MIND MEDS B DY
Exploring the effects of prescription drugs on the performance of student athletes
PAGE 20
Viking magazine
on the cover:
Bharat
Dogan Family
Scott
Jonathan
Pashalidis Family
Steele Family
Thieman Family
Wang Family
Editors-in-Chief
Claire Cho, Ethan Wang, Roan Haney, Emil Bothe
Creative Director
Nathan Lee
Photo Editor
Lucas Tung
Business Manager
Sarah Thieman
Social
Staff Writers
Scarlett Frick
Tyler Cheung
Amanda Goody
Adi Weiner, Arjun Bharat, Elena Salvatierra, Dylan Robinson, Isaac Telyaz, Evin Steele, Jonathan Yuan, Natalya Kaposhilin, Zoe Pashalidis, Luke Joachim, Malcolm Ginwalla, Max Merkel, Jake Liu, Elif Dogan, Carter Burnett, Ben Levav
Advisr
Brian Wilson
cover, with photo by Ethan Wang, features a spilled pill bottle on a football field. This feature story on the effects of prescription medications and student athletes can be read on page 20.
Letter from the EDITORS
We are so excited to be back for a new school year, and a brand new year of Viking! Paly fall sports are well underway; check out our website, Twitter, or Instagram for score updates and to read stories on our Viking’s recent games. We are thrilled to share the first print issue of Viking for the 24-25 school year!
Our cover story, “Mind, Body, Meds” (page 20) discusses the different prescription medications Paly athletes utilize and their impacts.
“Analyzing the Game” (page 12), takes a closer look into how different Paly athletes use game footage to improve their overall athletic performance.
Diving into equipment evolution, “Game Changers” (page 13), shares how primitive equipment compares to their modern predecessors.
“Chasing Gold” (page 14) looks into which Olympic sports Paly students would like to bring to Paly.
Freshman athletes, coming from middle school, are used to being on top. “Rookie Rise” (page 16) reveals the experiences of Freshman athletes on varsity teams.
“Funding the Future” (page 39) uncovers what the athletic department does with the money and dives into the importance of funding for sports.
Exploring coach’s lives beyond Paly, “Double Duty” (page 26) looks into how they implement their experiences into improving how they teach athletes.
Last year, the cheer team suffered a loss of their coach and athletes. Check out “Rallying for Rebuild” (page 30) to learn how the team reconstructed their
Roan Haney
team from the ground up.
“Friend to Foe” (page 36) is an overview of fantasy football and how it’s a fun and high-stakes game to play with friends and family.
For this year, we have introduced a new series called Freshman Focus which brings light to Paly athletes who play sports not offered here at Paly. “Pursuit on the Reins” (page 42) focuses on senior Helena Bondolowski who is a competitive horseback rider.
Finally, our final word, written by Tyler Cheung, explores how automatic umpires that are being implemented shouldn’t replace their human counterparts.
That’s all for the first issue of this school year! We cannot wait for you to read it and let us know your thoughts!
Emil Bothe
STAFF OPINION
Safety First: Making Guardian Caps Mandatory
On Sept. 12, the football world wit nessed Miami Dolphins quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa suffer a concussion after colliding with Bills safety Damar Hamlin. This is Tagovailoa’s third concussion in five years, raising questions on whether or not he should return to the field after experiencing such significant head trauma throughout his NFL career. Football is a dangerous sport, and so unless tackle football is substituted with a non-contact version head injuries will continue to occur. Despite this unchangeable reality, tackle football associations at all levels (youth, high school, college, NFL, ect.) should be required to act in the best interests of their players, meaning implementing all of the newest and most advanced safety measures.
This means implementing the guardian cap as standard football equipment, similar to the helmet, shoulder pads, or thigh and knee pads. The guardian cap is essentially a cover for the traditional football helmet. The roughly seven
ounce cap is made up of soft-shell pads, and creates a second, softer padding that helps absorb impact and prevent head trauma.
According to the NFL, the required use of guardian caps for linemen and running backs during preseason practices has led to a 50% reduction in concussions since 2022. Furthermore, the Brain Injury Law Center states that the cap reduces the impact of a collision by 10% if one player is wearing it, and 20% if both helmets are covered. For players who don’t run as fast or hit as powerfully as NFL players (such as high school and youth), guardian caps can minimize damage by up to 33%.
Despite such overwhelming evidence pointing towards increased safety with the usage of the guardian cap, the protective equipment receives heavy pushback from the player community. Players have stated reasons such as the cap adding too much excessive weight, being overly hot, as well damaging the visual
appearance of a player.
In the NFL, players have the opportuni ty to earn millions of dollars playing football and do not want to sacrifice any sort of competitive edge that could be a difference maker in their performance on the field. This may mean sacrificing some of the protective equipment offered.
Where the issue lies is that these NFL players are setting a bad example for the youth, most of whom will never earn a penny for their play. Kids and teens idolize NFL players, and won’t find the guardian cap as an attractive option if NFL players so blatantly dismiss it.
The health and safety of our youth should be valued above NFL players wanting to avoid mild discomfort. The process of shifting all football players towards using guardian caps starts at the top. If the usage of guardian caps is mandatory in the NFL, this will trickle down and create a positive and lasting change on all levels of football.
HANDS UP!
Goalie Paul Schacht (‘25), rises up to defend a shot on his goal along with his teammate Andrew Zhao (‘26) in a 17-5 loss to Los Altos.
Photo by Lucas Tung
LOCK
DOWN
Jake Wang (‘26), lines up to defend the receiver from Christopher High School in a 31-21 loss.
Photo by Adi Weiner
FAST
BREAK
Sarah Thieman (‘26), drives down the middle of the field, looking to create chaos in a 4-1 loss to Archbishop Mitty.
Photo by Lucas Tung
G
ANALYZING THE ame
Watching past film of games has been growing in popularity recently. We asked athletes at Paly if they watched film and whether they think it is beneficial.
Jack Madwed, Rower for Norcal Crew
“Watching film can contribute to better cohesion and understanding on a team, and end any disagreements or questions on a technique or plan.”
-Jack Madwed (‘25)
Cole Baker, Paly JV Boys Soccer Player
“Watching game films from previous games to learn from is very beneficial. Learning from your team’s own mistakes and seeing them from a different angle helps to be more reflective and makes it easier to apply corrections during games.”
Blake Wang, NYU Swim Commit
by NATALYA KAPOSHILIN and NATHAN LEE
C
hangers Game
We interviewed student athletes to explore how their sports equipment compares to its primitive predecessors.
Cross country shoes have changed significantly in the past, from the olden days leather shoes to the new carbon fiber insoles. “A long time ago people used Etonic shoes, which is a brand for the 1870’s. Now, for races I use Nike vapor flies for cross country.”
Evolving from the primitive full wooden body to a full carbon fiber racket. “The Prostaff v14 has more weight towards the head allowing for a greater swing. Roger Federer also uses the prostaff and he’s my favorite tennis player.”
Swimsuits have changed overtime, evolving from the short Speedos to tech suits. “My main tech suit is my TYR Avictor. I like it because it’s light and more attuned for Breaststroke, my main stroke. Tech suits are made to fit tightly reducing drag by being aerodynamic. Tech suits are made up of hydrodynamic fabric that repels water. ”
Matthew
Wei (‘26)
CHASING
GOLD
By NATALYA KAPOSHILIN and NATHAN LEE
Many different sports were displayed this summer in the Olympics. We interviewed students asking them if they could bring a sport to Paly, what would it be?
“An Olympic sport I would like to see at Paly is race walking because it looks interesting and I would love to see people’s speedwalking talent.”
-MELAK KATEMA (‘27)
“I had a fun time watching the race walking at the Olympics. I think that it should be offered at Paly as an event for track and
-KEERTHI RAJ (‘26)
“Race walking stood out to me because how strange it looked but, I enjoyed watching it and I’d like to see it at Paly.”
-MEERA SINGH (‘26)
“I
would love to see gymnastics at Paly; I think it is a great sport a lot of people would have fun trying.”
-SVINA NARANG (‘25)
“Probably gymnastics; a lot of people at Paly already do it and I think it would be fun to try out.”
-TALIA BONEH (‘26)
“I would like to see skateboarding, because it is fun to watch.”
-CECE DEFEO (‘26)
“I would bring skateboarding to Paly because it looked super cool in the Olympics.”
-JAMES PARK (‘26)
PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS FUN
FACTS
Paris will join London as the only cities to host the Olympics three times There is close to an equal number of male and female athletes: 5,240 men and 5,250 women
Each gold, silver, and bronze medal contains 18 grams of iron from the Eiffel Tower
The 2024 Paris Olympics had at total of 329 medal events
Every olympics there is a different design for the Olympic torch
The official mascot of the Paris Olympics is a hat called a Phygre
The Phygre was a symbol of freedom during the French Revolution
RIROOKIESE
by ELIF DOGAN, ZOE PASHALIDIS, ETHAN WANG, and JONATHAN YUAN
Freshmen
on varsity sports aren’t
noticed as much as they deserve to be. Many people don’t realize the pressure that younger varsity athletes need to live up to.
Set, hike! This is your first football game in a high school setting. As you hear those words, you sprint down the field, following the route that your quarterback gave you. You try to stay calm, but the nerves inside your body start to take over and the thought of letting your team down forever haunts you. The quarterback throws the ball and it heads straight in your direction. Your heart begins to beat faster and your hands start to shake. The ball slips past your fingertips and hits the ground. Many freshman on varsity teams in high school fear this situation, worrying about the blame they might receive from teammates.
When someone moves into high school, the environment changes entirely. As an eighth-grader in middle school, the workload is relatively light, the campus feels familiar and inviting, and the community is welcoming. But in high school, everything from the campus to the people is unfamiliar. The same thing can be said for sports, but this pressure is brought to a whole new level by the select few freshmen athletes who make it into varsity. Spectators who see a younger athlete play generally only think about how talented they are, but most people don’t think about the pressure that a freshman varsity athlete may bear. People don’t think about the lack of confidence that may come from feeling out of place when adjusting to the level of competition. Sophomore swimmer Dylan
Fujita was a freshman varsity athlete last year and felt the pressure of being apart of a new team.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect from high school sports and I was initially scared that the pressures from it may be more than what I’m used to,” Fujita said.
High school sports teams definitely have higher expectations. Varsity sports typically have longer practices with more intense training than JV, something most ninth graders are new to. For example, Varsity swimmers have three morning practices a week and generally have to swim an hour longer per day in the afternoon than their Junior Varsity counterparts. Additionally, after morning practice, student-athletes have to go to school and have practice after school. Freshman athletes playing on the varsity level are expected to adapt to the higher competition, hours of practice, and commitment to the sport all while getting used to the new high school community.
going from eighth grade to ninth grade because you are playing with older girls, stakes are higher, and in general there are just more people watching you,” Hambly said. “I was able to deal with this with my teammates and coaches because they have been nothing but supportive and encouraging.”
“Loneliness and social isolation are the main causes for mental health issues.”
Being likely one of the only freshmen on the varsity team, these young athletes may be inclined to feel inferior to their older and more experienced teammates. As a result, they may feel unfit for the team and less motivated to push themselves to be better.
—Dr. Bethany Judy, Psych Central
Sophomore volleyball player Maura Hambly felt the immense shift from middle school to high school.
“There was definitely a pressure shift
In an PsychCentral article written by Dr. Bethany Judy, “Loneliness and social isolation [are] the main causes for mental health issues,” (Judy 2021). Bad mental health or an overall negative mindset can limit an athlete’s ability to train or play. When an athlete experiences stress, anxiety, or depression, it can be hard to stay focused and persevere through these tough feelings, especially going through such a hormonal transition through high school. A negative mindset can make athletes very self-critical, adding to the inferiority
complex that many younger athletes feel in comparison to the older “star” athletes. Current junior Grace Henderson, who played water polo on varsity as a freshman, felt the pressure as one of the youngest athletes on the team.
“I honestly didn’t have the best confidence going into the season,” Henderson said. “I experienced hate for being a freshman on varsity and remember it being pretty hard to fit in with the rest of the girls since most of them were upperclassmen.”
with the team, and my coach guided me through the whole thing,” Henderson said. “After a slow start, I eventually started to adapt to their community and began to feel like I belonged.”
“I experienced hate for being a freshman on varsity and it was difficult fitting in with the rest of the girls.”
—Grace Henderson (‘26)
She mentions that she was eventually able to fit into the varsity community with the support of her coach and some more inclusive teammates.
“Although I felt isolated at first, there were still plenty of positive experiences
In contradiction with Henderson’s experience, current sophomore Justin Fung who played as a freshman on varsity for football and baseball thought adapting to the community was fairly easy.
“I knew a lot of the older kids from childhood and that helped me a lot to adjust because they believed in me,” Fung said. “I didn’t have to get to know a completely different group of kids, and I could just be confident with my skills and abilities”.
Going from competing against kids of similar ages in middle school to compet-
ing against teenagers older and bigger on the varsity level is the most common struggle freshmen face.
“I don’t think the shift from middle to high school was a huge jump because by having an older brother and a dad that works at the high school, I was already around that culture for a long time and throughout my childhood and I played a lot of the time with older kids which I think helped the shift a lot,” Fung said.
Another example of a freshman athlete who is able to thrive in a varsity environment is current sophomore swimmer Dylan Fujita.
“Last year I did varsity swimming,” Fujita said. “I was able to fit in with the swim team because I already knew most of the swimmers on the team from swimming in my club at Alto swim club.”
Because of the support from his teammates, he was able to do very well that season.
“Since I was close friends with most of the swim team, I feel like I was able to do really well,” Fujita said. “I went many best times, dropping a lot [of time] in both
Junior Grace Henderson goes for a goal in a game against Amador Valley High School. Photo courtesy of Dylan Fujita
Justin Fung (‘27) looks for an open receiver in a game against Christopher High School. Photo courtesy of Justin Fung
my 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle, as well as making a few strides in other events. My coach, Danny Dye, has told me he has high expectations for my performance in the future.”
Building team chemistry is also a huge factor in leading any team to success. With a freshman on a team filled with upperclassmen, it may be hard to bond because although the whole team is in high school, they are in different stages and experiencing different things. Another thing that freshmen varsity athletes have to deal with is the constant high expectations from other teammates as well as coaches. Being forced into high expectations can cause negative reactions. According to a Medium article written by photographer and author Fernando Nunes, “[a]nxiety and high exapectations can lead us to unnecessary
pressures, fear of failure, tense relationships, and severe self-criticism,” . All of these reactions can lead to a negative mindset towards a sport and may cause an athlete to lose motivation, play worse, or not want to play anymore.
“I experienced a moment in club swimming where I had to perform under high pressure and I ended up overthinking it and not doing well,” Fujita said.
“Anxiety and high expectations can lead to unnecessary pressures and severe self criticism.”
—Dr. Fernando Nunes, Medium
Losing motivation or losing love for the sport is hard to overcome. Especially with the stakes being high, pressure can come to be seen. Regardless of this, given the support most freshman varsity athletes receive while playing from coaches, teammates, and even family members, most don’t quit when exposed to the high expectations.
So how do freshmen prove themselves to their coaches and teammates
that they belong on varsity? Current freshman Olivia Roper ‘s journey to competing against upperclassmen in varsity volleyball was never handed to her.
“I always made sure to show up to all the open gyms and made a point to introduce myself to Coach Crader at the very first one,” Roper said. “I wanted to make sure he knew how committed I was to making varsity.” Roper’s techniques and strategies for how to become the best player proved successful. She mentioned how her coach really appreciated her work ethic and is excited for her to compete in future years.
Swimmer Fujita utilized the same techniques to impress his coach last year.
“I always came to practice on time and generally tried to be the first one in the pool,” Fujita said. “I also tried as hard as I could every practice and never skipped any reps. Whenever some of my teammates start having a negative attitude, I generally try to be positive and support them through the hard practices.”
Fujita wants to eventually become a team captain in his senior year and he plans to continue his hard work in the coming swim seasons. His hard work from last year paid off. The coach was really impressed about how he was able to step up as a freshman and make an impact on the team.
“My coach told me he could tell that my work ethic was motivating my teammates to work harder as well,” Fujita said. He also mentions the help he got from his teammates.
“The swim team was very inclusive and supportive,” he said. “The switch from middle school to high school wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be
and I think the main reason was because of the amount of support I got from both my teammates and my coach.”
It is clear that a main reason for Fujita’s success in varsity as a freshman was because of his supporting teammates.
Another thing that freshmen varsity athletes may struggle with is balancing the workload of high school with the time commitment required to play as a varsity athlete. Generally, practices are after school and by the time an athlete comes home from practice, they won’t have much time to relax and recover before they have to begin their school work. A lot of student athletes struggle with time management, but the stress given to freshmen varsity athletes is taken fur-
ther. Fujita talks about how he was able to manage both sports and the heightened academic rigor of high school.
“I was able to manage [the workload] by making a schedule and following it.”
—Dylan Fujita (‘27)
“I was able to manage by making a schedule and following it,” Fujita said. “The thing that helped me with this the most was the prep I got from Physical Education for playing on a Paly sports team.” Prep has seen to be helpful for almost all high school athletes, as it gives them a dedicated “free period” to use to work on their homework, study, or any other activity they wish to do with their time.
To these young athletes, the switch from middle school to high school and the higher expectations in both academics and sports may seem impossible to get through. But, in truth, this pressure isn’t as bad as it seems. With the help of supportive teammates and coaches, these new coming athletes generally have nothing to worry about with their transition into high school. According to a 2022 Premier Sport Psychology article titled The Power Five: Team Support, “Having actively supporting teammates can improve an athlete’s sense of self as well as make them feel heard,” (Premier 2024). Having confidence as an athlete is an important factor in performing well. Being confident in your craft and ability adds to the team as it encourages others on the team to also go out and play their hardest, confidently and collectively. Overall, freshman competing at a varsity level may seem scary, but with the help of teammates, family, friends, and especially coaches, underclassmen can succeed in an unnatural territory. Given this, although freshman varsity athletes may be subject to high expectations, it can be alleviated with the help of the upperclassmen on the team being welcoming and supportive instead of isolating them from the rest of the team.
Sophomore
Dylan Fujita races in the 500-yard freestyle at CCS. Photo courtesy of Dylan Fujita
by AMANDA GOODY, SCARLETT FRICK, and ELENA SALVATIERRA
ROUGH/FINAL
MIND, MEDS: Athletes Juggling Health and Competition
Behind the glittering gold medals and world records, elite athletes often face hidden struggles. Famous Olympic gymnast Simone chael Phelps with ADHD, and 2024 100 meter gold medalist, Noah Lyles, wrestles with asthma. All are prime examples of elite their athletic endeavors, whether that be mental, physical or emotional. According to PubMed Central, 34% of active athletes report Modern medicine plays a prominent role in many young adults’ lives today, offering relief and treatment for a wide range of health conditions. these medicines may cause complications. The physical demands of athletic performance often clash with - or even cause - struggles of anxiety, acne to treating chronic conditions, the impact of these drugs can influence not only an athlete’s physical well-being, but their everyday One common neurodevelopmental condition among teenagers and student-athletes is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that between 2020 and 2022, 11.3% of adolescents aged 5-17 were diagnosed struggle with focusing, completing tasks, and maintaining a consistent attention span. They may also experience mood varietyofmedicationsareavailabletohelpmanagethesymptomsofADHD,eachwithitsownbenefitsandsideeffects.Twocommonlyprescribedmedications
B DY,
“[the prescription] makes it much easier to focus on what my coach is saying or what play we are running,” Chancellor said. However, the benefits of these medications often come with trade-offs, as Chancellor has
“My medication makes me less social, so it’s harder This side effect can be particularly challenging when participating in team sports, where effective communication is crucial “The hardest thing about taking my medication is the appetite loss,” Chancellor said. “I don’t eat much during the school a varsity athlete who is expected to perform at such “Playing any sport on an empty stomach is difficult, but it’s especially Chancellor is not the only student who faces this issue. Junior baseball player Jackson Sims also struggles “[the prescription] definitely affects my appetite,” Sims said. “I don’t eat very much, because when I’m on my medication, it However, unlike Chancellor, Sims chooses to adjust his don’t take my medication on weekends because I want to have an appetite, and I don’t really need it since I don’t have to focus on much during Sims has found that managing his medication has an impact on his daily life and athletic performance, and notes a “When I don’t have my Adderall, I don’t really pay any attention, and I don’t really have much motivation,” Sims said. Similarly, managing health conditions presents a significant challenge for student-athletes diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Individuals duce enough insulin, the hormone necessary for regulating glucose levels in the blood. Without enough insulin glucose cannot enter cells found in the bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar. Symptoms of high blood sugar include excessive thirst, blurred vision, fatigue, order to cancel out these symptoms, athletes with type 1 diabetes must regularly administer prescribed doses of insulin. However, situations require varying dosages. Rapid or short-acting insulin is typically used to manage blood sugar spikes during meals, while intergeneral glucose needs. For athletes, particuwlarly those in the early stages of managing their diabetes, the process of adjusting insulin Sophomore basketbwall player Ella Hoy, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes four years ago, understands these challenges firsthand. had already been playing basketball when I was diagnosed, and I had to take a couple weeks off when I was in the hospital, ments,” Hoy said. “When I was finally ready to come back, I was constantly monitoring my blood sugar while I was playing.” Hoy has since established a routine, but managing blood sugar remains a challenge to balance during practices.
Athletes often face significant challenges as they balance their health needs with the demands of their sport. Medications for certain conditions can sometimes impact their physical and mental performance.
“If I give myself too much insulin before I exercise, my blood sugar will go low during practice, and I’ll have to stop in order to treat it,” levels of my dosage so that my blood sugar doesn’t go low at practice. I also have to constantly check my blood sugar during practice so that if I’m Details of Hoy’s treatment appear harsh, but without the usage of medication to treat her condiWhile some effects have a more noticeable impact on an athlete’s daily life, others may be more subtle. Dr. Heathin the Division of Dermatology at Seattle Children’s Hospital and an adjunct Professor at the University of Washletes of all ages. Dr. Brandling-Bennett highlights some of the treatments she frequently prescribes to athletes. “When I think about athletes, [prescriptions] that I more commonly prescribe that may afknown to many under the previous brand name of Accutane, for acne,” Brandling-Bennett said. This oral medication is typically used to treat severe or moderate acne. Though isotretinoin can be high“Oral isotretinoin can cause a list of potential side effects, including dry lips, skin, and as well as the need for frequent visits and intermittent laboratory testing,” Brandling-Bennett said.
One of the most challenging side effects for athletes on isotretinoin, like junior water polo player Maeva Herbert-Paz, “There have been cases where [my skin] doesn’t interact well with chlorine, and in really harsh sunlight, tretinoin makes your skin
How Meds Shape Athletes Juggling Health and Competition and Elite Athletes
BDECK: DRAFT
ehind the glittering gold medals and world records, elite athletes often face hidden struggles. Famous Olympic gymnast Simone Biles struggles with anxiety, swimmer Michael Phelps with ADHD, and 100 meter gold medalist,Noah Lyles wrestles with asthma. All are prime examples of elite athletes juggling care of their own health and their athletic endeavors, whether that be mental, physical or emotional. According to PubMed Central, 34% of active athletes report symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Modern medicine plays a prominent role in many young adults’ lives today, offering relief and treatment for a wide range of health conditions. However, when it comes to athletes, the use of these medicines may cause complications. The physical demands of athletic performance often clash with - or even cause - struggles of anxiety, depression, and mood swings. From managing acne to treating chronic conditions, the impact of these drugs can influence not only an athlete’s physical well-being, but their everyday performance, recovery and overall mental health as well.
One common neurodevelopmental condition among teenagers and student-athletes is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that between 2020 and 2022, 11.3%
“When I play without my medication, I tend to lose focus a lot more, which can be very detrimental in a close game.”
-Oliver Chancellor (‘25)
of adolescents aged 5-17 were diagnosed with ADHD. Students with ADHD often struggle with focusing, completing tasks, and maintaining a consistent attention span. They may also experience mood swings and other related challenges.
A variety of medications are available to help manage the symptoms of ADHD, each with its own benefits and side effects. Two commonly prescribed medications are Concerta and Ritalin. Both of these have helped senior and varsity lacrosse player Oliver Chancellor navigate the challenges of ADHD.
eat much during the school day because my medication completely suppresses my appetite, which makes it much harder to train in general.”
For a varsity athlete who is expected to perform at such a high intensity, this effect can be particularly weakening.
“Playing any sport on an empty stomach is difficult, but it’s especially tough for a physically demanding sport like lacrosse,” Chancellor said.
Chancellor is not the only student who faces this issue. Junior baseball player Jackson Sims also struggles with similar challenges while on Adderall, another medication commonly used to treat ADHD.
gymnast Simone Biles struggles with anxiety, swim- mer elite athletes juggling care of their own health and athletes report symptoms of depression or anxiety. conditions. However, when it comes to athletes, the use of anxiety, depression, and mood swings. From managing everyday performance, recovery and overall mental health as Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The Centers for Dis- ease diagnosed with ADHD. Students with ADHD of- ten mood swings and other related challenges. prescribedmedicationsareConcertaandRitalin.BothofthesehavehelpedseniorandvarsitylacrosseplayerOliverChancellornavigatethechallengesofADHD. said. “When I play without my medication, I tend to lose focus a lot more, which can be very detrimental in a close game.” has experienced firsthand. Chancellor discusses the impacts on his social and athletic interactions. harder to communicate during practices and games,” Chancellor crucial to success on the field. Yet, for Chancellor, the most significant challenge is not a mental aspect but a physical school day because my medication completely suppresses my appetite, which makes it much harder to train in general.” such a high intensity, this effect can be particularly weakening. especially tough for a physically demanding sport like lacrosse,” Chancellor struggles with similar challenges while on Adderall, another medication commonly used to treat ADHD. medication, it really makes me not hungry at all, which makes me have less stamina. This also makes it very difficult to gain weight.” medication schedule in order to manage this effect. much during that time,” Sims said. “However, I do take a smaller dose before sports games to help with focus.” notes a difference between taking and not taking his medication. said.
“[the prescription] makes it much easier to focus on what my coach is saying or what play we are running,” Chancellor said. “When I play without my medication, I tend to lose focus a lot more, which can be very detrimental in a close game.”
Adderall and Ritalin are considered to be among the first choices of medications for treating ADHD.
However, the benefits of these medications often come with trade-offs, as Chancellor has experienced firsthand. Chancellor discusses the impacts on his social and athletic interactions.
34% of active athletes report symptoms of depression or anxiety.
“[the prescription] definitely affects my appetite,” Sims said. “I don’t eat very much, because when I’m on my medication, it really makes me not hungry at all, which makes me have less stamina. This also makes it very difficult to gain weight.”
“When I’m on it, I’m focused.” Individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes’ pancreas fail to cells (typically muscle, fat, and liver cells) and instead, fatigue, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting (Mayo Clinic). However, balancing insulin levels can be complicated, as different inter- mediate or long-acting insulin maintains the body’s insulin doses to accommodate physical activity can take time. firsthand. hospital, and also to get used to my new treat playing.” practices.
“My medication makes me less social, so it’s harder to communicate during practices and games,” Chancellor said.
However, unlike Chancellor, Sims chooses to adjust his medication schedule in order to manage this effect.
This side effect can be particularly challenging when participating in team sports, where effective communication is crucial to success on the field. Yet, for Chancellor, the most significant challenge is not a mental aspect but a physical one.
“The hardest thing about taking my medication is the appetite loss,” Chancellor said. “I don’t
“I don’t take my medication on weekends because I want to have an appetite, and I don’t really need it since I don’t have to focus on much during that time,” Sims said. “However, I do take a smaller dose before sports games to help with focus.”
Sims has found that managing his medication has an impact on his daily life and athletic performance, and notes a difference between taking and not taking his Similarly, managing health conditions
treat it,” Hoy said. “It’s difficult to remember every time, but before practice I will usually turn down if I’m goinglow,IcantreatitbeforeIgotoolowandhavetostop,andthatkindofdisruptsmypractice.” condi- tion, the alternative suffering would be much worse. Heath- er Brandling-Bennett, a Pediatric Dermatologist who’s an attend Wash- ington School of Medicine, treats both athletes and non-ath athletes.
af- fect them include oral isotretinoin, said. high- ly effective, it also comes with potential downsides. and nose, muscle aches, and photosensitivi said.
Herbert-Paz, is the increased sensitivity of the skin, especially to environmental factors such as chemicals and sunlight. your skin super sensitive to sun,” Herbert-Paz said. “So there was a time where I did get a second-degree burn on my face, and my entire
“In really harsh sunlight, tretinoin makes my skin super sensitive.”
In 2021,tretinoin had more thantwomillionprescriptions.
of Washington School of Medicine, treats both athletes and non-athletes of all ages. Dr. Brandling-Bennett highlights some of the treatments she frequently prescribes to athletes.
Similarly, managing health conditions presents a significant challenge for student-athletes diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes’ pancreas fail to produce enough insulin, the hormone necessary for regulating glucose levels in the blood. Without enough insulin glucose cannot enter cells (typically muscle, fat, and liver cells) and instead, is found in the bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar. Symptoms of high blood sugar include excessive thirst, blurred vision, fatigue, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting (Mayo Clinic).
In order to cancel out these symptoms, athletes with type 1 diabetes must regularly administer prescribed doses of insulin. However, balancing insulin levels can be complicated, as different situations require varying dosages. Rapid or short-acting insulin is typically used to manage blood sugar spikes during meals, while intermediate or long-acting insulin maintains the body’s general glucose needs. For athletes, particularly those in the early stages of managing their diabetes, the process of adjusting insulin doses to accommodate physical activity can take time.
Sophomore basketball player Ella Hoy, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes four years ago, understands these challenges firsthand.
“I had already been playing basketball when I was diagnosed, and I had to take a couple weeks off when I was in the hospital, and also to get used to my new treat-
“If I give myself too much insulin before I exercise, my blood sugar will go low during practice, and I’ll have to stop in order to treat it,” Hoy said. “It’s difficult to remember every time, but before practice I will usually turn down the levels of my dosage so that my blood sugar doesn’t go low at practice. I also have to constantly check my blood sugar during practice so that if I’m going low, I can treat it before I go too low and have to stop, and that kind of disrupts my practice.”
Details of Hoy’s treatment appear difficult, but without the usage of medication to treat her condition, the alternative would be worse.
While some effects have a more notice able impact on an athlete’s daily life, oth ers may be more subtle. Dr. Heather Bran dling-Bennett, a Pediatric Dermatologist who’s an attending in the Division of Der matology at Seattle Children’s Hospital and an adjunct Professor at the University
“When I think about athletes, [prescriptions] that I more commonly prescribe that may affect them include oral isotretinoin, known to many under the previous brand name of Accutane, for acne,” Brandling-Bennett said.
This oral medication is typically used to treat severe or moderate acne. Though isotretinoin can be highly effective, it also comes with potential downsides.
“Oral isotretinoin can cause a list of potential side effects, including dry lips, skin, and nose, muscle aches, and photosensitivity, as well as the need for frequent visits and intermittent laboratory testing,” Brandling-Bennett said.
One of the most challenging side effects for athletes on isotretinoin, like junior water polo player Maeva Herbert-Paz, is the increased sensitivity of the skin, especially to environmental factors such as chemicals and sunlight.
“There have been cases where [my skin] doesn’t interact well with chlorine, and in really harsh sunlight, tretinoin makes your skin super sensitive to sun,” Herbert-Paz said. “So there was a time where I did get a second-degree burn on my face, and my entire face blistered, which was extremely painful.”
Medication can influence not just physical aspects such as appetite or skin, but also a student’s mental well-being. For a
“If I give myself too much insulin before I exercise, my blood sugar will go low during practice, and I’ll have to stop in order to treat it.”
- Ella Hoy (‘27)
I loved,” Anonymous (‘24) said. “I spent so much time being dizzy, unmotivated, and tired at practice. After upping my dose and being patient with it, I started to see a difference. I was finally able to work to my best ability and feel good about myself.”
Anonymous Field Hockey sophomore’s experience shows how medication can improve both mental health and performance. Similarly, many women rely on contraceptives to manage severe menstrual symptoms and maintain their well-being.
The effects of menstruation can vary for all women. Extreme side effects include cramps, bloating, mood swings, headaches, fatigue and all-over body pain. Junior Mila Bynum is starting her second year on the varsity girls water polo team and was prescribed both the pill and an IUD (Intrauterine Device) for a specific reason.
“I started taking [the pill] in order to alleviate my moodswings, which is why I think it helped me.”
- Mila Bynum (‘26)
me, since it caused me to get less frustrated, which would help me in prac-
Bynum believes that her experience with contraceptives is positive and allows her to perform at new athletic levels that would have been otherwise difficult.
“I would perform a lot worse the week before my period, especially swimming,” Bynum said. “But now that I don’t get my period, I’m not affected as much, and with the IUD, I feel like I am performing better.”
Paly alum (‘24) Mary Henderson has also been prescribed a birth control pill by her doctors. Henderson is a former goalie for the Paly girls water polo team and will be continuing her athletic career in college.
VO2 max is a measure of an athlete’s aerobic capacity, indicating how efficiently the body can use oxygen during exercise.
“Luckily, I feel there are very few side effects to the medication I take because I have worked with my doctors a lot to find a medication that is a good fit for me and has limited side effects,” Henderson said. “In the past I have tried other medications that have given me stomach aches or headaches and from there after giving it a chance, my doctor switched my medication.”
like soccer, basketball, and hockey. Dr. Kamis provides information about what effects birth control can have on athletes.
“Progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone found in many birth control pills, can lead to challenges such as mood swings, fatigue, and decreased physical performance, due to its effect on hormonal balance,” Kamis said.
VO2 max is a measure of how much oxygen an athlete uses during training. A higher VO2 max is more optimal; it means your body is more efficient at delivering oxygen to working muscles. According to Rupa Health, evidence shows that an oral contraceptive may lower VO2 max in female athletes, causing them to feel like they cannot give their 100%, which can be very detrimental to athletic performance.
“VO2 max is a measure of an athlete’s aerobic capacity, indicating how efficiently the body can use oxygen during exercise,” Kamis said. “A low VO2 max means that an athlete will struggle with endurance, and their ability to sustain high levels of physical activity will be limited. For female athletes, this can be particularly problematic in sports requiring significant stamina, such as long-distance running, cycling, or soccer.”
Another major risk factor of us ing birth control as an athlete is
“Part of the reason I started taking the pill in the first place was because I had PMDD, which is post menstrual dysmorphic depression,” Bynum said. “Basically, it’s when your mood swings are crazy and irrational the week before your period. So, I started taking it [the pill] in order to alleviate those, which is why I think it helped
While Bynum and Henderson have experienced overall performance improvements while using birth control, like any medication, it comes with potential downsides. Dr. Danielle Kamis is a female Sports Psychiatrist who works with athletes from various disciplines ranging from individual sports like tennis, track and field, and swimming, to team sports
- Mary Henderson (‘24)
To address these challenges, Kamis suggests several strategies that can help female athletes manage the impact of hormonal shifts on their performance.
“Some ways female athletes can overcome these challenges include tailoring your birth control: working with a health care provider to find the right type of contraceptive that minimizes negative side effects,” Kamis said. “This might mean switching pills or using different forms of contraception, such as IUDs or implants, that release lower levels of progestin.”
One other option Kamis mentions: ad
“[My medication] allows me to focus less on my anxiety and stress and more on what I care about, my training.” Athletes face unique mental health challenges that stem from high pressure, expectations, and the intense training regimens they follow.
and with so many nuances and side effects, it can often take years to find the right fit. One of the major responsibilities that comes with taking prescription medications is the daily ritual. Most if not all medications are supposed to be taken on a daily basis at similar times everyday. Missing days of medi- cation can have consequences both mentally and physically.
like birth control.
“Athletes face unique mental health challenges that stem from high pressure, performance expectations, and the intense training regimens they follow,” Kamis said. “My role is to help them navigate these mental health challenges and sometimes the psychological effects that can arise from injury, competition, or drug-related issues. Seeking counseling or therapy to man
The most common method of contraception used by women in the US are oral contraceptives.
“I have accidentally gone off my medication, which resulted in extreme symptoms like nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, and more,” Henderson said. “I was acci dentally taking a different medication be cause I forgot to read my pill bottle. After that experience, I am very careful about staying on top of taking my medication and consistently set alarms for taking my
SIDE EFFECTS OF ADHD/ANXIETY MEDS PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS
- Limits social interaction and communication
- Decrease in VO2 max, lowers endurance in CONTRACEPTIVE
MEDS
- Can cause mood swings and fatigue
- Possible dryness and blistering when in
DIABETES MEDS
- Constant monitoring and adjustment of dosage to prevent disruptions
- Too much insulin risks low blood sugar
At Paly, several coaches also juggle other jobs, leveraging skills from their outside jobs to enhance their coaching. Their passion and commitment significantly impacts students’ lives, yet often go unrecognized.
With Paly sports, the spotlight is generally focused solely on the studentathlete. Parents are present at games to see their kids play. Students go to support their friends. Others attend simply to spectate a sport they love. When the clock strikes zero, fans remember the highlights: a beautiful goal, an incredible interception, a powerful homerun. Rarely, however, is a coach’s strategy, leadership, or dedication mentioned: the countless hours they commit to creating gameplans, leading practice, and providing feedback is almost always overlooked. Yet a coach’s influence is not only measured by team success; they are role models dedicated to helping students succeed both on and off the field.
Brandon Byer, who coaches JV basketball and is an assistant coach for varsity basketball, loves being able to make a positive impact on student’s lives through his passion for athletics.
“What motivates me is my passion for assisting our youth and doing so through physical activity or sport,” Byer said. “I really embrace the roles that I have as a coach which enables me to teach life skills through skill advancement, knowledge, and character development.”
Although coaches receive compensation for their time, a high school coach cannot live sustainably off of their coaching salary. Instead, they often coach alongside a full-time job. These dedicated individuals spend their days working in various professions, only to head straight to practice afterward. It is a lifestyle that requires impressive time management skills and a genuine
passion for supporting young athletes.
Coaching at Paly is more than just a side job for these committed people. For many, it feels like they’re adding a second full-time job on top of their main one.
John Suter, who manages two airports while coaching JV baseball, embodies this relentless lifestyle.
“Working and running two airports and then coaching baseball six months out of the year presents quite a challenge,” Suter said. “I have 24 hours in a day, and it’s a constant grind. I draw strength from the lessons I learned growing up about the importance of a good work ethic.”
“I have 24 hours in a day, and it’s a constant grind. I draw strength from the lessons I learned growing up about the importance of a good work ethic.”
a grind, but I enjoy it.”
Clare Doyle, the Paly girls field hockey coach and predoctoral researcher for an economics professor at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, focuses on the research on corporate taxation.
“Working and running two airports and then coaching baseball six months out of the year presents quite a challenge,”
- John Suter
From early mornings spent preparing lessons or going to work, to late nights on the field or court, these coaches are not wasting a second of their time. Whether it be 5:45 a.m. daily morning practices or late games, it is these coaches who prioritize their athletes and consistently show up.
- John Suter
Jon Kessler, who teaches during the day at Addison Elementary School and coaches the decorated Paly wrestling team in the afternoons, feels that the two roles are often interconnected, but still require a careful balance.
“I balance by just making sure to stay on top of all my duties as a coach and teacher. I’m always planning in advance to make sure I don’t fall behind,” Kessler said. “Thankfully, teaching and coaching go hand in hand, my teaching job ends at 3 p.m., and then I head over to Paly around 4 p.m. to start practice. It’s a bit of
“I am using IRS data to identify corporations that set up specific international affiliate structures to legally avoid US taxes, and examining the economic impacts of these structures.”
Doyle said.
As a graduate student at Stanford, Doyle finds herself very busy in school, but finds ways to be flexible around her busy schedule. This allows her to be able to be available for her student-athletes.
“Working in academia affords me a lot of flexibility to set my hours, and luckily Stanford is really close to Paly,” Doyle said. “Usually, I use coaching as a break in my workday and then go back to campus after practice to get a few more hours in.”
Doyle’s focus on being flexible shows her athletes how important it is to find balance in life. Similarly to these coaches managing multiple jobs, Paly athletes have to balance their schoolwork with sports. Being a student, especially at Paly, puts pressure on student athletes, as they are expected to excel in both academics and athletics. Seeing Doyle’s dedication encourages her student-athletes to handle their own busy schedules. Balancing a coaching role with outside jobs is more than just managing time---t’s about staying fully engaged, even when you’re exhausted from constantly shifting between responsibilities. Brandon Byer teaches his P.E. lessons before coaching basketball at Paly. He talks about the importance of keeping his energy up in both settings.
“I juggle both teaching and coaching by being present in the moment and always trying to bring the same type of energy no matter where I am,” Byer said. “At school, I focus on our students and teach classes with high energy and passion. On the basketball court, I transfer that same fervor toward our high school student-
athletes.”
Coaches like Suter, Kessler, and Byer take on two jobs for one big reason–because they love helping young people. However, it is a commitment that comes with great sacrifices. Balancing both roles means they often have little room for personal hobbies, relaxation, and rest. Many coaches like Suter have strategies for finding calm in the chaos.
“When things, ideas, and even people become overwhelming, I stop to take a moment and return to my breathing,” Suter said. “Slowing down the moment and remembering that I am just passing through history.”
Despite the intense schedule, coaches like Kessler and Byer find ways to carve out moments for themselves to avoid burnout. Although Byer and Kessler have similar circumstances, they have different strategies to help decompress.
Kessler relies on his assistant coaches to help share the workload.
“I have great assistant coaches who put in a ton of time with the program,” Kessler said. “I can count on them to help run things if I’m busy. I also help to manage both by making sure I have some time to myself whether it’s playing golf, meeting up with friends, or
spending time with family.”
Byer, on the other hand, makes it a point to set aside time for exercise, meditation, and reading.
“It’s imperative that I maintain quality physical fitness, eat healthy, sleep, and take time for myself in certain passions that I enjoy,” Byer said. “If I don’t do this, burnout is almost assured.”
Despite the pressures and the long hours that come with balancing coaching alongside a stressful outside job, the rewards of coaching are what keep these individuals going. Kessler explains that there is no better feeling than watching their athletes develop on the field and in
(where I moved from), and I really love getting to give back to the game and helping the sport grow and thrive out here.”
Another reason for being a dual-role coach is knowing that you are making an important impact on the younger generations’ lives and helping form a better future for the world.
“The lessons, concepts, and life skills I teach in the classroom are also shared with our Paly athletes, though I may present them differently on the court.”
- Brandon Byer
“It’s rewarding when you see hard work paying off,” Kessler said. “It’s rewarding when the athletes trust the process and believe in their teammates and coaches. It’s rewarding when going to work and getting asked how the wrestling team did at the tournament over the
Similarly, Suter and Doyle both find joy in watching their players develop confidence and resilience.
“Watching a player gain confidence from putting in the work and believing in the process fills me with a deep sense of joy,” Suter said.
“It is incredibly rewarding getting to see players’ hard work pay off on the field, and to watch them grow as leaders as well as athletes,” Doyle said. “Field hockey is not as big in California as it is on the East Coast
“There are few things that give me more energy and excitement than when winter arrives and basketball season truly begins,” Byer said. “It is at that time of year when I know that my passion for teaching and coaching merge together. The responsibility of being able to teach and coach means everything to me.”
One of the unique benefits of coaches working other jobs is the skills they bring from one role to the other. Skills such as problem-solving, communication, and leadership, make them better coaches and give their respective teams an advantage. The problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills honed in their day jobs often enhance their coaching abilities, providing extra benefits to their teams. Byer believes his roles as a teacher and coach complement each other.
“As a teacher and a coach, communication is critical,” Byer said. “The lessons, concepts, and life skills I teach in the classroom are also shared with our Paly athletes, though I may present them differently on the court.”
Similarly, Doyle finds that balancing both jobs comes with benefits that help improve her daily
“One of my favorite things about holding both jobs is that they are incredibly different from each other. Getting to spend a couple hours in the sunshine every afternoon after sitting at a computer coding all morning is one of the biggest perks of coaching,” Doyle said.
Despite the differences, she acknowledges that both jobs need strong communication and organizational skills.
“Both coaching a team and writing a research paper involve a lot of moving pieces, and neither can be done by one person working alone,” Doyle said.
The impact these coaches have goes beyond wins and losses.
They are teaching life lessons to their athletes that go beyond the classroom or the playing field. They are the first ones that students turn to for help in almost anything. This mentorship helps them not just with their sports careers, but with their lives as well.
“I think any coach will also tell you that we are just as competitive and invested in the season as our players are, often even more,” Coach Doyle said. “Practices and
games are always a strong motivation to help get through the rest of my workday.”
Even though these coaches do so much for their students, the contributions of dual-role coaches often are not talked about. They aren’t recognized half as much as the athletes are, even though the coaches are the ones putting them out on the field. The hours they spend planning and preparing are not seen by most people. Their dedication to balancing
two jobs is rarely acknowledged, but it is this commitment that makes them so invaluable. “Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it’s important that you do it,” Coach Suter said. The quiet dedication of coaches who work hard highlights their genuine desire to make a difference in the younger generation.
High school coaches with other jobs are the unnoticed heroes of the Paly Athletics community. They bring dedication, skill, and commitment to their roles, and their impact goes far beyond sports. These coaches not only help athletes advance in their athletics, but also teach resilience, perseverance, and the value of showing up no matter what.
By juggling their coaching duties with their careers, they show each studentathlete what a good work ethic looks like. Every one of these coaches deserves more recognition for their sacrifices and the big difference they make in their students’ lives, serving not just as coaches, but as role models.
Clare Doyle shows the Paly girls field hockey team the gameplan for the second half as they play Archbishop Mitty
Photo by Lucas Tung
REBUILD RALLYING
Following a difficult year, the Paly Cheer team is feeling encouraged to bounce back this season with new JV and Varsity coaches ready to lead the team to success.
By ARJUN BHARAT, FINNEGAN SCHOEBEL, SARAH THIEMAN, and LUCAS TUNG
Photo by Adi Weiner
From sideline to stunt season, the Paly cheer team dedicates countless hours year-round perfecting various routines, cheers, and performances — not only for the Paly community, but also for their own competitions. In the past, Paly Cheer has made it to CCS, State, and even National level competitions. Despite these accomplishments, many overlook the intense difficulty, precision, and time commitment that goes into their work, often failing to recognize cheer as a rigorous athletic activity. From the stands, we only get a glimpse of the skill and dedication that drives the team’s success.
Following years of strong performance, something went wrong last season. Due to internal conflicts in ideology on the team, the healthy environment collapsed, leading to damaged relationships and poor mental health. This eventually led to the departure of some players. With a new coach, this season will serve as a period of rebuilding and redemption for the cheer team.
Paly Cheer has a long history
of achievements and excellence. From being frequent participants at regionals to becoming CCS champions in 2019 and national runners-up in 2012, the team has set a high standard for success. The cheerleaders practice daily and work hard on their craft yearround. The team has always had a strong foundation, including a supportive community and a dedicated group of athletes who are committed to maintaining their
“There was just a lot of pressure coming from multiple sources, and after a while it turned into too much and people had enough.”
- Former Paly Cheerleader
Photo by Lucas Tung
season, many players reported that the team was chaotic and disorganized, creating a highly stressful environment. There was a lack in both structure and communication that heightened these issues.
Routines, including stunts and chore ography, were often introduced only three days before a game, leading to a high-pressure rushed learning process. This approach was frequently taken by the coach, and led to frustration among captains and team members who felt overwhelmed according to players. Many raised questions about why they were learning these routines in such a short period of time.
“The team was stressed out because we all thought, ‘why are we doing this last minute when you’ve had the cho reography for two weeks now, stuff like that, like the communication between the coach, captains, and the team was bad,” Linder said.
As a result of these issues, the captains ended up adopting a lot of coaching responsibilities, including stunt train ing and developing choreography. Yet this was not a long term solution, and the vague lines of responsibility further created tensions and confusion on the team, putting the captains in a compli cated position with unclear roles and expectations.
“There wasn’t really a clear split be tween the role of the coach and the
“I hope that the team finds as much joy and passion for cheerleading as I do,”
-Coach Gurewitz
Data from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 School Year
“I have personally had a lot of people tell me...why do you have to practice for so long or why is it even considered a sport?”
- Lily
Jeffrey (‘25)
Keely Washington (’23)
“It started to become less of a team and tions on the team, some people really wanted cheer.
tending the team’s outreach beyond just football games by participating in upcoming philanthropic events in the area.
“I really want us to focus on empathy, compassion, and giving back to the community by cheering for more sports than just football and participating in philanthropy events in and around Palo Alto,” Gurewitz said. “While football season is super fun, I’m trying to emphasize cheering at more female-led sports and
In addition, Gurewitz plans to expand Paly cheer’s leadership in order to give athletes more responsibility and chances to help than in the past. Gurewitz believes that the introduction of new leadership can signal new chances for the team to succeed as a group. Gurewitz’s expansion plans include the introduction of three new leadership positions for athletes: Team Manager, Outreach Director, and Social media director.
Above all, Gurewitz maintains that her most important objective is to help the team develop as a whole, and to help everyone reach their fullest potential. Her philosophy focuses on teamwork and trust, and a love for cheerleading that she hopes she can spread to the athletes.
“I hope that the team finds as much joy and passion for cheerleading as I do,” Gurewitz said. “Of course, having some really cool halftime routines and winning a few competitions wouldn’t hurt, but my main focus is developing team skills both
With all of these changes taking place, it marks the beginning of a new era in cheer. Many athletes are excited for this next season and looking forward to everything that they can achieve with their new coach. Seeger is entering her third year of cheer and believes that Gurewitz is providing an opportunity for the team
“So far it is going pretty well with our new coach, and all the people that came back are obviously the people that really want to be there,” Seeger said. “We all persisted and all decided to come back so I think we are all trying to make it better this year and rebuild our team.”
“I hope that I can bring a new energy to Paly cheer because while I may not know what the team was like in previous years, I know that new leadership signifies a lot of new opportunities.” Gurewitz said.
Gurewitz plans to focus the cheer team’s efforts on events focused around Paly’s community at large, such as ex-
Even though the cheer team is back together, some issues still remain. Unfortunately, the hard work that cheerleaders put in to perfecting their craft is often undermined and undervalued by others who don’t recognize the commitment and dedication that cheer demands from athletes. The dedication of cheer athletes is no more apparent than in the huge expenses cheer athletes are
expected to pay each year just to be a part of the team.
Cheer is one of the only sports that isn’t subsidized by Paly Athletics, causing cheer to be one of the most costly sports to participate in at Paly. Between uniforms, travel and entry fees, students will often pay over $3,000 for a three-season year of cheer. These costs are not suggested donations to cheer, but rather are required for participation. This is the key difference separating cheer from other sports at Paly, as no other Paly athletes are required to pay for their own uniforms and travel.
In addition to spending large amounts each season, cheerleaders are expected to raise a minimum of $120 for cheer by selling chocolate bars on their own time. No other Paly sports have individual athletes fundraise for their sports at a similar rate at all. Cheerleaders need to spend hours of their own time marketing products in order to meet donation quotas. Money raised by the team goes into buying uniforms, bus fares and other expenses.
Gurewitz and the Paly cheer program are working to combat this issue, which has held membership back in previous years, but she emphasizes that the best way to bring change is through participation, and she encourages the Paly community to get involved in helping the team.
“We try to make cheer as accessible as possible, but it is a very expensive sport meaning we rely heavily on fundraiser and athlete donations to fund everything from our uniforms to tumbling or stunting clinics,” Gurewitz said. “Showing up
competition schedule so you can sup port the sport that supports all others.”
A key factor in boosting the rebuild of Paly cheer is support from the Paly community. Although Paly has a strong school spirit culture, cheer fails to take a place in the spotlight. The lack of sup port and recognition can often have a negative effect on athletes
“In the past, we’ve felt like there’s little crowd engagement with us, which can be difficult if there are other student leaders at football games, they can’t hear us cheer, or don’t know the cheers,” Jef frey said. “But I do think that it would be fun if there was more of a connection be tween the student section and then the cheer team.”
So why has cheer been sidelined in Paly athletic culture? Cheer captain and Paly Senior Lily Jeffrey believes that cheerleading needs to be recognized as a real sport to gain more attention.
“I know in the past, a lot of the members on our team, including myself, have felt cheer isn’t seen as a real or difficult sport,” Jeffrey said. “At football games, what people see is us doing more simple things on the sidelines, or what are seemingly easy routines or skills, but what a lot of people don’t see is our competition season.”
Jeffrey’s frustration is shared by many on the team. Despite the physical and mental demands of cheerleading, the perception that it’s an “easier” or “lesser” sport persists. This issue can be very frustrating for the athletes, as despite the huge amounts of work they put in, they are never fully appreciated for their work.
“I personally have had a lot of people
four years of cheer, senior Abigail Karel looks back fondly on her memories cheering for Paly and is excited for her final year on the squad.
“We have new coaches this year, for both JV and Varsity and we have had a great time getting to know them and our new team,” Karel said. “I’m really looking forward to this final football season and making lots of memories before I graduate.”
Jeffrey shares this sentiment, hoping that a fresh start will allow her final season to create more lasting memories.
“I’m really excited to be back on the team, and to experience senior night, I think it’ll be a good year to end my high school cheer experience.” Jeffrey said. Despite setbacks at the end of last year, the team is prepared to move into a new era of Paly cheer, one that elevates and encourages its members. Two new coaches, a refocus on fun in cheer, and opportunities to branch out performances are making this year feel like the
Photo courtesy of Jimmy Quita
By CARTER BURNETT, BEN LEVAV, and ADI WEINER
Friend TO Foe
Fantasy football is an intense game and a great way to get closer to friends. The winner is crowned champion for the year, and the loser sometimes serves a punishment, so the stakes are high.
F. antasy football is a roller coaster of emotions: from your first-round pick getting a season-ending injury, to the player you just picked up on waiver wires becoming a league winner, fantasy football is an unpredictable yet exciting journey.
There are a variety of formats that leagues can use to distribute players. Leagues with some sort of traditional drafting component typically utilize a snake draft, in which the order for picking reverses each round. So the player with the first pick in the first round would have the last pick in the second round, and then the first pick again in the third round. This pattern continues for the entire draft.
The most popular is the redraft, where each player drafts a completely new team every year. This system fosters a more exciting, unpredictable league, and prevents individual players from dominating year in year out with the same players. A redraft league typically includes eight to twelve people, and each person drafts a team made up of 15 to 16 players, including a defense and kicker.
larger than those from a redraft league. The draft before the season consists of the incoming NFL rookie class, similar to the real NFL draft.
Lastly, in an auction draft each person has a set dollar amount to spend throughout the draft. Each NFL player is available on the auction block, and eventually goes to the highest bidder.
“Those who typically succeed are the people that are always on the waiver wires and updating their roster. As someone who finished last, I didn’t put enough time in, but I think most people edit their team and do research for about 15-20 minutes a week.”
Contrary to a redraft, in a dynasty draft each person carries over their players from the prior season. Players can be retained by one team indefinitely, and rosters are typically
“I ended up winning the first round [of playoffs] marginally and eventually went on to dominate in the finals, partially due to my team exceeding expectations, but mostly because my opponents had extremely unfortunate weeks in terms of their teams’ performances.”
Most people have a strong preference on playing in a PPR league versus a nonPPR league. A PPR, or points per reception, league leads to more points scored and a higher reward for more catches, so you would favor wide receivers, specifically ones who get a lot of targets, and runningbacks who are featured in the passing game. When playing in non-PPR league, a league where points are only counted based off yards, you would favor runningbacks since they would be the higher point getters than receivers. Also, non-PPR leagues target receivers that run a lot of deep routes, and get more yards per catch then targets.
Leagues will often have incentives to keep league-mates active week to week. The two most common incentives are creating a money pool for the winner and/or a punishment for the loser.
In a punishment league, league-members will decide on a punishment for the lastplace finisher at the beginning of the season. Once the season plays out, the losing member has to complete this punishment. Sophomore Kavan Zia, a lastplace finisher from last fantasy football season discusses the extremity of his punishment.
“I kind of just dealt with [my punishment]. It was embarrassing at first but I got used to it,” Zia said.
For Zia, this punishment was a very uneven haircut on the sides and back of his head. The new and improved punishment will be a fully bleached buzz cut.
“Last year’s punishment was a bit too soft, causing our league to up the stakes a little bit,” Rohan Bhatt, the winner of his and Zia’s league said.
In a competitive league, winning requires effort and time. Researching, drafting a team, proposing trades, claiming players off of the waiver wire, setting a starting lineup to win your weekly matchups are steps needed to give yourself the
-ROHAN BHATT (‘27)
- CORMAC WHITE (‘25)
BIGGEST SURPRISES THIS YEAR
Sam Darnold is the true epitome of a sleeper fantasy football player. He went from being a backup averaging just over 2 points per game, to averaging almost 20 points per game, becoming the fourth best fantasy quarterback this year.
best chance of winning.
Paly junior and former league winner Vinay Shah talks about his strategy and motivation.
“I like to say I put in an hour a week in research on who to pick up in the waiver wire, and on possible trades to make,” Shah said. “I would send out at least three trades a week, my mentality was you miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take, and I did not want to do the punishment so I would take any chance to improve my roster.”
Despite this understanding, White admitted he didn’t invest enough time last season.
Sabina said.
“You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take, and I did not want to do the punishment so I would take any chance to improve my roster.”
-VINAY SHAH (‘26)
Sophomore Rohan Bhatt, another league winner, reflects on what led to his success.
“I spent around 30 minutes a week, but also around an extra couple hours when you take the draft and draft prep into account,” Bhatt said. “Frequent check ups plus having a clear draft strategy are the two must do’s as a fantasy manager. Without these two things, it will be quite hard to win your league.”
Success in fantasy football is about consistency and effort throughout the season. Paly senior Cormac White emphasizes this point, noting how essential it is to stay active.
“I think it takes discipline because those who typically succeed are the people that are always on the waiver wires and updating their roster,” White said.
“As someone who finished last, I didn’t put enough time in, but I think most people edit their team and do research for about 15-20 minutes a week,” White said.
White’s downfall illustrates how even a small time commitment can make the difference between winning and losing.
Senior Milo Sabina echoed White’s sentiment for success.
“Dedication, commitment, and hustle,”
Sabina spends around 30 minutes a week looking up stats and reviewing NFL games to inform his decisions, but despite the effort, he also finished at the bottom of his league.
“I think the biggest mistake was not adjusting my strategy soon enough. You really have to stay on top of things,” he said. Engagement throughout the season is critical, as Bhatt and Shah’s success shows. Both of these past winners knew that winning isn’t just about the draft; it’s about managing your team every single week. Regularly making waiver claims, proposing trades, and fine-tuning lineups are all crucial strategies that separate top-tier managers from the rest of the pack.
However, no amount of preparation or strategy can prevent the many challenges
that arise throughout a fantasy football football season. Uncooperative leaguemates, unpredictable players, and injuries can thwart any fantasy team in its journey to a championchip.
There are endless possibilities as to what will happen throughout the season to each and every player: a breakout rookie that no one had on their radar, a star player who refuses to play due to unresolved contract negotiations, a first round pick sustaining a season ending injury in week one, ect. There are no guarantees in Fantasy Football.
Just last season rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua ended the year as the fourth best fantasy wide receiver despite going undrafted in most leagues. Justin Fields on the other hand, who some thought could be the number one fantasy quarterback coming into the season, ended the year ranked in the bottom half of all quarterbacks. This would make him a solid backup at best. In addition, player performances vary week to week. A player may score triple their expected points in one week, and then score almost zero the next. This is how some fantasy manag-
“I
ers are able to win games, even when they are overmatched by their opponent. This was the case for Bhatt in the first round of the playoffs.
“I ended up winning the first round [of playoffs] marginally and eventually went on to dominate in the finals, partially due to my team exceeding expectations, but mostly because I spent a good amount of time preparing for the season and therefore ended up with a better draft than most of my league mates,” Bhatt said.
Fantasy football is played for many reasons, and on many different levels. Some people play fantasy football to stay in touch with their friends. Others play for the chance to win money, or to see one of their friends go through the embarrassment of a punishment. Maybe they play to stay more in-
vested in the NFL season, or because they are forced to play in their family league.
At the end of the day, fantasy football is more than just a hobby—it’s a blend of preparation, strategy, and unpredictability.
Whether you’re playing for pride, money, or just to avoid an embarrassing punishment, there’s no guarantee that hard work will pay off in the way you expect. But, as Sabina, White, and many like them have learned, effort is non-negotiable if you want a chance at the top spot. After all, there is always that slim chance that the benchwarmer you auto-drafted in the 14th round becomes the one to carry you to victory — or at least, save you from a humiliating haircut.
HOW THE LEAGUE WORKS
Funding THEFuture
by LUKE JOACHIM, TYLER CHEUNG, and MALCOLM GINWALLA
Every Paly athlete needs to donate a significant amount of money to their sport. However, many athletes and parents are unaware of how this actually affects the team. Where does this money actually go?
As the Paly football team walked into their game against Mountain View Friday night, the lights reflected off of their custom Nike jerseys; their $440 helmets squeaky clean. To outfit just one football player, the average cost is $1,200 per player each season. That includes shoulder-pads, girdles, knee pads, mouth guards, game and practice jerseys, and of course, the helmet. To fund a team of 50 players, it takes a significant amount of money. For the football team, they do enough funding and fundraising to pay for the cost of their equipment.
The same can not be said for other sports. For the bad minton team, athletes walk into their games with out dated equip ment and old jer seys. They have limited gear and supply from a lack jority of players have to buy and maintain their own rackets because the school does not provide high quality rackets. The average racquet costs between $30-$50, and the overall price per player is $260. With 120 athletes, this should be a simple
task, however, badminton continues to lack significant amounts of funding, and overall is not a very successful in winning games as a team.
Many parents and students alike ask questions such as, “Where does the money that we’re donating go?” and “how is it helping our athletes?” The process of finding that answer start at the Annual Athletics Meetings.
“The money that we make goes to the coaches, and then they oversee where the money is allocated.”
-JENNIFER CRANE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
On August 22, 2024, Paly Athletics had its Annual Fall Athletics Meeting, where athletes’ parents meet with coaches to athletes’ sports. the money actually go? Parents and players are told that their funding goes “towards the team”, yet this is an oversimplified explanation for a process that is both complicated and inte-
Athletic Director Jennifer Crane oversees the allocation of money in the athlet-
“We have 25 programs at Paly, programs include both JV and varsity teams,” Crane
said. “The money that we make goes to the coaches, and then they oversee where the money is allocated, and how it is spent between junior varsity and varsity athletes.”
The dollar amount each team requests from their athletes varies, yet in general is often not enough to adequately fund the sport. At first glance it seems that athletes have to pay a lot of money for their sports, though in reality many sports don’t break even financially, and rarely make any profit.
“As a Paly athletics program, you’re part of Paly athletics, and in order to function as such, this is your participation,” Crane said. “If we didn’t have that [money] then we wouldn’t be able to participate in athletics.”
Each program uses the funds differently: some programs spend all the money on varsity athletes and none on junior varsity athletes, while others separate the money by dividing it between sub-teams. Coach Brandon Byer of the Palo Alto High School JV Basketball team describes the different ways in which funds are allocated in Paly basketball.
“Funds for the varsity, JV, and freshmen teams are accumulated into a pool of funds for our whole program use,” Byer said. “And yet, there are specific amounts of money that each team can access. For example, for each of our program’s ‘End
“When I see other teams getting nice merchandise it makes it feel like our program is below theirs in terms of importance.”
-VENKATESH BHARADWAJ (26’) BADMINTON
Number 5 Roan Haney (‘25) and the waterpolo team warm up for a big game against the Los
Altos Eagles.
Photo By Lucas Tung
water polo team.
“I joined water polo because it had better equipment and overall it looked like a better program,” Porter said. “Thats why I chose it over other things like volleyball.”
For student athletes that are part of un funded programs, they don’t try as hard. When they see their peers in popular sports receiving new uniforms, advanced coaching, and stateof-the-art facili ties, it can lead to feelings of neglect and in equality. This disparity can di minish students’ motivation to par ticipate and suc ceed in their cho sen sports, which can have lasting overall school experience. Venkatesh Bharadwaj, a junior on the varsity badmin ton team, is upset by the lack of funding.
to Palo Alto High School. If an athlete is serious about playing at the top level, they will look for schools with the best reputation and financial backing. The promise of competitive support can exponentially increase the amount of high
“I transferred from Gunn to Paly because of the good wrestling equipment and facilities.”
- ATTICUS AYER (26’), WRESTLING
“Sometimes we don’t have the funding to get the things and materials that we would like as a team,” Bharadwaj said.
“When I see other teams getting a bunch of nice merchandise it makes it feel like our program is below theirs in terms of importance.”
Funding can also play a significant role in attracting talented athletes to transfer
Playing in CCS, Paly faces many talented vate school programs, such as Bellarmine and Menlo. Lack of funding can be the difference between winning or losing against any of these Declining results against local competition can hurt Paly’s athletic reputation as a whole. This decline can lead to fewer opportunities for athletes to shine. In addition to this, less students will be inclined to join athletic programs if they are already performing poorly. With strong financial backing, Paly athletes can compete to their fullest and represent the school well.
Sub-par equipment can not only affect performance, but it can also affect safety. In sports like football, a majority of the
equipment is used for safety rather than performance enhancement. With concerns for youth head injuries, football helmets are at the core of player safety. Currently, some JV players are limited to older and less advanced helmets (nicknamed buckets), because Paly doesn’t have enough modern helmets (Riddell Speedflexes).
“In my freshman year I had a bucket, because they ran out of Speedflexes,” junior Aryav Singh said. “They told me it was just as safe, but I felt like it provided less protection compared to a Speedflex.”
It is one thing for equipment to limit performance, but it is crucial for equipment to ensure player safety.
At the end of the day, sports funding can have a great impact on not only player’s performances, but also on the development of players overtime. Having top notch equipment and facilities can be the deciding factor that allows some Paly athletes to play at the elite level.
If donations are not properly spent, teams will not have enough support to succeed. When people spend significant amounts of money on their sports, it is essential for them to know it is directly affecting their sports. Money spent properly can shape the athletic future of Paly athletes.
Tarika Pillay (‘26) prepares to recieve a pass from her teammate in the center of the field in Paly Field Hockey’s game against Archibishop Mitty.
PURSUIT REINS
By JAKE LIU and EVIN STEELE
Paly offers a great selection of sports, but there are still many that aren’t offered for Vikings.
Senior Helena Bondolowski’s lifelong passion is one of those: Horseback riding.
Senior Helena Bondolowski started horseback riding non-competitively at the age of three after her parents enrolled her in a horseback riding summer camp. Bondolowski started competitively riding more recently, at the age of 13. Horseback riding is an intricate sport involving a combination of
manding, horseback riding takes mental strength as if you are managing an animal that is 10 times your size,” Bondolowski said.
Bondolowski’s start to horseback riding began very smoothly and promisingly. She has gone to various shows throughout her career
can also be very stressful, demanding, and time-consuming. Competitions are a long process as trainers need to prepare horses a few days before the show, and shows are normally four to five days long.
“Competitions, or shows, are very competitive within the barn and between barns,” Bondolowski said. “Honestly, I feel that shows are a very toxic environment but it is always fun to be able to relax and ride your horse, because that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day.”
There are two types of riding, English and Western. Bondolowski only participates in English, and the individual styles within English are: eventing, hunters, jumpers, and equitation. Bondolowski’s favorite categories to compete under are hunters and equitation. Hunters are where the judge evaluates the movement of your horse, and the rider determines how the horse moves.
“Hunters are the most fun for me because my horse is simply more comfortable in the hunter ring rather than the intricate courses that are in the equitation ring,” Bondolowski said.
Competing is such a unique experience
because the riders can showcase the connection that they’ve cultivated with their horse. Bondolowski understands how forming a connection with your horse is extremely vital and the key to success.
“This is special as you slowly form a bond, and in my case, help train a young horse into their full potential,” Bondolowski said.
However, her success in the field requires a strenuous training regimen. Bondolowski works yearround, multiple days a week to maintain her horse and the skills required to ride and compete at a high level.
“At the beginning of the week, we work on more foundational work, called flat work, and then later on we start jumping and increase the difficulty from there,” Bondolowski said.
The time commitment to horseback rid ing is similar to other competitive sports. It requires lots of time on the field and off the field with lots of preparation. Bon dolowski’s training is rigorous and time-consuming.
“I have to train six days a week and each lesson is one hour, depending on what I have to work on,” Bondolowski said.
Addie Campany, Sacred Heart Prep nior and teammate of Bondolows ki, rides with Bondolowki together at Stanford Barn. Campany notices Bon dolowski’s work ethic, and how she is very focused on her skills and doing well in competitions.
“Helena is very dedicated and passion ate about her sport, she always makes time to ride no matter what else she has going on,” Campany said. “The improve ments she has made in the last year are amazing and she even competed in a na tional final this year as a result of the large amount of time and effort she puts in.”
Horseback riding has many difficult challenges, and one of the tough and main challenges with horseback riding is the expense. Expense in any sport is important, yet oftentimes overlooked by the general public. Horseback riding is up there as one of the more expensive sports, due to the maintenance required for the horses and the equipment required to ride. Bondloski feels the expense has challenged her along her journey as a horseback rider.
“A big challenge for me was the expense, horseback riding in
general is a very expensive sport and this stopped me from progressing for a very long time,” Bondolowski said.
She understands this is one of the main reasons why horseback riding is not a Paly
and school sport. But with this being said, horseback riding is a nationally recognized sport, as the Olympics also had it in their games this year in Paris.
“It is unfortunate that it is not part of Paly sports, but with it being so expensive, it is inaccessible to most and would be very hard to charter and organize,” Bondolowski said.
Being a high school student, Bondolowski understands the difficulties of balancing her personal and athletic lives.
“Balancing horseback riding, work, and school is definitely a struggle at times, but I make it work because I love it so much,” Bondolowski said.
Bondolwksi’s horse means a lot to her as she relies on it to be successful in her races. She has recently gotten a new horse and has to start from the ground up, rebuilding trust.
“My horse’s name is Angel and his show name is Los Angeles, he is a pretty young horse and I haven’t had him for super long but we are slowly starting to trust each other,” Bondolowski said.
Bondolowski’s start to horseback riding was very smooth, setting the scene for a very positive future in riding. Not only have her skills showcased her dedication
The Final Word
uman over ardwareHuman over ardware H
By TYLER CHEUNG
With the rise of ball tracking technology, automated umpires have become a real option within the game of baseball. Should these automated umpires replace their human counterparts?
That’s the ball game! The Astros defeated the Phillies 5-2 in game two of the 2022 World Series. This game was a staple in history, but not for the reason you would think. Umpire Pat Hoberg called a perfect game, calling 89 balls and 40 strikes perfectly.
In every sport, referees are a core element of the game. They interpret the rules to make the game as fair as possible for both teams. While refs are important in other sports, umpires are crucial for the game of baseball. Every single moment of action in a baseball game involves an umpire, every pitch, hit, tag, swing and throw. Baseball umpires don’t monitor a game, they control it. In a typical MLB game, an umpire can make three to four hundred calls.
“Despite this automated system’s accuracy, fully transitioning to ABS is not the best option for the future of the MLB.”
Every professional MLB game has four umpires, one for each plate. The home plate umpire is the most important, calling all balls, strikes and plays at home plate. The first, second, and third plate umpires watch if the batter swings, in addition to making all calls at their respective bases. Every pitch has five possible outcomes: ball, called strike, swinging strike, foul ball and a hit. The most important of these are the balls and called strikes. The strike zone is an imaginary box that spans over the home
plate, under the batter’s mid torso, and above the batter’s knee. If the batter does not swing, it is up to the home plate umpire to determine if the ball crossed home plate inside or outside the box. If it is inside the box, it is called a strike, and if it is outside the box, it is called a ball. MLB umpires, being human, are not perfect 100% of the time. With balls traveling at over 90 miles per hour, it is very difficult for umpires to pinpoint the exact location of every single pitch. With the development of ball tracking technology, many fans argue that human um pires should be replaced by their ro botic coun terparts. The automated ball and strike system (ABS), better known as automated um pires, creates a three dimensional graph of the baseball using multiple camera an gles. This computer precision can track a fast moving baseball better than any hu man umpire.
Despite this automated system’s accu racy, fully transitioning to ABS is not the best option for the future of the MLB. There are many reasons that support this, one of them being the removal of framing. Framing is a method used by catchers in which they catch the ball at an angle that makes a ball look like a strike to a human umpire. Framing is the skill that separates good and great catchers.
Statistically, catchers who are good at framing record around 10% more strikes than catchers who aren’t good at framing. Some of the best framers in the MLB are Patrick Bailey of the San Francisco Giants and Austin Wells of the New York Yankees. Adding automated umpires will dramatically reduce the effectiveness of framing, which will subsequently reduce the value of a good catcher.
A big part of baseball is the catcher and umpire relationship. Throughout the game, umpires and catchers often have polite conversations with a goal of get
Nate Donaker delivers a powerful pitch with pinpoint precision.
pensions are not released to the public. Statistically, this system has proven to work. Over the past 17 MLB seasons, umpire accuracy has gone up every year. Adding on to this, having a fully accurate umpire will not solve all disputes over called balls and strike. Coaches and players will still get mad even if every call is perfect. For example, in a game between the Red Sox and Astros, Red Sox manager Alex Cora got into a screaming match with the umpire even though the umpire, according to the automated system, didn’t make a single incorrect call. Even if an umpire does a perfect job, one of the teams will still be mad. As an official it is impossible to please both teams, as one of the teams will inevitably lose.
Additionally, umpire confrontations are a core aspect of baseball. In my opinion, some of the most entertaining moments in major league baseball is when players and managers get into arguments with umpires. Umpire arguments have a unique tone that is both funny and serious at the same time. A majority of arguments often end with a player or manager getting ejected. Having these arguments adds an extra layer of entertainment to baseball which many other sports don’t have. There are full youtube channels dedicated to breaking down these arguments and reading the participant’s lips.
camp along with 150 other umpires. nor league umpire only gets paid around 25 thousand dollars a year. This system ensures that the MLB umpires are the best
There is a common misconception that
“Even if an umpire does a perfect job, one of the teams will still be mad. As an official it is impossible to please both teams.”
cy gets too low over many games, they will be put on a probation period. During this probation period, an umpire must improve their accuracy or they will be demoted or fired. Infamous umpires like Angel Hernandez and Joe West stayed above this threshold which protected them from getting fired. Umpires can also get suspended, however these sus-
Automated umpires can also disagree on strikezone. A certain team’s broadcast can be biased towards their own team. For example, during a game between the Cardinals and Mets, one pitch was called a ball by the Cardinals broadcast, a strike was called on the Mets broadcast, a strike on MLB.com, and a ball by the umpire. This pitch occurred at the top of the strike zone which is the most disputed area of the strike zone. According to the rule book, it is a line drawn at 51% of the batter’s height, which is a very approximate location.
Many umpires’ estimated zones don’t perfectly correlate with the MLB’s standard zone, but they stay consistent for both teams throughout the game. As long as both teams are treated equally it doesn’t matter if an umpire’s zone is slightly off the standard zone. Adding on to this, many players often adjust their strategy based on an umpire’s estimated zone. For example, if an umpire is calling a lot of outside pitches strikes, the batter will have to start swinging at outside pitches. With automated umpires, this layer of the game will be
Photo courtesy of Jason Hu
completely removed.
Occasionally, it can appear to fans on TV that an umpire repeatedly makes incorrect calls. However, the box shown on TV can often be misleading to fans, for it is usually not accurate. The broadcasted zone often doesn’t take into account factors like the camera angle and the batter’s stance.
Building on this, renowned players like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge aren’t famous for their good batting discipline, they are famous for being able to hit a lot of homeruns. Fans don’t watch games to see 200 perfectly called pitches, they watch to witness big hits and exciting moments.
make it feel boring.
“As long as both teams are treated equally it doesn’t matter if an umpire’s zone is slightly off the standard zone.”
Finally, technology just isn’t as reliable as humans. Even with current advancements, computers can still frequently break down and have bugs. These glitches can slow down the pace of the game and
Instead of having fully automated umpires, the MLB should implement a balls and strikes challenge system. As of right now, it is illegal for a player or manager to argue a ball or strike call. Managers should be given the option to challenge a call if they feel like it is incorrect. During a challenge, a human umpire can check with the automated umpire to see if he made the correct call. This system has already been implemented in certain minor leagues and has been proven to be successful. The process will consist of a batter or catcher to calling for a challenge right after a pitch. The ABS should immediately make a call within seconds. Teams should be allowed around three unsuccessful challenges per game. Obviously a team should not be penalized for having a successful challenge. The combination of the limited challenges and fast computer should allow the game to flow as normal with minimal interruptions. This keeps the human aspect of umpiring in the game while ensuring the correct calls will be made in the biggest moments. At the end of the day, baseball is a human game and it should be controlled by humans. Umpires make mistakes just like players make mistakes. Human umpires are just another part of the amazing game of baseball.
Umpire Scott Barry
Umpire Laz Diaz
Scorecard
Umpire Dan Bellino
vikingsportsmag.com
Dylan Liao (‘26) winds up a shot in Paly’s 17-5 loss to Los Altos. Photo by Lucas Tung.