Ezran (‘14), breakdancer Elijah Waxman (‘14) and ballerinas Jennifer Wang (‘14) and Maya Kitayama (‘14). Dedicating a tremendous amount of time and effort outside of schools, these athletes should be recognized for their perseverance and hard work. Once again we thank you for your readership! We wish the best of success on your first semester finals and a brilliant winter break. Happy Holidays!
Sincerely, Pippa and Josh
level of commitment needed, which relates to competitiveness. There can be different levels of commitment based on the skill level one is competing at. One might not consider horse racing a sport, but jockeys have to work hard to keep their weight down and be within range to ride. They go through starving themselves, not drinking water and even throwing up so that they are able to do the sport that they love. For them to be considered a good athlete in their sport, it takes commitment in a more extreme case, and that cost of competition pushes being a jockey to being a sport.. Commitment also involves the amount of time that athletes put in, and that can vary to put activities at different spots. Some activities involve a more artistic aspect, like dance, figure skating and gymnastics. The performance is very important, and is considered when receiving scores. While also putting in a great deal of physical work, the athletes have to be aware of their appearance. Ultimately, a spectrum between what isn’t a sport what is means that a distinct line does not need to be drawn for what is a sport and what is not. There are many aspects to what makes a sport a sport, and why one activity would be considered more of a sport than another, and they are taken into account in a spectrum. <<< Advertising in The Viking The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts providing they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazine’s audience. For more information about advertising with The Viking, please contact the The Viking by email at vikingeds@gmail.com Printing Services 2,500 copies of The Viking are printed, six times a year by Fricke-Parks Press in Fremont, Calif.
News brief: Paly Athletics announces new head coaches for track and field, girls’ softball and boys’ lacrosse by IDO GAL This year, Paly sports are introducing four new head coaches into the athletics program: Bill Laskey for softball, DJ Shelton (‘08) for lacrosse, and Aly Seedman (‘07) and Kelsey Feeley for track and field. Shelton will be the new boys’ varsity head coach at Paly, taking over for Craig Conover. Shelton is a Palo Alto native. He attended Goucher College in Baltimore and played four years of NCAA Division III lacrosse. “I began coaching nine years ago, starting off coaching in beginner camps and private lessons,” Shelton wrote in a letter to the Paly lacrosse community. “I have since expanded that experience into my own business dedicated to the development, training, and recruitment of Bay Area lacrosse players.” Currently, Shelton attends graduate school at Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont where he is pursuing a teaching credential in Secondary Social Studies and Masters in Education. “I hope to also teach at Paly upon completion of the program, and be able to educate my players both on and off the field,” Shelton wrote. “Paly provided me with an amazing
foundation for education and life, and I am now driven to provide all my students and players with the same abilities.” New girl’s softball head coach Bill Laskey will be taking over for George Marshall after the Lady Vikes went 3-23 in the 2012-13 season. “I was born in Ohio, and moved to California when I played in the MLB,” Laskey said. “I was traded from the Kansas City Royals to the San Francisco Giants in 1981. I was a right handed pitcher for them from 1981 to 1986.” In addition to playing professional baseball for 13 years, Laskey also coached softball for 20 years. “I coached [my daughter] all through grade school and high school, and she got into to college playing,” Laskey said. “I also coached at Aragon High School for five years. I didn’t coach last year because I work as an analyst for the Giants on Comcast.” Laskey hopes to turn the Vikings’ second season around in 2014 following their disappointing three win campaign from last year. “I’m very excited to come here,” Laskey said.
“This team struggled last year. The biggest thing is to bring Palo Alto a winning program. I want to be here for a while and build a program that generates excitement for softball.” Seedman is one of two head coaches to take over track this season. She has coached girls’ sprints for the past two years for the Vikings. “I ran track at Paly when I was in high school,” Seedman said. “I also ran track at the University of Redlands in Southern California, but I tore my achilles, so I was forced to quit.” Seedman is also a currently a second grade teacher to go along with her new coaching job. “I think the thing I’m looking forward too the most is working with the high schoolers.” Seedman said. “It’ll be much different than working with second graders.” Feely graduated from Gunn High School in 2008 and ran for San Francisco State University. He also coached the boys’ distance and cross country in the spring and fall of this year. The seasons for each respective spring sport commences on Monday, Feb. 7. <<<
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Silver
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Bronze
Jim Mclennan Suzanne & Bert Bell Crace Consulting Services DECEMBER 2013
P Culture Grid
The op W H AT D O P A LY AT H L E T E S S AY ?
Wesley Wu (‘15) Boys’ soccer
Kevin Mullin (‘15) Boys’ basketball
James Giaccia (‘16) Wrestling
Siggi Benson (‘16) Girl’s basketball
Livi Musil (‘16) Girls’ soccer
Favorite Winter Activity?
Curling
Sledding
Ice skating
Basketball
Playing soccer
Favorite type of Cereal?
Oats cereal
Fruit Loops
Cap’n Crunch
Gluten free granola
Honey Nut Cheerios
Star Wars or Star Trek?
Star Wars
Star Trek
Star Wars
Star Wars
Neither
Beatles or Rolling Stones?
Beatles
Beatles
Rolling Stones
Beatles
Rolling Stones
Red Prius
Ford F-150
1967 Mustang
Corvette
Toyota Sienna
Favorite Car?
HOT
Clutch in the backfield Running back Tyler Gaffney has been phenomenal for the Stanford Cardinal. He has rushed for over 100 yards in six games, including a 157 yard performance a No. 3 Oregon team. Gaffney also looked impressive in the Big Game against rival Cal, recording 95 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Still golden
Bullying in the NFL
In a case that baffles many, former Stanford and current Dolphins offensive tackle Jonathan Martin has taken a leave of absence from his team due to being allegedly bullied by fellow teammate and offensive lineman Richie Incognito.
The Golden State Warriors continue to build on their impressive season from last year with a fast start to the 2013-14 season. The Warriors have benefited from the impressive play of shooting guard Klay Thompson and newly acquired Denver Nugget, Andre Iguodala .
Raiders’ ratty season
The Oakland Raiders have gotten off to a 4-7 start to the 2013 season. As promising new quarterback Terrelle Pryor started to gain momentum, his season was hampered by a knee injury. Still in last place in the AFC West, the Raiders need to find upcoming talent in this years draft.
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N OT Images taken from
Inside the mind of James Giaccia (‘15)
as told to Tori DeStefano
photo by Paul Bienaimé
On Tier Boys “I love my crew. We’re just a bunch of brothers doing high school right.”
On being a lightweight wrestler
“I love wrestling, even though it’s a grind. Being a lightweight sucks sometimes because you have to watch your wieght. Everyone should come out and watch this year and watch some home duals. You all can see me in some tights.”
On coach David Duran “I’ve known Duran since I was a young boy. He knew my brother who wrestled at Gunn. He’s another role model figure in my life.”
On love life
“I’m on a mission of a lifetime. She knows that so that’s all that matters. #thedream.”
On dancing
“Oh people call me a young MC Hammer. I don’t let it get to me, though. If anyone saw Phil Lewis (‘15) and I on the dance floor at homecoming, they’d know.”
On wrestling future
“I plan to wrestle in college; I just have to keep grinding away at it.”
On best friend
“[Charlie Oliveira (‘15)] is my boy. We’ve been friends since the 4th grade. He’s a true homie, just like the rest of the Tier guys. He’s a top dog though” DECEMBER 2013
Q uestions 10 with
Charlotte Alipate as told to Tori Destefano
The Viking asked Paly basketball player Charlotte Alipate (‘14) 10 questions about herself and then compared her responses to that of her coach Scott Peters, teammate Maddy Atwater (‘16) and best friend Jess Branson (‘14). Read on to discover who knows Charlotte best!
Charlotte Alipate
Varsity basektball player
Questions
Scott Peters Coach
Maddy Atwater
Jess Branson
Teammate
Best friend
Subway
Pre-game snack?
Fruit Roll-Ups
Subway sandwich
Bar
Horse
Favorite animal?
Dog
Horse
Dog
Scrimmage
Best part about basketball?
Playing with teamates
Teamates or shooting
Sweating
Least favorite aspect about sports?
Running
Sprints
Chewing out loud
Pet peeve?
People who interupt when talking
Chewing loudly
Serious face
Favorite selfie?
Smiling
Serious face
Roller coasters
Biggest fear?
Mean people
Spiders and bugs
Bugs
Snowboarding
Favorite winter olympic sport?
Snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding
Marine Biology
Favorite class?
History
English
Marine Biology
Chocolate
Cocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate
Chocolate
Chocolate
20%
50%
60%
Images taken from
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Scoring Injuries Stuck up people Smiling
Hittin’ the slopes by PAIGE BARA
The Viking conducted a poll of 30 students to find out where Paly students prefered to ski during the winter.
63% Kirkwood, CA
37% Aspen, CO
On average Kirkwood receives 600 inches of snow a year
On average Aspen receives 300 inches of snow a year
Kirkwood has 72 trails
Aspen has 118 trails
185 miles from Palo Alto
1,148 miles from Palo Alto
“
“
The mountain [at Kirkwood] is really nice because there’s a bunch of different terrain for anyone who wants to ski; their mountain has different runs for every level of skier.
[Aspen] is a great place to ski; there’s a lot of variation in the terrain. It’s a really great place to go for families because there’s something for everyone.
- Oliver Tucher (‘15)
- Scott Powell (‘14)
”
”
Wrestling with tradition
photo courtesy of Palo Alto Weekly
GAME FACE Alexa Austin (‘15) is the second female on the wrestling team ever, joining the team last year.
In a predominately male sport, girls have begun to gain respect in the wrestling community.
S
by OLIVIA SCOLA ince the ancient Olympic games began in 708 BC and then resumed in 1896, only males represented their countries. While women eventually earned the right to compete at the Olympic level, it wasn’t until the 2004 summer games they appeared on the wrestling mat. In Palo Alto, this year, coach Dave Duran’s Palo Alto High School wrestling team will include its second female athlete on the team ever.
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Wrestling differs from other sports because a wrestler competes with others based on their weight rather than gender. This makes the sport indiscriminate. “One thing about wrestling is its equal opportunity, so if they are in the room with their shoes on, it’s all the same,” Duran said. Cadence Lee (‘14), a female wrestler at Gunn High School has not only been one of the few girls on her team since freshman year, but one of the best in the country. Lee won the North Dakota tournament last year and the Florida
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National tournament twice which qualified her go to the World Championship last year. “This past year I also went to Serbia to compete,” Lee said. Despite numerous accolades, Lee’s prevailing triumph was not achieved without hardship. Athletes often seek strength and support from fellow teammates, however, the social aspect of athletics can be quite different when facing them as the odd girl out. Without the support from the community it is difficult for any athlete to thrive.
This was far from the case for Paly female wrestler Alexa Austin (‘15). “During matches if I was ever falling behind my teammates would cheer for me,” Austin said. “At tournaments I would have five people over in my corner coaching me. They were all really supportive. They were just excited to have someone else on the team.” Because of the way society characterizes certain sports, it’s difficult for women to participate in such a gender-restricted activity. Both girls and boys have experienced difficulties in accepting the change in the sport. For the athletes at Paly there is no question of equality. “I feel like it’s a good thing that girls are wrestling, it is not just meant for guys, it doesn’t change the dynamic of the team, we
notation of women in the sport, and viewer’s ratings indicate that people love watching it. Recently, professional women’s boxing has also become widely popular and successful. Both have started from a kid most likely being the only girl on the team following a passion and dream. In Palo Alto, neither of the public high schools have enough girls to have separate teams, so they practice together. While there still isn’t enough girl participation to warrant an entirely female team at the high school level, with continued interest from the wrestling community there is an opportunity to change this reality in the near future. “Originally a lot of people would think that girls cannot compete with guys and don’t consider it a legitimate sport,” Austin said, “but I think it’s starting to change.” <<<
One thing about wrestling is it’s equal opportunity, so if they are in the room with their shoes on, it’s all the same. - coach Dave Duran
”
photo courtesy of Cadence Lee
photo by Palo Alto Weekly
For the past few years most of the publicized wrestling matches have emanated from the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The WWE has built a franchise with the professional woman wrestlers, who bring in millions of dollars in revenue yearly. Women dress in promiscuous clothing with predetermined outcomes of the matches and entertain an audience. Pop culture present a sexualized con-
photo courtesy of Cadence Lee
“
welcome in any newcomer, even if it is a girl,” varsity wrestler James Giacca (‘14) said. Although it took 108 years for the Olympics to add women’s wrestling, there has been undeniable progression in the sport.
GAME PLAN Alexa Austin (‘15) listening to her coach before match. ON THE MAT Cadence Lee (‘14) locks with a Saint Francis opponent on the mat. PRIDE Cadence Lee (‘14) holds up the US flag representing team USA at the World Championship. DECEMBER 2013
THE GREAT DEBATE: WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Time for a change The recent controversy over the Washinton Redskins name has created a media frenzy. It’s time to end the disprution and change the name once and for all.
W
by GILLIAN CHRYST hat happens when the sheer joy of sports and the political correctness of society collide? Turn on ESPN, CNN, Fox Sports or any other sports station to find out. Years in the making have boiled down to the past six month. The Washington Redskins controversy is bigger than ever and now it’s time to make a change. The derogatory term “Redskin” is slang for American Indian. Dating back to the 17th century, the term “Redskin” was used to describe the naturally darker skin color of those that were first native to the north. Many people of which the name originated from now label the nickname as disrespectful. “The ‘R’ word is no different than the ‘N’ word,” Clyde Bellecourt, co-founder of the American Indian Movement said. Clyde is right. How would African Americans, Hispanics, Asians or any other ethnic group like it if we used names as offensive as the “N” word, plastering their faces on our football fields and hanging their nickname all over our cities? The name no longer represents the heritage of their culture or the honors
the greatness of their past, in turn it becomes nothing more than an insult. For decades, many activists groups, tribes and individuals have tried to change the name. It hasn’t been until now that people are starting to listen. Bob Costas, NBC’s Sunday Night Football host and television analyst, refuses to say the nickname. “It is an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present-day intent,” Costas said. Not only has the media refrained from saying the name, others like President Obama and leaders from all levels of our in our government are calling for reconsideration. Behind it all are the Native American’s themselves, pushing for the name change. Many have come together gaining attention in the spotlight by boycotts and protests and even the help from the media. It doesn’t stop here. Over 2,000 high school and college sports teams have changed their mascot name due to controversy. Miami University, formerly known as the Redskins, shows that an easy transition over the controversial mascot names is manageable. Showing respect for the Native Americans and furthermore reestablishing Miami’s athletice sports program. So why haven’t the Washington Redskins
PALY PULSE
87%
changed their name, especially considering that they are in the heart of our nations capitol? Dan Snyder, current owner of the Redskins has refused to change the mascot name. “We’ll never change the name,” Snyder said to USA Today. “It’s that simple. NEVER -- you can use caps.” With Snyder sending a clear message indicating that no change will happen anytime soon, it causes me to question why he is against a simple change of a mascot. To Synder, it isn’t about the Native American people. The morality of the name doesn’t mean much to him. It’s about the profit the team makes. Its about tradition for him and the rest of the organization. Tradition that has lasted more than 80 years. Tradition that has brought home three Super Bowl wins. Ones that highlight phenomenal athletes and coaches coming together under one mascot name. However, what Snyder doesn’t see is that it is just a nickname. It wouldn’t change the history of the football team but instead become part of it. The Redskins mascot name becomes part of a story that Synder should be proud of one day, one that the Native American’s should be proud of too for coming together and seeking change. <<<
Images taken from
of 60 Paly students polled said that they wouldn’t want to change Paly’s name if it was controversial.
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Don’t shed Skins’ name The Redskins controversy isn’t about Native Americans taking offense to Washington’s name. Instead, it is commentary on our country’s pursuit of political correctness.
T
by ALEX MURRAY he sports world is a unique entity. In theory, it is supposed to be free from the controversies of our society, existing solely as a medium of entertainment. But in reality, sports is often a way for the world we live in to face the issues that plague our society. Cue the Washington Redskins scandal, enter stage left. The Redskins have recently come under fire from Congress, the media, and even President Barack Obama for having a name that may be potentially offensive and is considered by many to be a racial slur. And while I do agree that the name is offensive, the reason for wanting the change are wrong. The Washington Redskins organization is a proud and honored football franchise, having won three Super Bowls and 13 divisional titles, but their franchise’s name is in jeopardy of being ruined by the tidal wave of political correctness plaguing our society. Most of those who support the name change, such as Congress and the media, are groups of middle aged, wealthy, white Americans. As stated by Rick Reilly, one of America’s most revered sports columnists, in his opinion piece on the subject, a majority of Native Americans have no issue with the term. Some high schools on reservations, where Native American populations are over 90 percent, even have “Redskins” as their mascot. They have no issue with it, so why should fans of the NFL? A poll in the March 2002 issue of Sports Illustrated found that 81 percent of Native American respondents thought high school
INDIANS? Stanford has had its own mascot controversy in the past.
or college teams should not stop using Native American nicknames, and 83 percent of Native Americans respondents thought that pro teams should not stop using Native American nicknames, symbols and mascots. Ten years on, this sentiment has not changed much. The Associated Press recently did a national poll and found that 79 percent of the people polled had no problem with the name “Redskins.” We’ve also encountered this locally before as well. In 1972, after many years of petitioning the University, the Stanford American Indian Organization was successful in having the Stanford Indians name permanently changed to the Stanford Cardinal. The difference between the Stanford Indians and the Redskins is that the Stanford American Indian Organization clearly was against the Indian name, while the Redskins has support of Native Americans across the country. This clearly shows that the term “Redskins” is not the center of this issue, but that our country’s obsession with being politically correct 100 percent of the time is. If our nation is so set on being politically correct, that’s fine, but start where it matters the most and it’ll have the most impact. Changing the Redskins’ name is not solving the issue, only covering it up. Say hypothetically the NFL gives into the demands of these groups. What’s next? The NFL would put itself, and other national sports leagues, into a difficult situation. By giving into these demands, it sets a precedent for the future. Changing the Jacksonville Jaguars’ name to the Jacksonville Ethically Treated and Protected Jaguars, because PETA does not want the watchers of the NFL to think animal cruelty is acceptable, could be next. Or what if Notre Dame had to change their nickname from the Fightin’ Irish to something that does not capitalize on a negative racial stereotype: perhaps the Mellowed out, Peaceful Irish. I’m sure that name will have opposing teams scared come bowl season. No one is complaining about either of these teams, because we have accepted both of these team names as being both culturally acceptable and politically correct. But if the Redskins change their name, then soon we could see these
LEGACY Washington looks to keep a mascot name that it has maintained for over 80 yards
teams’ names and dozens of others as being offense. When that happens, we lose some of the tradition that makes sports so great. Perhaps the worst thing about this controversy is that it is distracting the average sports fan. They cannot focus on the game and it takes away from the Washington Redskins’ season. For someone that casually watches the NFL, they only see the controversy. They will not be able to see the lackluster return of Robert Griffin III, or that the Redskins could be in store for a late season playoff push in the weak NFC East. And when football loses the main attention of the public, then it is doomed to fail. In the end, this issue is not about the NFL. It is about our society trying to make amends for an injustice that was committed over 200 years ago. And while that is a noble intention, simply changing a professional sport team’s name trivializes the issue. It turns a huge social injustice into a simple matter. If our society truly wanted to make amends for this problem, then changing the team’s name is the wrong thing to do. We must actively reach out to Native American community and attempt to make a difference. That is why, as backwards as it may seem, the Washington Redskins must keep their name. They must keep the name for the sanctity and protection of the league’s past and future, for the precedent the NFL were to set if they did change the name, and for the need to get back to the sport we love to watch. Most of all, by simplifying such an injustice, our society would be doing more harm than good. And that, is wrong. <<<
DECEMBER 2013
The 85th season After 85 years filled with many successful seasons, the iconic “big gym” will see its end as the construction of the new gyms begins in 2014. by ZOE BHARGAVA and KATIE FOUG ories fill this gym.”
1967
In 1967, varsity basketball coach Clem Wiser enjoyed one of his best seasons, finshing with a record of 27-2. That year the Vikings’ performance in the South Peninsula Athletic League championship game ranked them second in the entire state, and that game was one that Wiser and his team would never forget. Playing against the Sequoia Cherokees in the league championship, the score was tied 15 times and never exceeded a three point spread. “It was nip and tuck the whole way,” coach Wiser said. “Mark Daley (‘68) shot two free throws with 20 seconds left to the win the game 70-68 and gave us the championship.” The 1967 championship game between Sequoia and Palo Alto was one of the most exciting games Wiser ever experienced. The fans were loud and the gym was packed. “It was the largest crowd that ever saw a basketball game at Paly,” Wiser said. “Enough people came that [we had to] lock the doors and about 100 people couldn’t get in. We even brought in temporary bleachers and people stood three to four deep all around the court.” Large crowds like that one contributed to making more memories and history. The display case in the gym’s front hall houses many of these memories with the numerous pictures, plaques and trophies that overflow the
FULL HOUSE In the 1967 SPAL Championship, Mark Daley (‘68) made two free throws in the final minute to win the game 70-68 against the Sequoia Redwoods. That championship game drew the largest crowd to ever occupy the big gym. 20 | T H E V I K I N G |
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g .
photo courtesty of Clem Wiser
S
tanding in the middle of the big gym, one is surrounded by banners, plaques and awards that date back to the nineteenth century. The numerous green and white wooden plaques may seem irrelevant to the current Paly student, but these numbers and letters represent the thousands of memories that have been created in the iconic gym. The “big gym” was built in 1929 and dedicated in memory of George Stirling Stewart, former vice principal and coach. It has been standing tall for 85 years but will face its end in 2014, construction will begin for a set of new gyms to replace the existing ones because of a private $20 million donation. The construction of the new gymnasiums although extremely beneficial, will tear down thousands of memories that have accumulated throughout hundreds of athletes in the gym’s 85 years of existence. Many greats have played in this gym including former Boston Celtics’ star Jim Loscutoff (‘48), National Football League coach Jim Harbaugh (‘82) and current Houston Rockets’ guard Jeremy Lin (‘06). In addition to the many Paly basketball stars, athletes from both the volleyball and wrestling teams have been impacted by the green stands that encompass the George Stirling Stewart gym. “You look at all the plaques and flags around the gym, all those guys are still alive,” athletic director Earl Hansen said. “A lot of good mem-
DECEMBER 2013
photo by Paul Bienaimé window. Wiser started this trophy case with history teacher Florence Turner who was a basketball fanatic. Before the display case, she kept many of the past trophies in her room after collecting them from the throw-out pile. “Florence Turner was the keeper of the Paly banner and she would put it up on the wall, sit in front of it and protect it,” Wiser said. “When we played Sequoia one of the Sequoia kids came around and tried to take the banner down and steal it. Our varsity football team was in the stands and they grabbed the kid, got him to the railing and tossed him over. He landed on the scoring table and broke it in two. He got up running and took off to the other end of the gym and the football players chased him out [the door].” Wiser served as the head basketball coach at Paly from 1955 to 1984 and as the Athletic Director from 1984 to 1990. He won the Coach of the Year honors from the California Coaches’ Association in 1982 and was elected into the California Coaches’ Hall of Fame in 1991, Wiser made a huge impact on the Paly basketball program, affecting the lives of hundreds of athletes on the court inside the big gym. Craig Carpenter (‘60) played under Coach Wiser for three years at Paly and later went on
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to play for San Jose State University. Playing in gyms all over the country during his collegiate career, Carpenter recalls that Paly had one of the most memorable gyms he had played in. “The old Paly gym was the most fun place I ever played” Carpenter wrote in an email to The Viking. In addition to playing in the gym, Carpenter recalled watching some of Paly’s most successful basketball players in the gym during his time in Palo Alto. “I remember seeing Jim Harbaugh play at Paly in the old gym,” Carpenter wrote. “I remember watching Jeremy Lin (Linsanity!) play at Paly’s old gym. I saw a guy named Jim Loscutoff play at Paly’s old gym when I was a little kid. He went on to play for the Boston Celtics.” Memories define the gym’s character. Kent Hinckley (‘61), another one of Wiser’s many players remembers the gym with fond memories. “Tearing down the old gym is sad given all the memories,” Hickley wrote in an email to The Viking. “When I return to Paly and visit the gym, the memories return in vivid color.”
2006
Similar to Wiser, 39 years later Peter Diepen-
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brock took part in a similar experience in that gym. Diepenbrock was the basketball coach at Paly for 11 years from 1997 to 2008, leading a team all the way to win the 2006 State Championship. “Paly versus Woodcreek from Sacramento in the Norcal semifinals, we were tied with a minute left and Jeremy Lin hit a 3 to put us up 3 to win that game and send us to the Norcal finals,” Coach Diepenbrock said. The game that Diepenbrock recalled was one that he would never forget. The team led by current NBA player Jeremy Lin was one of Paly’s most successful basketball team’s, and that game was one of the most memorable games in recent Paly history. “The gym was absolutely packed and we had an incredible crowd and we had a very good team, and I think there is no way that we would have won that game if it had been on a neutral court or any other place other than that gym,” Diepenbrock said. “The crowd was packed, sold out.” Diepenbrock credits much of that win to the state of the gym. With its unique raised bleachers that surround the court and the gym’s natural tendency for an echo, it could get very loud and the crowds could become very electric in
DECORATED The current big gym is home to numerous flags and plaques displaying the years of Viking success.
big games like that. Kheaton Scott (‘06) was a member of the Paly Vikes the year they played the Norcal Semifinals in the big gym and the year they advanced to win the state title. “Our unique gym probably intimidated our opponents,” Scott wrote in an email to The Viking. “The elevated bleachers made it feel like we were playing in a gladiator arena. I have no doubt it was difficult for some teams to play under those conditions.”
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2013
The sentiments of the many Paly alums that the big gym has raised differ, yet almost all athletes alike see that despite the fact that the construction will tear down their old homes, the construction will also bring many athletes a new and improved home. “I am sure students will be excited to have a new gym to play in,” Scott wrote. “I just
athletes. This being the last season in the big gym, the time has come for the Paly community to rejoice in the gym and reflect on the many games years ago, when packed crowds helped the Vikings prevail over their opponents. With next season’s team having no home gym, a challenge will arise for the 2014-2015 season, but with the new homes around the corner there is little need to worry. “I do understand that progress must go on,” Hickley wrote. “I wish everyone connected with the new gym all the luck for continued success in basketball.” The replacement of this historic time capsule by a new state of the art gymnasium is both a tragedy and a triumph. The place where years of history was made will no longer stand, but the history it housed will never be forgotten. <<<
There is no way that we would have won that game if it had been on a neutral court or any other place other than that gym. - Peter Diepenbrock
In 2013 we look forward, leaving the years of the big gym behind us as we see the construction of two new state of the art gymnasiums on the Paly campus. Despite the charm that the gym holds, it is time for us to embrace the new, modern buildings that will replace the gym that has stood tall for over 80 years. “It’s a classic style gym from those days,” Hansen said. “It was the best gym between San Francisco and LA when it was built.”
hope the architect tries to preserve some of the uniqueness of the gym that I remember playing in. If I had to pick one characteristic to keep from the old gym, it would be the elevated stands.” The basketball teams of 2013-2014 season will be the last teams to play surrounded by the raised green bleachers and will be the last to create the unforgettable memories in the building that has housed so many former Paly
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DECEMBER 2013
tries
Competitive Eating: “The King of Palo Alto” Viking staff member Rowan McEvoy visited the Cheese Steak Shop in Palo Alto to try “The King of Palo Alto” eating challenge. Experience the grueling ordeal in a first hand narrative of this year’s third Viking Tries. by ROWAN McEVOY
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photos by Paul Bienamé
ramming 30 inches of cheesesteak and a few sides into your stomach probably isn’t the best idea. But Viking Tries is not necessarily about the everyday activities of the average Paly student. Armed with the moral support of staff members and a stomach that had only ingested half a bagel in the last 15 hours, I set out on a journey to the Palo Alto branch of the Cheese Steak Shop to try the King of Palo Alto challenge. Completing the King of Palo Alto challenge
is not an easy feat by any standards. Challengers must finish two 15-inch double meat cheesesteaks with onions and hot peppers, one large side of fries, one Tastykake and one large drink of choice in less time than the reigning record (currently 50 minutes). Although the challenge costs $20 to try, it is free to anyone who completes it. As specified by additional contest rules, I sat alone at a table as my first sandwich was cooked up. Despite the lunchtime hour, the store was devoid of customers except for the one man quietly eating his own cheesesteak at
QUITE THE MOUTHFUL Rowan’s first sandwich arrives at the table. Each challenge- level cheesesteak contains twice as much meat as a regular cheesesteak, as well as hot peppers and onions. 24 | T H E V I K I N G |
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another spot in the restaurant. With The Viking crew and the cashier looking on, I was served my first sandwich and I attacked it like legendary competitive eater Joey Chestnut. Eight minutes into the ordeal, I was going strong and had finished one half of my first sandwich. Loaded with double meat, onions and hot peppers, the behemoth sandwiches were sided with large steak fries and an extralarge cup of water, which I used to wash down the heat of the last few peppers. My chances looked promising, but I wasn’t even a quarter of the way done. Sandwich half number two proved to be slightly more of a challenge than the first. I was starting to fill up and was now juggling two foods, the sandwich and the fries. Both very hot, I was forced to drink much more water than before, piling on to the growing mountain in my stomach. But as any athlete knows, performing at a high level always requires some mental toughness. I concentrated on the food, continued to inhale cheesesteak, and finished off the first sandwich along with some more fries. As I consumed the last of the gargantuan sandwich, I called over to the cook, ready for sandwich two. It was sandwich half number three where I hit the wall. In retrospect I probably waited too long between sandwich halves two and three, but by the time I got going again I no longer tasted the food. I was about halfway through thefood but I was slowing down exponentially. Small bites of sandwich or fries permeated the long periods of blankly staring off into space. I was spent. In my last effort to finish as much food as possible, I swallowed a few fries, gulped down my remaining water, and stood up for the first time in 45 minutes. I plodded over to the
counter and picked out the final piece of the challenge, a Tastykake, or a prepackaged dessert in the form of two chocolate cupcakes. I headed back to my table and slowly stomached the dessert. As the clock hit 50 minutes, my Cinderella story hit midnight. I passed the record time of the reigning King of Palo Alto and resigned, happy to stop eating. I had totaled one drink, one Tastykake, one and quarter of the sandwiches, and half my fries. Though it took me the rest of the afternoon to fully recover from the monstrous meal, I went back a few days later to talk with the story manager Robert Kellogg about some of the challenge logistics. Afterwards, I felt much better about my failure. According to Kellogg, only two of the 60 or 70 brave souls to try the challenge at the Palo Alto or Sunnyvale stores have managed to complete it. Despite the low success rate, Kellogg explained that challenge is fun for all that try it. “Everyone has a great time, they get their money’s worth” Kellogg said. “For 20 dollars, it 36 dollars worth of food...so you’re fed, you’re stuffed, you’re not going to be hungry for a long time.” Well, the meal definitely filled me up. Despite eating almost nothing for half a day beforehand, I was not hungry again until lunchtime the next day. “It’s good clean fun,” Kellogg said. “You get your buddies around you rooting you on and you can say ‘hey I tried’ and ‘maybe next time’.” Although I can’t support the clean part of the challenge (I used quite a few napkins), I tried my hardest. Still, not earning the title of the King of Palo Alto, I can sum up my experiences in similarity to Julius Caesar. I came, I saw...I did not conquer. For the next couple weeks I plan to improve my diet and give my arteries time to recover. As for now, I will have to settle for the title King of Salad. <<<
ON THE ATTACK Rowan devours the second half of his first cheesesteak. In addition to the two cheesesteaks, the challenge also required consuming a large side of fries, a large drink and a Tastykake.
AFTERMATH Rowan’s unfinished food sits at the table after time runs out for the challenge.
By the numbers 30 in 50 min
Length of sandwich sandwich Record time in which the King required to be eaten as part of Palo Alto challenge was of the challenge, roughly the completed length of one and one half babies
$36 Price of the food for the King of Palo Alto challenge if not orderded as part of the challenge DECEMBER 2013
Bon appĂŠtit: fo
Nutrition Guide
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Maximize your workouts and performance by following Amiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nutrition guide. Protein
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es
Images taken from
by AMI DREZ
rotein is a necessary nutrient for to fuel your body and increase musle production. However, if you take in more protein than you need, your body will store the excess as fat tissue. Athletes can face serious health concerns if too much protein is consumed. With a balanced diet the need for protein is easily met, and supplements are not necessary. Kidney damage, loss of clacium from bones, and dehydration are serious health risks that can result from an excess of protein.
Recommended daily protein intake Male Athletes: 7-11 oz Female Athletes: 6 oz
Water
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e all know hydration is a vital aspect in sports, however, staying hydrated thorughout your workouts can make an imense difference on your perfromance. Water brings all the nutrients to your body and ignoring hydration is one of the biggest mistakes an athlete can make. Hydration is not only drinking when you are thirsty, but it is important to keep in the habit of contantly drinking water, not just on competition days. By the time you realize you are thirsty you have lost about 1% of your body weight, and can decrease your perfomance by 10-15%.
Recommended daily water intake Drink 16 oz. 2 hours before activity. Drink another 8 to 16 oz. 15 minutes before activity.
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Drink 6 to 12 oz. every 15 minutes during exercise. Drink 24 oz. for every pound of body weight lost after exercise.
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Pre/Post
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reworkout meals: It is reccomended to have a snack about two to three hours before exercising, allowing time for your body to digest. Your snack should be high in carbs, and low in protein and fat. Although many athletes do not pay attention to what they eat after a game or workout, it is actually one of the most important periods to pay attention to what you eat. What you put into your body within the first 30 minutes to two hours after you work out can have a serious impact on your performance the next time you play. Loading up on burgers and fries at In-NOut with your buddies after a big win can seriously impact the next time you go to power up. You should try to eat or drink about 0.7 g carbohydrate per pound of body weight after exercise or competition, and again within 2 hours.
Calcium
A
ccording to Brown University, up to 90% of â&#x20AC;&#x153;peak bone massâ&#x20AC;? is acquired by age 18 in women and age 20 in men. As that age closely approaches it is necessary to get as much calcium into your body as you can.
Carbs
Recommended daily calcium intake Male athletes: 1500 mg Female athletes: 1000 mg
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arbohydrates are an essential and immediate fuel source for your body and musles. An insufficient amount of carbohydrates can seriously impact your performance.
Reccomended daily intake for athletes 2.2 to 4.5 grams of carbohydrate/lb of body weight 2.2 to 3 grams of carbohydrate/lb of body weight for general training needs 3 to 4.5 grams of carbohydrate/lb of body weight for endurance athletes
DECEMBER 2013
ALL SMILES Andrew Lau (‘14) flashes a smile for the camera during his lifting workout in the Paly weightroom. Lau trains in the weightroom after school almost everyday for up to two hours.
Raising the bar
Andrew Lau (‘14) relieves the stress of daily life through powerlifting and inspires those around him through his hard work and dedication. by SHEILA SUBRAMANIAN photos by Paul Bienaimé
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tanding at just 5’10” and 161 pounds, Palo Alto High School’s Andrew Lau (‘14) is able to bench a whopping 220 pounds, squat almost twice his bodyweight at 315 pounds, and deadlift 365 pounds. Lau excels in a sport that remains unfamiliar to many people, powerlifting. Powerlifting is a strength sport in which competitors try to lift the most amount of weight in three different kinds of exercises or movements: benchpress, squat and deadlift. Each person gets three attempts to try and max
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out while keeping track of how much weight he or she can lift within a specific age group and weight class. At a powerlifting competition meet, the events take place in the following order: squat, then bench press and then the deadlift. During his sophomore year, Lau played on the Paly boys’ JV lacrosse team, quickly realizing that the sport wasn’t a good fit. Not up for the challenge of balancing the sport his junior year, Lau decided to instead pursue his interest in powerlifting. “I had been lifting for a while since my fresh-
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man year,” Lau said. “I basically found some video footage on YouTube and heard about [powerlifting] through the web and advertisements, which is when I started to get into it. The end of junior year though is when I decided to try it out and actually compete.” When he isn’t competing in powerlifting meets around the Santa Clara and San Jose areas, Lau is training on his own in the Paly weightroom four days a week, with each workout lasting for about an hour and a half to two hours. Though he trains for the majority of the
week, Lau does not compete very often, with powerlifting being a sport in which competitors usually compete over a long period of time instead of weekly or even monthly. “For me, I try and go compete when I feel like I can break a record,” Lau said. “I would want to make it worth it by spending extra time training.” This past October, Lau broke the state record for the bench press in the Classic Raw Division of his weight class, 165.2 pounds, at the United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Spartan Open in San Jose. In Classic Raw, competitors are allowed to utilize knee wraps to stabilize their legs more and to protect their knees from injury. A lifting belt is also allowed, which keeps the lower back safe and stable while squatting or deadlifting. “I’d definitely consider breaking the state record the highlight of my time in powerlifting so far,” Lau said. Lau is not the only one at Paly who has recently gained interest in the sport of powerlifting. Lau convinced classmate and friend Fionn Ruder (‘14) to move towards powerlifting instead of simply lifting in the Paly weight room during a regular workout. Ruder praised Lau for both his amazing work ethic and personality. “Lau is one of the most dedicated and hardworking people I know,” Ruder said. “He is also in the weightroom longer than anyone I have seen. It’s inspiring to me.” The success of Lau’s intense training sessions
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PUMPING IRON Andrew Lau (‘14) works hard as he bench presses in the Paly weightroom. He is able to bench a total of 220 pounds. have drawn positive results, but his dedication and time in the weight room have also caused injuries. “During the warmup of my first meet, I actually did something to my back while doing
that affected my first meet experience but I continued lifting during that competition anyways.” The amount of physical stress powerlifting places on the body hasn’t managed to stop Lau from pursuing his dreams of earning more medals and setting even more records as a talented competitive weightlifter. Lau is aware of his goals for the future. He wishes to further his maxes, as well as to break more records including squat and deadlift for his weight class by the springtime. As for his plans post-high school, Lau wishes to continue lifting. Not a heavily recruited high school sport, weightlifting recruitment and getting a scholarship is not very common. Lau, however, aspires to be a part of a powerlifting club team in college and even sees himself competing after college as well. “There are no shortcuts or easy ways of cutting work [in weightlifting],” Ruder said. “You get in what you put out. In order to be successful, you must be strong headed and stubborn... These are all qualities that Lau has.” Lau holds nothing but high hopes for the future, and his companions can agree that his dedication and strength will carry him to even more record-breaking wins. “When others are slacking off, Andrew is pushing forward,” Ruder said. <<<
For me, I try and go compete when I feel like I can break a record. I would want to make it worth it by spending extra time training. - Andrew Lau (‘14)
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a squat lift,” Lau said. “I slipped a disk in my lower back which caused a lot of pain. I think
FLEXING Andrew Lau (‘14) hoists 225 pounds for his deadlift training. Lau’s personal record is 365 pounds. DECEMBER 2013
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o many, dance is not only a sport but also a form of art. Just as physically demanding and time consuming as any after school sport is, dance requires countless hours and dedication; the efforts of many dancers are often overlooked. Among the many forms of dance available, horse vaulting, breakdance and ballet are just a few categories that Paly student athletes participate in. Just as any other Paly athlete, dancers compete at an extremely high level.
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Moving to a new beat
Standing stable
Break away
A turning pointe
by HAYLEY POORE
by CLARA HARRINGTON and MADDIE KINNAMAN
by ANNA DUKOVIC and MEGAN VALENCIA
DECEMBER 2013
Standing stable by HAYLEY POORE photos courtesy of Irene Ezran
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hen most people think of horseback riding, they think of sitting on a saddle. For Irene Ezran (‘14), however, riding a horse consists of standing and doing tricks to the beat of music on a horse’s back while it moves in a circle. Equestrian vaulting, or simply vaulting, is a combination of dance and gymnastics on a moving horse. While the vaulters dance on the horse, the horse either walks, trots or canters in a circle, depending on how advanced the vaulter is. The horse is controlled by the lunger, who stands in the center of the circle and communicates with the horse during the competition. Ezran first started vaulting two years ago after trying it out at a summer camp. “I’ve been doing horseback riding for a really long time and I went to a horse summer camp when I was little and there was vaulting there,” Ezran said. “I really enjoyed it so I wanted to find a place where I could do it more regularly.” Vaulting is not a well-known sport; Ezran doesn’t know many other vaulters, especially at the high school level, herself. “There’s someone at Castilleja,” Ezran said. “I have another friend at Gunn who does it, but it’s just not a very common sport.” Since vaulting is a unique sport, the girls look up to other vaulters from their club, such as Ezran, as one of the older girls who vaults at Woodside Vaulters. “She definitely motivates the other girls she vaults with,” coach Megan Lanfri said. “She
Irene Ezran (‘14) goes beyond typical horseback riding when she vaults, performing gymnastics and dance on top of the horse. She explains what skills are necessary for vaulting.
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ACROBAT Ezran performes one of her vaulting moves while sitting on the horse. She participates in several competitions every year.
DECEMBER 2013
CONCENTRATION Ezran focuses on performing her UPSIDE DOWN Ezran holds on to her horse while permove on the horse. forming a trick. was one of the older girls of the group last year and she’s very mature.” Lanfri enjoys coaching Ezran because of her respect for teammates and coach and her willingness to improve on all aspects of vaulting. “She is very easy to coach, which is every coach’s dream,” Lanfri said. “She takes any kind of construction well and criticism she takes really well. If I tell her to correct something, she does it the next round. It’s pleasant to coach her as well. It’s nice to be able to work with somebody who’s so sweet and respectful to their coach.” Irene also helps out her teammates before their competitions because of her ability to stay calm while others are tense. “Everyone’s nervous when they compete, but Irene always seems so calm,” teammate Libby Horn wrote in an email to The Viking. “She doesn’t get worked up when we’re about to go out into the competition arena.” Although Ezran competes and practices year round, she vaults more for recreational purposes. She generally practices once a week, and competes in multiple competitions at the end
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of the year. Ezran does freestyle horse vaulting, which consists of 10 to 12 moves on the horse performed in one minute. The vaulters are then scored by a panel of judges based on their performance. One of Ezran’s biggest accomplishments was being able to do freestyle for the whole year last year. “Freestyle is where you express yourself,”
are common in many other sports. “There are so many aspects of vaulting that I enjoy, such as being part of a club, but I really love the adrenaline rush I get from performing my freestyle in front of a crowd at competitions,” Ezran wrote in an email to The Viking. Vaulting is an extremely physical sport and requires lots of training and muscle strength. “Training is not only on the horse, but also on the barrel and doing gymnastics, such as stretching, maintaining flexibility and building muscle strength,” Ezran wrote. “It is a physically strenuous sport, especially getting on the cantering horse by yourself.” According to Ezran, however, vaulters are not injured as much as one might expect. “The sport is not as dangerous as it seems because the horses are specially trained to remain very steady while vaulters practice on them,” Ezran wrote. “Vaulters do not wear helmets; they are taught to jump off the horse if they lose their balance, rather than fall.” In the future, Ezran doesn’t believe that she will be able to continue vaulting because of how uncommon it is to find an equestrian
I really love the adrenaline rush I get from performing my freestyle in front of a crowd at competitions. -Irene Ezran (‘14) Ezran said. “You get to choose what moves you do and you can pick music to go with it, so that takes a lot of work. I think that would be my biggest accomplishment from last year. It took me several months to put that together. You practice moves for the first half of the year just to see what you’re able to do, and then you finally put the moves together, pick the music and practice it a lot.” Although vaulting may not be a common sport, some of Ezran’s favorite parts of vaulting
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vaulting club. “I don’t think I will be able to continue in college,” Ezran said. “Maybe if I happen go to a college where there’s vaulting close to that area then I will continue, but it’s not very likely because it’s just so hard to find.” Vaulting has similar qualities to other types of dancing, such as the need to be in rhythm, so vaulters often do dance in order to improve their vaulting skills. “Many vaulters do gymnastics or dance in addition to vaulting,” Ezran wrote. “I did ballet when I was younger, which helped me because I am now more graceful on horses.” Both dancing and vaulting also require
strength and the ability to make the moves look smooth. “Before every practice I do exercises that help me maintain my balance when I am on the horse at the canter,” Ezran wrote. “While I am comfortable practicing moves on the bar-
The connection Ezran has with the horse while she vaults is one she loves and a major reason she enjoys vaulting so much. “I really like the feeling of being in rhythm with the horse because it takes a lot of skill,” Ezran said. “It’s one thing to practice the moves on the ground or on a barrel, but once you’re on the horse everything happens so quickly. It’s really nice to have that feeling of being in rhythm with the horse.” While rhythm may only be a small part of vaulting, it allows the vaulters be united with the horse in a way that other people can’t. Even though Ezran may not be able to vault much longer, her love for the sport will stay with her for a long time. <<<
I really like the feeling of being in rhythm with the horse because it takes a lot of skill. -Irene Ezran (‘14)
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rel, it is another story to perform them gracefully when the horse is moving so fast. To be in rhythm with the horse, I constantly have to be flexible and absorb the movements of the horse.”
BALANCE (top) Ezran performs a standing freestyle routine pose. STIKE A POSE (bottom left) Ezran holds one of the moves in her routine for the judges to score. A freestlye routine consists of 10 moves performed on a cantering horse in one minute. TOE TOUCH (bottom right) Ezran performs one of her 10 moves on the cantering horse. She performed freesyle for the whole year last year.
DECEMBER 2013
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BREAK Elijah Wax (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14) shows off his b-boy moves. He has been breakdancing since middle school.
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BREAK AWAY by CLARA HARRINGTON and MADDIE KINNAMAN
A Breakdancing, although uncommon at Paly, has a large impact on those who are part of the immense dance culture.
lthough backflips, backspins and headspins may be seem like generic words that distinguish breakdancing, much of its history and cultural impact remain largely unknown. When breakdancing first gained popularity, the tradition of dance battles had already been established; it was strong among street gangs in New York City, particularly in the Bronx and Harlem. Breakdancing has since spread to the rest of the country and found its way to Paly’s very own Elijah Wax (‘14) and has incorporated its way into his life. “Once people get into it, it really became a lifestyle,” Wax said. Wax began his journey into the breakdancing world during middle school after discovering the culture at the Mitchell Park Drop, a teen center in Palo Alto. After watching people who breakdance, more commonly known as bboys and b-girls, he was impressed and began to experiment with breaking. “I just kind of found that I enjoyed moving to music and that was about it; when I saw breaking, everything changed,” Wax said. “When I first started I was just doing stupid moves. I didn’t know what I was doing, I was just moving. Then I saw breaking and I wanted to learn.” Although Wax has faced setbacks while breaking such as an injury to his shoulder, he has stayed determined to succeed and continues to dance. “It takes perseverance,” Wax said. “It does take a lot of mental strength, too.” He frequently travels to different parts of the Bay Area in order to further his training and so
DECEMBER 2013
photo courtesy of Elijah Wax
that he can learn from his teachers. “I spend one or two nights a week in San Francisco or the East Bay, because I actually have to seek out the right teachers,” Wax said. “At this point, all the best guys that used to be around a few years ago are are gone. They’re all doing their own things, they’re all searching to become better dancers themselves. But there are still a few teachers in the Bay Area who are dedicated to teaching the next generation, like myself and others in my age range.” Wax has come a long way since he began his career as a breakdancer, and has taken his dream of becoming a pro b-boy to the next level. “My goal is to go into the pro leagues, but that takes a long time,” Wax said. “The good thing is I’m learning from some of the best people in the Bay Area and some of the best people in the world. They all tell me I’m on the right path.” B-boying has allowed Wax to come out of his shell as a person and become more outgoing. “I was not nearly this social back before I started dancing,” Wax said. “I’ve gotten way more comfortable being around people. It’s just easier to talk to them now.” While dance has a long history dating back milinums ago, breakdancing has a largely unknown history. Beginning with The Good Foot, a dance move first shown first by James Brown in 1969, the dance style was incorporated into battles. Breakers would form crews that would battle one another through dancing. Breakdancing was an important aspect of street culture, because it replaced a large amount of fighting between gangs. As it evolved, breakdancing became more complex and dynamic with more dance moves. In the 1980’s, it exploded into pop culture with new age hip-hop music as well as movies showing the dramatic and intricate style of dance. “Breakdancing is actually a misnomer, because that’s something that marketers gave it in the 80’s,” Matt Hall, Paly teacher and long-time breakdancer said. “Really what it’s called is bboying… it’s just one aspect of what’s called hip-hop culture.” Breakdancing, or b-boying, is just one of the four pillars of hip-hop, with the other three being MCing, DJing and graffiti. “Hip-hop culture is the big umbrella, and underneath it you have four main tenants: bboying, which is the dance aspect; MCing, the rapping aspect; DJing, the turntable aspect; and graffiti artists, the writers, the burners,” Hall said. Breakdancing remains an influential part of the hip-hop culture and Wax has dedicated the past six years of his life to exploring the im-
ONE HAND Wax entertains the crowd at a Paly dance last year. mense culture of the breakdancing world. “What people would view as hip hop culture, that’s just the commercialized stuff that you hear around,” Wax said. “But if you go deeper, you’ll find out where the roots come from.” Although breakdancing has sometimes been negatively associated with violence in the media with movies like Step Up and You Got Served, in actuality it can affect lives in a very positive way and has the ability to enable people to form lifelong friendships. “A lot of people think it’s a hostile underground culture, but it’s really not at all,” Wax said. “It’s probably one of the most friendly things you could ever be brought into. It’s completely family driven, everyone in the culture is really friendly; everyone looks out for everybody. That’s one thing that’s the best about it. When I say family, it really does become like a tight woven mesh… that’s my second family.” Hall agrees with Wax, believing that breakdancing has a positive effect of people. “It’s definitely about a lifestyle, and you see a lot of people get into b-boying and it transforms their lives in a positive sense,” Hall said. Competitions for breakdancing include one-on-one, two-on-two, and so on as well as full crew battles. The oldest crew battle competition is called Battle of the Year, and has been held since the early 1990’s; the US has not won in eighteen years. The largest breakdancing competition is Red Bull BC One, which takes place in a different country every year. There is also a wide variety of battles, including King of the Hill. “You have eight b-boys, and you all take turns trying to get the point,” Wax said. “Who-
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ever holds the hill for four or more points wins.” Wax is currently on hiatus from competing due to his teacher’s orders, but travelled to Europe this summer for his first international dancing event and had a small glimpse into the life of a travelling b-boy. Although breakdancing is still prevalent in the hip-hop world, it can sometimes not be seen because the culture is largely underground. Wax is the only b-boy that has taken his dancing past recreation in competitions at Paly. “Being the only b-boy in Palo Alto is really isolating, so I really have to work on my own skillset,” Wax said. In order to make his dream a reality, Wax has begun watching old videos of other breakdancers as well as meeting with different teachers from around the Bay Area. “Teaching myself is the biggest challenge,” Wax said. As for the future, Wax is planning to attend school while continuing on his path as a breakdancer. “I plan on doing about six more years of school, and still staying breaking because it’s just my life,” Wax said. “I plan on going to LA for two or three years and work with the dancers out there while attending junior college, and then moving to Las Vegas to work with Cirque du Soleil. This is all going towards my main goal of becoming a travelling b-boy.” Wax stays optimistic about his future in breaking. “It’s the most positive thing I’ve ever done, and the most fun I’ve ever had,” Wax said. “I want to get as much out of this as I can.” <<<
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A turning pointe
by ANNA DUKOVIC and MEGAN VALENCIA
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High school ballerinas Jennifer Wang (‘14) and Maya Kitayama (‘14) share what it takes physically and mentally to excel in the dance world.
w w w. v i k i n g s p o r t s m a g . c o m
photo courtesy of Jennifer Wang
W
atching a ballet performance, one may notice the fluid movements, the graceful leaps and the beauty. Through the intricate costumes and seemingly effortless movements of the dancers, the pressure upon the dedicated dancers who create the art before them is not apparent. Difficulties arise from the mental and physical demands of balancing high school with extracurriculars, as well as the lack of respect for dance as a sport. However, some dancers reach a turning point in high school where their love of dance outweighs the challenges and justifies their devotion to it. At young ages, Jennifer Wang (‘14) and Maya Kitayama (‘14) began their ballet careers, giving them a solid foundation for other advanced forms of dance. “Ballet is the mother of dance,” Kitayama said. “It’s the basis for all other techniques, you have to be strong in ballet to be strong in other styles.” Athletic competitions are commonly aimed towards winning a league or division; however, dance conventions often hold scholarship auditions after the competitions finish to give young dancers a sense of professional auditions. “[They hold auditions] mostly to mimic and help dance students practice for the real world when they want to go out and audition for real jobs,” Kitayama said. Even though Wang has not competed in
CITY BY THE BAY Jennifer Wang (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;14) dances in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. She commutes to her dance studio, City Valley School, every day after school.
DECEMBER 2013
many events recently, she considers competitions to be exciting and inspiring, but also slightly preferential. “I haven’t been doing a lot of competitions lately,” Wang said. “Recently, I have just been doing one at my studio, it is called ‘ Yo u t h America Gr an d Prix’. It is kind of dif ferent because it is hard to judge an art because part of it is preference, but I think it is good for motivation and it can be a lot of fun.” Unlike other sports, ballet includes an aspect of artistic performance which can be both stressful and rewarding for a dancer. “It is an art, in the sense that you are performing to share your enjoyment of what you are doing,” Wang said. “That is not necessarily what you do in a sport.” Although it is different from other sports, Kitayama still considers dance to be a sport
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photo courtesy of Jennifer Wang
photo courtesy of Maya Kitayama
DUET Maya Kitayama (‘14) dances a duet in a ballet put on by her dance studio, Dance Connection.
POSE Jennifer Wang (‘14) dances en pointe. A travelling athlete, Wang went to Russia last February.
equal to other strenuous athletic activities, as it requires hours of training and is physically demanding. “Dance is the full package,” Kitayama said. “It is really athletic... The hardest part is that
has really changed her approach to ballet,” Cindy Ginanni, director of the studio Dance Connection, said. “Maya has skills that students who come only from ballet training do not have. She’s a really versatile dancer, she does her own choreography and she’s a true leader.” Although ballet is a key component to d a n c e r s’ growth, other forms of dance also teach students about the ever-changing world of dance. “I really enjoy doing modern, contemporary stuff,” Kitayama said. “Working on those kinds of pieces is what I enjoy the most because they kind of evolve over and over. Since it is not ballet, it is a little more up to interpretation. I think you learn a lot from that process.” Along with learning other styles of dance, travelling can also be beneficial to improving ballet techniques. Similar to many other devoted athletes at Paly, Kitayama and Wang
Being able to go to ballet class and forget everything, leave it outside, and just focus on something that incorporates my body, music, and movement is really powerful and a really good stress release. - Maya Kitayama (‘14) you have to move in such a way and also make it seem as if it doesn’t hurt at all... It is supposed to look effortless and that in itself is a challenge... I do as much exercise as most other Paly athletes, if not more. If people consider [gymnastics and figure skating] a sport, I still don’t understand why they won’t consider dance a sport.” Along with giving dancers a form of exercise which challenges their physical abilities, dance can also develop their leadership qualities. “Maya has trained in all forms of dance, that
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”
photo courtesy of Maya Kitayama
EN POINTE Maya Kitayama (‘14) performs on stage. She dances different styles, like contemporary. have traveled out of state to take classes and compete. Wang traveled with her studio to Russia last February to learn about ballet. “We went to the Bolshoi Valley in Moscow,” Wang said. “We traveled there and we took classes with their teachers and we also got to watch their students dance in class.” Kitayama has also traveled to attend a dance program. She attended a modern dance company, Alvin Ailey, in New York for six weeks during this past summer. These experiences, along with practice and competitions, can heavily impact not only the dancers, but also their families. In Kitayama’s case, her parents did not always view dance as a promising activity. “I think for a long time my family thought dancing was a hobby,” Kitayama said. “My mom would definitely get annoyed because it cost a lot of money and time...As I have been getting older they have [realized] that I am really passionate about it and they have become more supportive.” For most ballet dancers and their families, the winter season is associated with many things, one being the Nutcracker. For Maya Kitayama (‘14) the Nutcracker is not only a performance, but also something to look forward to. As she grew older and progressed as a dancer, her
LEAP Jennifer Wang (‘14) jumps while dancing in a ballet studio. Wang has two preps to get to ballet.
role became more challenging. This year, she worked her way up to the Sugar Plum. “I have been waiting for a long time [to be the Sugar Plum] and now I get I finally get to do it,” Kitayama said. Wang was also given the chance to perform the role of Sugar Plum in the Nutcracker, due to another dancer’s injury. Although the chance to perform a more prominent role in a show can be exciting, dancers may feel strained to learn large parts of a show in short time periods. “When I was 14, the person who was supposed to play the Sugar Plum got injured about three weeks before the show,” Wang said. “About two weeks before [the show], they said [I] was going to do it. It was probably the most stressful situation ever, but I got through it and it turned out to be one of my proudest moments of dancing.” Injuries, especially to the foot or ankle, are not uncommon, and can force dancers to stop ballet for long periods of time. Wang recounted an injury that sidelined her for seven months. “I had an Os Trigonum in my ankle, which is an extra bone,” Wang said. “I ended up getting it removed, so I was out for around seven months...It was weird for me just going home
after school and not going to ballet. I did some other stuff... but it was not the same as actually dancing.” Kitayama can relate to the feeling of not being able to do what she loves because of an injury. She also had to take a break from dancing in sixth grade, when she broke her foot jumping on a trampoline. “It was really rough because that was the first major injury for me and I was out for three months,” Kitayama said. “I realized that [dance] was what I wanted to to. Not being able to do it made me realize that it was something I wanted to pursue in the future.” Along with the physical strength of coming back from an injury, dancers may also experience a growth in their mental toughness due to the tensions attributed to the dance community. “[Ballet] is really amazing because it’s good for your body,” Kitayama said. “It’s also very mental and emotional and you have to be very strong as a person in order to pursue it, because the ballet world is very judgemental...” Pressure, a large part of ballet, can be influential upon a dancing career. Performances, body image, and the overall expectation of success can take a toll on a dancer. “[Ballet] is great and there are amazing people
DECEMBER 2013
WINTER Kitayama balances en pointe in the production of the winter ballet the Nutcracker for her company, Dance Connection. who are a part of it, but a lot of times there is pressure to look a certain way, or dance a certain way or reach this level of advancement,” Kitayama said. “It’s definitely difficult in that sense.” Although the pressure of ballet is potentially harmful for some dancers, Kitayama considers it an obstacle worth overcoming. “I think that pressure is really cool for a person because if you can manage [it] then you come out as a stronger person,” Kitayama said. “As a con I would say that it is a lot of pressure that could be detrimental to a person, and it’s obviously time consuming, but if you love something then it’s worth it. [Dance] is a lot of time, but it’s amazing.” Time commitment is another stressful component of dance, which can impact dancers’
“
social and academic lives. Balancing dance with school can pose multiple challenges for dancers. The large work loads of high school
to complete their schoolwork, dance can also be an outlet from the stressful academic world. “It is such a nice escape for me,” Kitayama said. “Obviously school is rough and life is hard. Being able to go to ballet class and forget everything, leave it outside, and just focus on something that incorporates my body, music, and movement is really powerful and a really good stress release.” Ballet can also be a rewarding activity which allows dancers to showcase their talents. “[I dance] mostly for the performances,” Wang said. “You get to show what you have been rehearsing for finally on stage, and you get to show other people. It is a lot of fun.” Kitayama also enjoys ballet performances, especially the effect which her dancing can have upon audience members. “I think every once in a while you have a performance where someone is actually touched by it.” Kitayama said. “It doesn’t happen often, but when it does it is the most incredible feeling. [When] you are sharing your passion with someone and they in turn feel something, that is the coolest thing ever.” Kitayama experienced one of these touching moments first hand last year during an emotional partner piece at a competition. “I was competing in this piece last year with my friend Josh [Wilson],” Kitayama said. “It was very emotional and mature. We were skeptical as to whether we could pull it off. We competed at this one venue and we were kind of nervous... I looked up as we were bowing and leaving the stage and I could see one of the judges crying. I couldn’t even process it in the moment...I couldn’t believe I had made him cry. I had affected him in such a way that he actually felt something. That was such a proud moment for me.” Kitayama appreciates the wonder of dance itself and how it affects her life.
Dance is such an amazing feeling when you can go into a room, take a class, look in the mirror every once in a while [and think] I feel beautiful, that is so cool. - Maya Kitayama (‘14)
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and a demanding dance schedule can be overwhelming. Wang finds it difficult to divide her time between dance and school, as she takes ballet at a studio in San Francisco. “I have a sixth and seventh prep so I can get to ballet on time,” Wang said. “I usually get home at eight every day during the weekdays, so I do not have a lot of time to do my homework. It is usually okay if I manage my time.” Although ballet complicates dancers’ abilities
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“I love the beauty of it,” Kitayama said. “Dance is such an amazing feeling when you can go into a room, take a class, look in the mirror every once in a while [and think] I feel
beautiful, that is so cool.” Not everyone can relate to the motivations of a ballet dancer, however, most individuals have experienced the feelings that cherished activities can bring. The pressure, the challenges, and the joy of achievement unite all different types of talents, passions and interests, whether it’s horseback riding, football, chess or dance.<<<
VIKING ATHLETICS
CALENDAR Sunday DECEMBER
1
8
Monday 2
Tuesday 3
Wednesday 4
@ Capuchino 7 p.m.
@ Serra 7:30 p.m.
@ Carlmont 4 p.m.
Thursday 5
vs. San Mateo 6 p.m.
v. Menlo-Atherton 4 p.m.
9
10
11
12
Pinewood Tournament
16
17
Pinewood Tournament Piedmont Hills Tournament
Oak Grove Tournament
18
19 vs. Los Gatos
@ Gilroy 7 p.m.
22
23
24
25
26
v. Willow Glen 7 p.m.
5
30
31
1 JANUARY
29
6
7
v. Los Altos 3:30 p.m. @ Los Gatos 3:30 p.m.
21
Bellarmine Tournament
@ Evergreen 4:30 Bellarmine Tournament
Oak Grove Tournament
28
Windsor Tournament
Kwanzaa
Windsor Tournament
4
v. Amador Valley 7 p.m.
Cupertino Memorial Tournament
10v. Milpitas 6:15 p.m. v. Milpitas 7:45 p.m. dual @ Saratoga
Reno Tournament
3
v. Santa Clara 6 p.m.
9
Webber Lawson Tournament Pinewood Tournament Piedmont Hills Tournament v. Gunn 4 p.m.
20
Windsor Tournament
@ Los Gatos 7 p.m. @ Los Gatos 7 p.m.
Piedmont Hills Tournament
Reno Tournament
New Year’s Day
8
Pinewood Tournament
27
2
Pacific Tournament vs. Alisal 1:30 p.m. v. San Benito 3 p.m.
14
Reno Tournament
Christmas Day Winter break
Pacific Tournament
13 vs. Oceana 4 p.m.
Saturday 7
Hanukkah
@ Menlo 3:30 p.m.
Winter break
Friday 6
vs. Wesley 4 p.m.
15
Winter Sports:
Wrestling Boys’ basketball Girls’ basketball Boys’ soccer Girls’ soccer
@ Monta Vista 3:30 p.m.
vs. Northgate 7 p.m.
11 Apple Cider Tournament
v. Santa Clara 3:30 p.m. Images taken from
DECEMBER 2013
Columns: The Last Word
Seriously, where are the fans?
There’s a drastic change in fan attendance moving from football to lacrosse season. It’s evident that Paly can dominate on the field, but what about in the bleachers? by ZACH RIZK
I
n my four years at Palo Alto High School, I’ve come to realize that our school’s fanbase...sucks. As an avid fan of Paly’s top-tier athletic programs, I always try and find time in my schedule to attend Paly’s athletic events. Whether it be cheering the Lady Vikes in volleyball, supporting Vikings on the gridiron or watching the basketball teams ball out. However, each time I’ve attended these games I am always disappointed by the less-thaninspirational attendance. Which poses this question: Why doesn’t Paly’s fanbase match its high-octane athletic programs? Allow me to expand. In my years as a Viking, Paly has won 16 league titles. Six teams have been tossed CCS championship rings and several have solidified themselves in Paly athletic history, bringing home three state championship trophies. While football attendance this year was the highest it’s been in some time, it’s safe to say that volleyball, basketball and baseball - three Paly programs that have enjoyed consistent success the past couple of years, rarely have any more than several student attendees on an average night (excluding quad night, senior night etc…) So...How many more state championships, CCS rings and league titles do your teams need to earn your support at their games? When I arrived at the girls’ volleyball senior night, I was quite surprised to spot less than 15 students in attendance. At that point I only felt bad for coach David Winn, who, in the past four years has put Paly volleyball on the map with two state championships under his belt and countless victories. Yet even on their senior night, the girls saw such mediocre attendance despite so much recent success. The least we can do as a Paly community is to support our fellow students and honor their incredible feat (when’s the next time PA volleyball will win another state championship, let alone consecutive ones?) “It’s a little disappointing when you go around to other people’s gyms and you see them having really large, loud home crowds [compared to our gym attendance],” Winn
REALLY? I understand lacrosse is not the most popular sport at Paly, but it’ is quite disappointing to see the stands completely empty. said. As an athlete myself, I’ve decided to bring light to this situation to raise awareness for what can honestly be described as an “issue” that fellow Paly athletes across the board can resonate with. You fans mean a whole lot more to us athletes, than you realize. And it goes beyond just feeling the great vibes from filled stands. According to Home Advantage In Sports: A Scientific Study of how much it affects winning, Jon Bois researched how many more games a team could have won at home by taking the number of home wins from previous seasons and projecting future home games as victories (rates based on past seasons). The results? NBA teams were projected to win 10.11% more games had they played all their games at home, NFL teams up by 6.4% . MLB and NHL teams saw an increase in 5.46% and 5.22% respectively. No jaw-dropping stat lines here. But significant ones nonetheless. Take a closer look. Lockouts aside, 10.11% of an 82 game NBA schedule results in 8.29 more wins. 6.4% of a 16 game NFL schedule adds up to 1.024 more victories. 5.56% of 162 MLB games equates to 8.8452 more wins and 5.22% of an 82 game NHL schedule means 4.28 more wins.
Each percentage is enough to put teams back in the playoff picture. The idea of playing at home and having an advantage over the visiting team really isn’t just any superstition. Numbers never lie, man. By no means does this suggest that if we had filled stands every night, we’d be drowning in state championship trophies...But there certainly is a positive correlation between playing at home and more victories. Alas, I understand that this is high school, and we can’t be expecting a full house at every game. The academic rigor of this school is enough to prompt one to call me insane for suggesting to watch a wednesday night Paly game. Understandable. But also take into account how much your support means to us and that your attendance is never taken for granted. We feed off your energy in the stands and translate it into fuel for athletic dominance on the playing field. I speak on behalf of all Paly athletes that we’d love to see more students come out and watch us perform. By finding some time in your schedule to attend Paly athletic events, you’ll provide yourself with an outlet from your academic concerns, a chance to spend time with your friends and utmost appreciation from Paly athletes. <<<
A Fine and Dangerous Season by Keith Raffel In the midst of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Palo Alto businessman Nate Michaels takes off from Moffett Field for an emergency meeting with President Kennedy. Four days later, he’s racing across the rooftops of the nation’s capital in a desperate effort to avert nuclear war.
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