Viking Volume 3 Issue 6: 2010 in Review and Playing Positive by The Viking Magazine

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Volume 3 Issue #6 June 2010

Staff List Editors-in-Chief Mary Albertolle George Brown Will Glazier

Columnists Michael Cullen Dustin Nizamian Business Managers Sam Maliska Talia Moyal Jack Smale

News Editor Mark Raftrey Multimedia Editor Gracie Marshall

Staff Writers Sana Bakshi Sophie Biffar Christine Chang Malaika Drebin Skylar Dorosin Emily Fowler Lauren Hammerson Wade Hauser Hana Kajimura Varun Kohli Cassie Prioleau Allie Shorin Kylie Sloan

Photo Editors Brandon Dukovic Alex Kershner Design Editor Cooper Levitan Features Editors Mariah Philips Alistair Thompson Copy Editors Sam Greene Erin Kiekhaefer

Adviser Ellen Austin

The Viking Palo Alto High School 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94301 650-329-3837 E-mail contact: vikingeds@gmail.com Letters to the editor The Viking, a sports magazine published by the students in Palo Alto High Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Advanced Magazine Journalism class, is an open forum for student expression and the discussion of issues of concern to its readership. The Viking is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost. The staff welcomes letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Advertising in The Viking The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts providing they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s audience. For more information about advertising with The Viking, please contact the The Viking by e-mail at vikingeds@gmail.com or call 650-329-3837 for more information. Printing Services The Viking is printed six times a year by Fricke-Parks Press in Fremont, Calif.

KICKOFF 6 | STAFF VIEW

HIV policies in athletics/ the year-end awards.

The Li

June 201

Volume III, Is

The Teams 18| WRAP-uPS

Refresh your memory on everything Paly sports during 2009-2010 with wrap-ups from all 22 varsity teams.

photo credits (clockwise from top left): speNcer sims, Allie shoriN, BrANdoN dukovic, Allie shoriN, Allie shoriN, mAlAikA dreBiN,hANA kAjimurA, mAliAkA dreBiN, BrANdoN dukovic ANd creAtive commoNs , cover: Allie shoriN, mAliAkA dreBiN, BrANdoN dukovic, Alex kershNer ANd tAliA moyAl

PAGE

THE ISSuES 17| WORLD CuP PREVIEW The Viking previews the hot professional sporting event of the summer, the World Cup, hosted by South Africa. by Alex Kershner

The Teams

24| BOyS’ TEAM OF THE yEAR After a tumultuous past, the Paly varsity baseball team took SCVAL by storm and racked up a 24 game winning streak to allow them to make it to the CCS championship. by Mark Raftrey

26| gIRLS’ TEAM OF THE yEAR

The Paly varsity volleyball team returned with only four upperclassmen. The team was then able to set a record of winning 33 consecutive games and entered the NorCal playoffs. by Will Glazier and Jack Smale

Lineup

2010

II, Issue VI

THE MOMENTS

LAST WORD

36| TOP 10 MOMENTS OF ‘09-’10

62 | mIke, The VIke, In The haT

The most memorable moments from a year filled with league championships and individual success. by Christine Chang and Varun Kohli

The Viking’s own Michael Cullen shares about the endless possibilities for summer activites. by Michael Cullen

38| BOTTOM 10 MOMENTS OF ‘09-’10 The unremarkable moments that most Paly athletes and teams would love to forget. by Cassie Prioleau and Emily Fowler

48 47

61 62

THE PEOPLE

THE ISSuES 28| SLEEP. JuST SNOOZE IT While the key is for athletes to stick to their routine, training with minimal sleep is likely to work against them down the line. by Sam Greene

31| CROSSINg OVER Palo Alto and East Palo Alto have some of the strongest sports communities in the area. Their organization and unity, however, differ greatly. by Alistair Thompson

40| PLAyINg POSITIVE

HIV positive athletes around the country provide living contradictions to HIV stigma on and off the playing field. by Hana Kajimura

47| AWARDS INTRODuCTION 48 | FEMALE uNDERCLASSMAN EMy KELTy

49 | MALE uNDERCLASSMAN

KRiS HoGLuND

50 | COACH OF THE yEAR

ERiCK RAiCH

52 | FEMALE ATHLETE oF THE yEAR GRACiE CAiN

55 | MALE ATHLETE OF THE yEAR JoC PEDERSoN

58 | THE ALOK SuBBARAO AWARD MAEVE STEWART

Kickoff

Staff View

awareness comes acceptance. Debate over dis-

The need for disclosure and awarness closure is still an issue, but only because misconceptions and misinformation lead to social isolaabout HiV/AiDS in high school athletics. tion and discrimination when a person chooses to

What’s the latest in sports health? Staph infections, concussions and torn ACL’s. What doesn’t come to mind? HiV and AiDS. With the exception of sports icon Magic Johnson, the sports world does not talk about HiV/AiDS. And we most certainly do not talk about HiV/ AiDS at the high school level. Currently, the Palo Alto unified School District has no policy regarding student athletes and HiV/AiDS. There are no policies regarding disclosure or health and safety. The Viking believes that the first step is to talk. Students, coaches, parents, administrators and members of the health community should come together and discuss how Paly can foster a physically and emotionally safe environment for student athletes. in our world today, HiV and AiDS are associated too commonly with gay males, San Francisco and homophobia. We need to acknowledge that HiV and AiDS exist in a world outside of stereotypes and social stigma. Such stereotypes and social stigma can make it difficult for student athletes to talk about their health. With discussion, comes awareness and with

share his or her medical history. Should student athletes choose to disclose their HiV status, we then face the challenge of deciding who should know. Should athletes and coaches be told? or perhaps just coaches? And what about competitors? No student athlete or person should be forced to disclose his or her medical history, disclosure should be a personal decision. At the same time, fair health concerns exist for athletes who participate in high contact sports. Even so, statistics show that the chances of this happening are 1 in 85 million in basketball. Regardless of the numbers, the fact that our school and CCS conference do not have a policy or host discussions creates an inconsistent and potentially unwelcome environment for athletes to compete in. The greater community needs to pay attention to a disease that for decades has been assigned to stereotypes and a continent halfway around the world. Just because Paly hasn’t faced the issue, doesn’t mean that it wont. it’s real. it’s here. We need to confront (HiV in sport), not hide from it.

Variety, key to Pederson’s success Each year, The Viking votes as a staff to elect the winners of various awards such as “Athlete of the year” and “Team of the year.” First, staff members nominate prospective winners and compile a long list of possibilities. Then, that list is narrowed down to three and the harsh reality hits: we can only pick one athlete, one team, one winner. Worthy, qualified athletes swarm the grounds of Palo Alto High School and multiple teams complete seasons filled with success, so this decision takes a while. We debate, we discuss and we vote several times, constantly wondering if we are choosing the most worthy candidate. “Athlete of the year” is usually the award most debated amongst our staff. We must choose between athletes who train, play and practice in completely different ways and sports. Additionally, we must decide between athletes that play multiple sports or focus on only one sport. For “Male Athlete of the year,” it all came down to Joc Pederson (‘10) and Philip MacQuitty (‘10). Pederson started on the varsity football, basketball (for his soph-

more, junior and begginning of senior years) and baseball teams, was recruited to play baseball at university of Southern California and played, especially in baseball, at a level miles ahead of the average high school athlete. on the other hand, MacQuitty ran year-round on the varsity cross-country and track teams, broke records left and right and was recruited to run at the university of California, Los Angeles. This year, The Viking chose three-sport athlete, until stopping basketball midway through his senior year, Pederson as “Male Athlete of the year.” We are not necessarily saying that Pederson is the “best” athlete, but he possesses a unique versatility. Pederson not only flipped the switch between three different seasons, but he also excelled during each season. He was a leading scorer and a player the team heavily depended on, in three sports. in baseball, he may attract twenty-something scouts to a single game and there is little doubt he is headed for the major leagues. The Viking staff feels Pederson should be recognized for all of these impressive accomplishments.

from the field Varsity baseball ends 24 game win streak with a CCS championship game loss to Burlingame.

The Vikings came to bat in the sixth but got two quick outs. Witte then beat out an infield single and Pederson singled to right, but Bono struck out to end the threat. in the top of the seventh, Swezey worked to keep the score at 7-4 heading into Paly’s final at-bat. First baseman Wade Hauser (‘10) walked to lead off, and the Vikings appeared to be in business. However, third baseman T.J. Braff (‘11) flew out to right to bring up catcher Will Glazier (‘11), who popped out to shallow right on a sliding catch. Hauser was caught between first and second, and dove back into first just after the ball arrived - and Burlingame players stormed the field celebrating their victory. <<< photo by Allie Shorin

The Palo Alto High School baseball team came up one game short of Central Coast Section glory as it fell to Burlingame, 7-4, on Saturday afternoon at San Jose Municipal Stadium, ending its 24 game win streak. The first inning was a nightmare for Paly as pitching ace Scott Witte (‘10) gave up five runs on six hits. “That’s the best i’ve pitched and given up that many runs,” Witte said. “They were just swinging hard and hitting it.” Regarding the fast Panther start, Paly head coach Erick Raich added, “they did what we usually do to teams.” However, the game was far from over. The potent Viking offense had shown throughout the season that it was capable of putting up, as Raich put it, “a crooked number” of runs. Burlingame tacked on two more runs in the fifth after a error on a possible double-play ball. Finally, in the bottom of the fifth, left fielder Conor Raftery (‘10) smashed a line-drive homerun over the left field wall. Witte followed with a walk, bringing center fielder Joc Pederson (‘10) to the plate, who promptly cranked a booming homer into the parking lot. Right fielder Christoph Bono (‘11) followed with a walk. Two groundouts later, Bono scored to bring the Vikings within three runs with two innings to play. “We jumped out early which was big, but Paly is not a club to lay down,” Burlingame head coach Rich Sciutto said. “We got a little jittery.” Paly’s Drake Swezey (‘11) came in to pitch midway through the sixth and kept the comeback hopes alive.

By MARK RAFTREy

you’RE ouT First baseman Hauser tags out a Burlingame run-

Sixth issue brings final magazine for The Viking’s seniors

over the past two years, 13 seniors have led and improved Palo Alto High School’s newest publication and continued to enhance and build up the dream of universal Paly sports coverage. overall, the seniors got through an awesome yet challenging year, and succeeded in controlling the always-crazy juniors

0 RS 1 20 IO N E S Wade Hauser

Sophie Biffar

Hana Kajimura

on staff. Thanks to the seniors, The Viking now regularly covers games from all sports and seasons through video, stories, tweets, Facebook and pictures. The Viking staff would like to thank our seniors for everything they have done for our magazine and wish them the best in the future.

Sana Bakshi

Christine Chang

Malaika Drebin

Varun Kohli

Cassie Prioleau

Allie Shorin

Emily Fowler

Spencer Sims

Lauren Hammerson

Kylie Sloan

ZOOM

Paly grad Will Holder (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;09) currently plays rugby at the West Point Military Academy in Virginia. Army made it to the USA Rugby Final Four that was held at Stanford Apr. 30-May1. Holder and the West Point Cadets visited Paly before the semifinals for a practice, giving Holder a see his old school. West Point would lose to Brigham Young University by a score of 28-63 in the semifinals on Apr. 30. BYU fell to the University of California (Berkeley) 17-9, in the national title game the following day. Photo by Allie Shorin

ZOOM ZOOM

ZOOM

Philip MacQuitty (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10) wins the 800 meter race in the De Anza League finals at Paly to qualify for the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League finals. Photo by Hana Kajimura

Kickoff

intro Section

BYÊ THEÊ NUMBERS 25.5

NumberÊof Êmin utesÊ MichaelÊCu llenÊ(Ô11)Ês pentÊin Êt heÊ lacrosseÊp enaltyÊb ox,Ê15Êmor eÊt hanÊ teammateÊB ryanÊKeoh aneÊ(Ô11),Êwh oÊ hadÊs econdÊmos t.

1Êin Ê 85Êm illionÊ

A basketball player’s chance of contracting AIDS from touching according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control).

Dani

elleÊ

Carls o

TheÊn umberÊo fÊ PalyÊ boysÕ Ê trackÊ athletesÊt hatÊa dvancedÊ toÊ theÊ stateÊ finals after their performances in CCS.

Number of goals by varsity boys’ lacrosse leading scorer and middie Kris Hoglund (‘12).

nÊ (Ô 1

PhotoÊ byÊ AllieÊ Shorin

3Ê

Number of points girls’ varsity swimming beat Gunn by to win its eighth consecutive SCVAL league title.

0)Ê

Total wins by Paly baseball this season, setting a new school record

THE PoP CuLTuRE GRiD Claire guo (Swimming ‘10)

Summer plans? Getting excited for college! Trunks or speedo?

Speedo

Molly Zebker (Swimming ‘13)

Build a lot of forts Speedo

Christian Lonsky (Baseball ‘12)

StarÊW ars

Shirtless biking and beach parties Speedo

Paly sports role The whole swim Margaret Wenzalau [Coach] Tony Brewer team, and maybe model? (‘12) Lydz [Lydia Guo ‘12]

giants or A’s?

I don’t really watch baseball

Giants

World cup champion?

China, even though they aren’t very good

I hate soccer

Giants

South Korea

Ashkaan Khatakhotan

(Lacrosse ‘10)

To do the minimal amount of work possible Trunks because they get more air circulation

Katerina Peterson (Track and Field ‘11)

Beach, tanning and partying Trunks

Zach Spain (‘11)

Davante Adams! (‘11)

Giants, AT&T>Coliseum

GIANTS

Anyone, but Italy

Italy, since they won last time

Paly lacrosse

HoT or

Both the girls’ and boys’ varsity lacrosse teams won the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) championships by one goal on May 15.

Paly boys’ swimming

NOT

Boys’ swimming failed to win its sixth consecutive league title. The team lost by 60 points to Monta Vista.

.. . f l e urs

o Y Ê n i la

photo by Allie Shorin

Exp

“Track brings out the best in me.” -Erika Hoglund (‘10)

Paly baseball

Winning the SCVAL league championship with an undefeated league record and a 24 game winning streak, the varsity baseball team had a season to remember.

Dressing as a Lax Bro

The backwards trucker hat, high socks and pinnies are all over the place. Put a shirt on, those pinnies don’t cover half of

Paly softball vs. Fremont

Scooters

Rain

The Gulf Oil Spill

After losing to Fremont High School 3-2 at Fremont on Mar. 31, Paly beat Fremont in 11 innings at home on May 11, 9-8.

Shouldn’t April showers bring May flowers? Yes, but not in 2010. No one likes mid 60 degree weather and rain in the middle of May.

Eco-friendly and fun, scooters are making a comeback. This twowheeled, speedy mode of transportation can be seen all over campus. Remember to scoot safely and wear your helmet, Paly! The BP offshore oil rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in late April is still leaking an estimated 5,000 barrels a day.

SpoTlighTÊG aMEÊ Ê 5/11/10 palyÊ vs.Ê Wilcox PalyÊva rsityÊb aseballÊÊb eatÊWi lcoxÊHi ghÊScho olÊ 5-4 in the first of a best-of-three series to decide league champion. The Vikings came from behind after Wilcox pitcher Andrew Hererra (‘10) struck out eight in the first three innings. The team rallied to pull ahead in the sixth and held on for the win. In the second game of the series 5/13, Paly beat Wilcox 10-2 for the league title to finish undefeated in league.

Want Paly sports updates sent to your phone? Folllow us on www.twitter.com/thevikingmag 11

ZOOM Photo by Allie Shorin

Paly second baseman Alec Wong (‘12) tags out Burlingame’s Nick Martinez on a steal attempt in the sixth inning of the Central Coast Section (CCS) championship game on May 29th at Municipal Stadium in San Jose, CA after a throw from catcher Will Glazier (‘11). The Vikings ended up loosing the game 7-4 and placed second in CCS.

ZOOM

Photo by Allie Shorin

Paly second baseman Lauren Bucolo (â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10) takes a hack during a 1-0 loss to Mountain View High School on May 5 at Mountain View. Bucolo led the Lady Vikes in batting average, on base percentage and sluggging percentage at .494, .527 and .741 respectively.

10 Questions

with Peter Wilson

WHo KNoWS SENioR TRACK RuNNER PETER WiLSoN BETTER? CLOSE FRIEND ALEX VoET, COACH JoE GiNANNi or TeammaTe BEN SKLARoFF?

photography by Brandon Dukovic

Peter Wilson

Alex Voet

Joe ginanni

Ben Sklaroff

Smeagol

Fictional character I most identify with

Giles Corey

Boo Radley

God

Pale thunder thighs

Best physical feature

Donk

Flaming red hair

Donk

in large quantities

I eat my Oreos...

By the box

By putting the whole thing in his mouth

Differently, depending on the amount of oreos

People with lots of pet peeves

Pet Peeve

Atheists

People with lots of pet peeves

Manu Ginobili kills a Favorite youtube bat video

Leeroy Jenkins

The autistic kid who Manu Ginobili kills a just makes threebat pointers

East of Eden

Favorite Book

The Crucible

Some running book

East of Eden

Seck

The word I overuse is...

Seck

you can like any song if you listen to it enough

Hot n’ Cold (Charlie Least favorite you can like any song Any Lil’ Wayne song Avis remix) song on the radio

Basketball or gladiator fights

Favorite sport to watch

Basketball

Running

Ms. Whitson and John P. Welsh ii

Thing I’ll miss most about Paly

Ms. Whitson

Mr. Toma

Josh Newby

40% Correct

20% Correct

Images taken from

50% correct

(oreos) commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:oreo.jpg, (basketball) www.flickr.com/photos/77615975@N00/438155193/ (youtube) flickr.com/photos/topgold/3341867340/

Inside the Mind Walker Mees

Lax bro Walker Mees (‘13) was kind enough to talk about what goes on in his mind both on and off the lacrosse field. The young Rippa dodges all over the new Palo Alto High School lacrosse field.

“

oN LACRoSSE i’ve been playing like three years and it’s all about being a bro. Paly lacrosse is pretty sick but the upperclassmen aren’t the nicest in the world. i started out the year on JV, got some goals, then i got pulled up on varsity to stand on the sidelines for a while and, uhh, get my a** whooped. i play midfield and left bench. i actually saw Michael Cullen (‘11) [destroy] a kid in a game the other day. This kid was actually on the ground for about five minutes in the game when we actually beat Menlo. They had an undefeated season and we took it from them.

T h e yo u n g R i p p a

By SP E NCE R SIM S

Photography by Spencer Sims

of reward. y you’ve just got to have fun and not worry about grades too much. you know, i’m academically eligible so i can lax. oN PiZZA DiNNER D Pizza dinner was awesome. [Head coach] Craig [Conover] took the team out to dinner and you know it was a good time but we were all re really serious and Ashkaan, we had to get his sweatshirt, which he left and caused about a two hour delay. oN [Zach] SPA SPAiN’S (‘11) DRiViNG SKiLLS Z Spain California rolls, which just means hit the gas harder. When we are behind cars he doesn’t like to brake we just switch lanes and crash. He peels out all the turns and drifts.

oN FooTBALL i played freshman football and didn’t really play much. i got kicked out of practice about seven times and had to run a lot so i’m not really sure about doing that next year.

oN youR MENToRS i can’t really wait until i’m older and these guys are gone ‘cause right now its not the best experience. Cooper Levi Levitan (‘11) and Michael Cullen (‘11) are pretty chill though.

oN CoACH BARA Coach Bara is pretty much a thug. He bought us all Taco Bell and 7 Eleven. He blasts jams and yells at kids.

oN BE BEiNG A youNG RiPPA Michael Cullen and Bryan Keohane (‘11) started calling me young Rippa about a year ago and the name has stuck ever since. it sounds kind of sick so whatever, i’m down.

oN SNiCKLE [Alex Zarem (‘11)] Wait... is he even on the team? oN BEiNG A FRESHMAN t’s alright. There’s a lot of work for not a lot it’s

“

oN BEiNG uNDER THE WiNG Being under the wing actually sounded pretty good at first but then it turns out that i just get beat up more. So i’m ’m not really sure about this under the wing thing.

oN BE BEiNG A LAX BRo Most people look down upon the lax bro but i don’t think it’s a bad thing, i try to embrace the lax bro lifestyle. But i’m pretty sure the baseball bros and the lax bros are going to have a brawl soon. They don’t respect our sport and we don’t respect theirs... baseball’s not a sport.

would like to thank all of the parents for their continuous support. We couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do it without you!

World Cup

World Cup Facts: The place: South Africa. This will be the first time an African nation has ever hosted the tournament. An African nation hosting the World Cup has become a symbol of life for the impoverished and overlooked third world countries that belong to the vast continent. This summer will not only bring fans from all corners of the earth to enjoy great soccer, but will also invigorate the withering economy.

Short History of the World Cup

The first World Cup was held in uruguay in 1930 and included only 13 teams. Despite low popularity in the united States due to inexperience and the Great Depression, the team went unexpectedly far in the tournament. However, the host nation defeated Argentina in the final match to win the first ever World Cup.

The Participants: After a surprising run to the finals of last year’s Confederation Cup, the u.S. will look to make a statement in this year’s World Cup. For the past several years disappointing first round knockouts have plagued the young but strong American team. However, this year, the u.S. hopes to advance out of the group stage with its only real competition coming from an experienced but overrated English squad. As always uS star and forward Landon Donovan will lead the team, along with teammates playing professionally in Europe. Look out for keeper Tim Howard who has overcome Tourette’s syndrome

group to Watch: Watch out for Group G. in what appears to be the hardest group, international superpowers Brazil, Portugal and the ivory Coast will battle it out before elimination play even begins. Stars including midfielder Kaká (Brazil), forward Didier Drogba (ivory Coast) and forward Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) will lead their teams through an interesting four games. The Viking believes that the winner of this group will likely be heading to the final.

By ALEX KERSHNER

on June 11, 2010, the world will stop. Jobs will grind to a halt and children will rush out of school as the elderly and young gather around televisions to witness, arguably, the greatest sporting event on the planet. in the united States, the TV spectacles we patiently wait for year after year, (the over commercialized Super Bowl and the World Series) generate massive consumption of snacks and quality couch time. But the World Cup is different. For one month, the entire world congregates around whatever media is available. Together, the vast human population ingests the juicy details and jaw dropping highlights while celebrating the victory of a nation, not just an over subsidized group of professionals. yes, the World Cup is different. Representing one’s country is more than just playing. But for u.S. basketball stars and baseball giants, they know that no matter win or lose, their next paycheck is already on the way.

The Mascot: Zakumi is an anthropomorphized leopard. His name is derived from ‘ZA’ the international abbreviation for South Africa as well as ‘kumi’ which means ten. The mascot’s colors, green and yellow, match those of South Africa. The Ball: The official match ball for the tournament is named “Jabulani,” meaning “bringing joy to everyone” in Zulu. The ball is the 11th World Cup ball made by Adidas. The ball has 11 colors (one for each player on the field, the eleven official languages of SA, and the tournament starting and ending on the eleventh day of the month). Locations: The tournament organizers have built and refurbished 10 stadiums around the country in featured towns, such as Cape Town and Johannesburg. The final will be played at ‘Soccer City’ in Johannesburg, a dry city known for its 5784.9 foot elevation.

Our Prediction:

While it is almost impossible to predict which of the 32 teams will come out victorious in a game that can be won based on the direction of the wind or the intelligence of the referees, it is common speculation that the Final Four will be Spain, England, Germany and Brazil. After a grueling battle, Brazil will retake world dominance and win it all.

The Teams

Fall Sports Wrap ups

The Finish Line

photo by Erin Kiekhaefer

A recap of the highs and lows of 2009-2010 Paly sports.

BoYs’ Cross-CountrY by Erin Kiekhaefer

photo by Brandon Dukovic

Throughout Palo Alto High School’s varsity cross-country season, the team consistently performed well. The Vikings advanced to the Central Coast Section (CCS) meet, in which the team placed third. The team then advanced to the State Championship meet, placing 12th. Stand out runner Philip MacQuitty (‘10) broke the Gunn Bol Park course record with a time of 10 minutes, 24 sec-

Henry Jordan (left) and Peter WIlson (‘10)

Kathleen Higgins (‘10)

FooTBALL

Vikes also advanced to Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs from the league meet in November, but their season ended at the CCS meet with a ninth place finish. Higgins, Cain and Susan Heinselman (‘11) led the team, placing consistently at the front of the pack. The team looks forward to a senior-filled roster next season and hopes to place higher in CCS and advance to the State Championship meet. Troy Boyland (‘10)

by Mark Raftrey

The Palo Alto High School varsity football team (7-0-2) went undefeated in league and earned a Central Coast Section (CCS) open division berth, a feat that few expected at the onset of the campaign. Paly’s 7-0-2 league record included key victories over Milpitas High School, who was ranked first in CCS at the time of the upset, in a last-minute 31-28 thriller. in addition to a 34-12 thrashing of Los Gatos High School. Quarterback Christoph Bono (‘11) led

by Mary Albertolle, Sam Greene and Brandon Dukovic

the Vikings for the first half of the season with an average of 214 yards per game and 14 touchdowns before breaking his collarbone in the game against cross-town rival Gunn High School. T.J. Braff (‘11) took over where Bono left off and maintained the undefeated league run, amassing 1200 passing yards and 12 touchdowns, in addition to five rushing. Paly ran into West Catholic Athletic League powerhouse Bellarmine Prepatory in the first round and lost badly, 34-6.

Rank in League:

Coach: Earl Hansen Record: 7-0-2, league 4-0-2

photo by Malaika Drebin

Rank in League:

The Palo Alto High School girls’ varsity cross-country team had a solid season, considering only two seniors ran for the team: Kathleen Higgins (‘10) and Regina Wang (‘10). The team raced at the Concordia Classic in Portland, oregon last october. Standout runner Gracie Cain (‘11) placed first for Paly and fifth overall at the Palo Alto City Championship meet at Gunn High School in october. The Lady

Rank in League:

Coaches: Joe Ginnani John Welsh

Girls’ Cross-CountrY

Coach: Paul Jones

onds in the first meet of the season. other members of the varsity team include Josh Newby (‘10), Alex Voet (‘10), Peter Wilson (‘10), Ben Sklaroff (‘10), Brian Raftrey (‘10) and Henry Jordan (‘10). The Vikings also competed in the Concordia Classic in Portland, oregon in october. With the entire varsity team consisting of seniors the Vikings anticipate a less experienced varsity team next season.

Photo by Hana Kajimura

Shameem Jamil (‘10)

Rank in League:

BoYs’ Water polo

photo by Allie Shorin

The Palo Alto varsity boys’ water polo team had a rocky rebuilding season because the majority of seniors graduated last year. The team was compiled 14 new players, almost half of who were underclassmen. After an inconsistent start, the Vikings failed to improve. Throughout the season the team looked to attacker Bobby Abbott (‘10) for offense, making him the team leader in goals (81), shots

The girls’ water polo team finished its season in the second round in Central Coast Section (CCS) when the Lady Vikes lost to St. Francis High School with a fourth place finish in Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) under their belt. The Lady Vikes’ season was full of ups and downs and they battled for position in league with Los Gatos and Los Altos. one highlight came in an oct. 22 match against

(150) and steals (34). on the other end of the pool, goalkeeper Daniel Armitano (12) anchored the Vikings’ defense, registering 102 saves. The Vikings, however, managed to rack up several quality wins, including one against Archbishop Mitty, the other against Homestead. The Vikings finished second to last in league out of eight teams behind powerhouses Los Altos and Los Gatos.

Coach: Andy Harader Record: 6-11, league 3-9

Bobby Abbott (‘10)

Rank in League:

Coach: Giovanni Napolitano Record: 10-16, league 4-8-0

by Gracie Marshall

The Palo Alto High School girl’s varsity tennis team sent one singles player and two doubles teams to the league playoffs. Mira Khanna (‘11) represented the team in the singles tournament but was eliminated in the second round of play. Christine Koepnick (‘10) and Emily Efland (‘11) also lost in the first round of the doubles tournament. Janet Liu (‘11) and Emma Marti (‘10) won its first two

matches to advance to the semifinals. Paly lost five consecutive matches from oct. 20 to 27, including a 6-1 loss against Monta Vista High School, before winning the final match of the season against Los Gatos High School. These losses barred the team from placing first in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) and from qualifying for Central Coast Sections (CCS). photo by Allie Shorin

Rank in League:

league rival Los Gatos. Thanks to balanced scoring and solid goal tending from goalie June Afshar (‘10), the Lady Vikes pulled out a 6-3 win. At the time, Los Gatos was ranked first in the SCVAL. Looking forward, the Lady Vikes hope to have a strong next season. Star juniors include national team hopeful attacker Skylar Dorosin (‘12) and driver Shannon Scheel (‘12).

by Alex Kershner and Mariah Philips

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Emma Marti (‘11)

by Cooper Levitan and Alistair Thompson

photo by Hana Kajimura

Coach: Cory olcott Record: 15-9

GIRLS’ WATER PoLo

WRESTLING by Dustin Nizamian

Wrestling capped off a season full of success by sending Jack Sakai (‘10) to the California interscholastic Federation (CiF) state competition. After a 4-2 league season, Palu placed third overall in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) tournament, with 11 wrestlers finishing eighth or higher and nine wrestlers qualifying for CCS. During the SCVAL tournament, Trent Marshall (‘13) won first place at 105 pounds. While Kalen Gans (‘12) took first at 162 pounds.

At the CCS tournament, the Vikings finished 22nd, but Nick ortiz (‘12) and Gans both finished in 12th place at 112 and 160 lbs, respectively. Most notably, Sakai finished in fourth place at 130 lbs. Sakai went 0-2 at states and failed to advance past the first round, but qualifying alone stands as a serious accomplishment. Paly looks forward despite the loss of key wrestlers, including Sakai, A.J Castillo (‘10), and Max Simon (‘10).

Erik Anderson (‘13)

Rank in League:

Coach: David Duran Record: league 4-2

3 19

photo by Hana Kajimura

The Teams

Winter Sports Wrap ups

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Shamelia Clay (‘12)

Coach: Scott Peters Record: 13-11, league5-7

BoYs’ BasketBall

photo by Allie Shorin

The Palo Alto High School boys’basketball team finished its strong yet unusual season with a solid performance in the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs. Though the Vikings’season began with hurt feelings and upset players, head coach Bob Roehl was able to turn the team around when he took over for Andrew Slayton in mid-December. The Vikings hit full stride in January, just

John Anderton (‘10)

Rank in League:

as their league schedule began. They ended up losing just one league game to Los Gatos (in overtime), after which they won 10 straight to finish out the regular season league schedule. After breezing past Wilcox by a score 85-57 in the CCS quarterfinals, Paly was unable to compete with West Catholic powerhouse Archbishop Mitty losing by a score of 62-39 on March 2.

Brendon Rider (‘10)

Rank in League:

Coach: Bob Roehl Record: 18-7, league11-1

by Jack Smale and Sam Maliska

Despite a mediocre season following a Central Coast Section (CCS) co-champion title during the 2008-2009 campaign, the Palo Alto High School varsity boys’ soccer team managed to once again qualify CCS. Paly contributed multiple strong wins to the Vikings’ season against Sobrato High School, where the Vikings won 3-0. in addition, Paly plowed Monta Vista High School and won 2-0.

on Feb. 24, the Vikings fell to Leland High School in the first round of CCS, by a score of 1-2. At the end of first half, the score was tied 1-1, after Paly mid-fielder James Maa (‘12) scored on a shot from 15 yards out. The game remained tied until Leland scored on a penalty kick. While the season proved to be a struggle, the Vikings will return next season with the majority of the roster untouched. photo by Hana Kajimura

GIRLS’ SoCCER

cox High School was especially important because Wilcox had been the top team in the De Anza league for the past two years. The Lady Vikes tended to run into trouble by committing too many fouls therefor letting their opponents score easy points. Paly is losing three seniors and despite a young team with fresh talent, the Lady Vikes biggest obstacle for next season will be filling leadership positions.

by George Brown

BoYs’ soCCer

Coach: Don Briggs Record: 6-6-7, league 5-2-3

by Erin Kiekhaefer and Brandon Dukovic

The Palo Alto High School girls’ soccer team finished its season with an overall record of 9-9-2, losing in the second round of Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs to Woodside High School, 1-0, after beating Watsonville High School 4-0 in the first round of the CCS playoffs. Stand out performances from forward Kelly Jenks (‘10), who had 10 goals and eight assists throughout the season, forward Erika Hoglund (‘10), who had five goals and five assists, midfielder Gracie

The Palo Alto High School girls’ basketball team (5-7, 13-11) finished fifth in the De Anza league. The Lady Vikes lost by two in the semifinals of the Central Coast Section playoffs against Mills High School . After losing all five starters from last year, the Lady Vikes had consistent stand out performances from Katerina Peterson (‘11), Stephanie Allen (‘13) and Emilee osagiede (‘12), The team’s win over Wil-

photo by Allie Shorin

Rank in League:

by Gracie Marshall and Mark Raftrey

Cain (‘11), who had two goals and two assists, and keeper Alex Kershner (‘11) who had 113 saves throughout the season. The Lady Vikes beat Gunn High School 1-0 in a rainy, action-packed game on Feb. 4 at Gunn. The Lady Vikes won with a last minute goal. The Lady Vikes also beat Gunn in January, 2-0. Although the team will lose many of its key seniors, it is full of able underclassmen who will retain the team’s high level of competition for the upcoming season.

Maeve Stewart (‘10)

Rank in League:

Coach: Ernesto Curz Record: 9-9-2, league 5-6-1

photo by Allie Shorin

GIRLS’ LACRoSSE Kimmie Flather (‘12)

Coach: Jen Gray Record: 16-4, league 10-2-0

BoYs’ laCrosse

the finals where the Vikings defeated the Mountain View Spartans in the championship game 10-9 in sudden death. The Spartans came back by two points to tie the game in the last minutes of regulation play. in the sudden death overtime that followed, John Brunett (‘11) put the ball in the back of the net first, finishing the game with five goals and leading his team to victory.

BoYs’ tennis Drew Pearson (‘10)

Rank in League:

BADMINToN

by Sana Bashki

Palo Alto High School boys’ varsity tennis ended its season in the second round of the Central Coast Section (CCS). After beating Sacred Heart Prep 5-2 and advancing to the CCS semifinals, the Vikings faced Menlo High School and lost 1-6. No. 1 singles, Nicky Hu (‘12), clinched the Vikings only victory. After losing a valuable senior class, the Vikings were expected to finish last

Kris Hoglund (‘12)

Rank in League:

Coach: Craig Conover Record: 17-5, league 9-1-0

in league, without qualifying for CCS. The Vikings exceeded their own expectations, finishing third in league and making it to the CCS semi-finals. The team relied heavily on No. 1 singles Nicky Hu (‘12) and No. 1 doubles team Jujhaar Singh (‘10) and Drew Pearson (‘10) to lead them to the CCS semifinals. The Vikings, although ending their season with a loss, look toward strong underphoto by Brandon Dukovic

Coach: Andy Harader Record: 13-6

as the catalyst for a nine game winning streak. The hot streak ended in a nonleague battle against Menlo School, 1211, after four overtime periods. The team ended season play with a 16-4 record. Top players included middie Kimmie Flather (‘12) with 44 goals, attacker Charlotte Biffar (‘13) with 16 assists and defender Gracie Cain (‘11) with 64 ground balls.

by Gracie Marshall

The Palo Alto boys’ lacrosse team had an incredible inaugural season. They closed the year with the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) championship. Paly triumphed over Menlo School in the SCVAL semi-finals in sudden death after Paly attack Zach Spain (‘11) tied the gae with two seconds left in regulation. in overtime, middie Kris Hoglund (‘12) scored the game winning goal. in

photo by Allie Shorin

The Palo Alto High School girls’ varsity lacrosse team dominated league play this season and ultimately ended up with a Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) championship over St. Francis High School in Mountain View. The Lady Vikes began the season with a stellar 5-4 overtime upset win against Northern California lacrosse powerhouse Saint ignatius Prepatory, which served

photo by Allie Shorin

Rank in League:

by Mariah Philips and Skylar Dorosin

by Sana Bashki

The Palo Alto High School varsity badminton team ended its season with a 10-2 record, after moving down a division in league. This year the Vikings tied for first with Los Altos and Homestead High Schools in their new, lower league. The Vikings hope to move back to their division, De Anza, after proving themselves in a huge turn around this season. The team relied heavily on performances from No. 1 doubles ivan Zhou (‘10) and Jay Ko (‘10) and No. 1 singles player Kar-

ine Hsu (‘12) to rake in the victories. Hsu’s singles victory in the meet against Mountain View High School started off the team when she beat her opponent 15-0 twice. After ending the last two seasons with only one victory in each season, the Vikings moved down one division and trained harder to regain much-deserved respect. Ending the season on a hopeful note, the Vikings are sending Hsu and Dennis Chen (‘11) for girls’ and boys’ singles, respectively, to CCS.

Rank in League:

Coach: Kara Prentice Record: league 10-2

1 21

The Teams

Spring Sports Wrap ups

photo by Allie Shorin

Hammerson GIRLS’ SWIMMING AND DIVING byandLauren Kylie Sloan

Jasmine Tosky (12)

Rank in League:

BoYs’ sWiMMinG anD DiVinG

After graduating a valuable senior class of swimmers last year, the boys’ varsity swim team came in second place at the SCVAL championship on May 7th. Finishing the season with an astounding record of 5-1, the varsity team has turned to younger swimmers Byron Sanborn (‘12), Rollin Lau (‘12), and Arseniy Kotov (‘11). The Vikings came in a close second to Monta Vista High School. The score came down to the 400-yard relay when the Vikings were neck and neck with Saratoga and Los Gatos and came in a close third with a time of 3:16.79. Despite ending their five-year reign as

rival Gunn High School midseason, the Lady Vikes placed first in league for the eighth season in a row. in CCS, the Lady Vikes finished second overall behind Archbishop Mitty for the second consecutive year. in 2009, however, the Lady Vikes were short three points compared to this year’s 36 point deficit. Despite this loss, there were a few bright spots including Tosky’s two record breaking races in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard freestyle with times of 52.77 seconds and 1:44.11 respectively. These times are especially impressive considering racing suits were prohibited this year. photo by Allie Shorin

Coach: Danny Dye Record: 5-1

once again the Palo Alto High School varsity girls’ swim team placed first in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) meet and finished the season strong. The standout contributors to the squad included a troop of sophomores consisting of Jasmine Tosky (‘12), Sarah Liang (‘12), Molly Rebeker (‘12) and Margaret Wenzlau (‘12). The senior leaving this year with many accomplishments under their belts include Malaika Drebin (‘10), Kaitlyn Tracy (‘10), Claire Guo (‘10) and Danielle Carlson (‘10), all of whom qualified for the Central Coast Section (CCS) meet this year. Despite a disappointing loss to local by Sana Bashki and Maliaka Drebin

SCVAL champions, the Vikings are looking to improve upon their seventh-place finish at the Central Coast Section (CCS) championship meet May 22, sending the majority of their swimmers to CCS. At CCS the Vikings placed sixth out of 41 teams. Paly failed to reach its goal of placing in the top five by coming up four points short. Bellarmine College Prepatory secured first for the 26th consecutive year by 168 points with a total of 384 points, compared to Paly’s 109. The highlight of the day was Sanborn’s victory in the 100-yard breaststroke with an AllAmerican time of 57.75 seconds.

DJ Fotsch (‘11)

Rank in League:

Coach: Danny Dye Record: 5-1

photo by Allie Shorin

BoYs’ traCk anD FielD by Erin Kiekhaefer

Morris Gates-Mouton (‘12)

Rank in League:

Coach: Jason Fung Record: 5-1

The Palo Alto High School boys’ varsity track and field team only lost to Mountain View High School in a dual meet. The Vikings have capable athletes at all levels of the team: distance, sprints and field events. Many athletes qualified to move on to the CCS finals after the CCS semifinals on May 21. Standout athlete Philip MacQuitty (‘10) competed in both the 1600 meter and 800m events at the CCS semifinals, but dropped the 800 for the finals. He then qualified to move on to the State meet on June 4 and 5. MacQuitty broke two Paly records. He ran the 1600m in

four minutes, 25 seconds and the 800m in 1:52.57. other athletes also moved on to the CCS finals. Daniel Jones (‘10) in the 100m, Josh Newby (‘10) in the 3200m, Tyler Nigro (‘10) in high jump, Maurice Williams (‘11) for triple jump and the 4x100 relay team. MacQuitty, Williams and Nigro each placed second in their respective events in in the CCS finals. Nigro jumped a personal best at the CCS finals on May 28, jumping six feet, six inches. All three will compete in the state championships on June 4 and 5.

photo by Allie Shorin

GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD by Varun Kholi and Brandon Dukovic

The Palo Alto High School girls’ track and field team finished the season with a 2-4 record, tying Lynbrook for fourth place out of seven in the De Anza League of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL). in the league meet at Paly, the girls placed fifth, a disappointing finish. The highlight of the team this year was the girls’ 4x100 meter relay team that advanced to the Central Coast Section (CCS) semifinals after placing third in the SCVAL finals. Notable athletes include Emily yeates (‘10), who competed in four events

throughout the season and was awarded a majority of the team’s points in the several dual meets and advanced to the CCS semifinals in the 100-meter dash, and Erika Hoglund (‘10), who qualified to CCS semifinals in the long jump and triple jump. The 4x100 meter team advanced to the CCS finals and placed last. No girl runners or field athletes moved on to the State championships. The girls will lose only a few seniors next year including yeates and Hoglund. The team will hopefully have a solid roster for the 2011 season.

photo by Alex Kershner

SoFTBALL

Lauren Bucolo (‘10)

Rank in League:

GoLF

The Palo Alto High School varsity softball team (6-6, 18-9) finished in fourth place in the De Anza Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) in its first year after moving up from the El Camino Division. After losing first baseman Allie Coleman (‘09) and center fielder Pam Wong (‘09), the Lady Vikes still went on qualify for the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs for a third consecutive year. The team was able to advance following its victory over Fremont High School (8-4, 18-4) on May 11 after eleven long innings when the Lady Vikes finally wedged their way thru to win 9-8. Another stand-

by George Brown and Emily Fowler

Led by captain Michael yuan (‘11) and Aaron Lee (‘10), the Palo Alto High School varsity golf team finished off a positive season with a third place finish at the league tournament on April 26. Though the Vikings were right on the borderline, they did not end up qualifying for the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs. The Vikings managed to place second in the league standings behind both Los Gatos and Los Altos High Schools. in pre-season, Paly placed third out of eight teams in the Palo Alto Municipal Tournament in last March. Entering into the sea-

son, Paly had a disappointing tie to crosstown rival Gunn High School on April 22. on April 6, the Vikings wedged past Fremont High School by a score of 208-199. Paly also beat Mountain View High School in the season.. Next year, the Vikings look to make a stronger push toward CCS, as yuan and Grant Raffel (‘13) prepare to lead the team throughout De Anza Division play. Trevor Loveless (‘10), who is leaving the team, sees potential for future growth, citing the team’s continuously improving chemistry as a positive indicator of future success.

Rank in League:

Coach: Paul Jones Record: 2-4

out game was when Paly beat its neighbor, Castilleja High School (12-2, 17-8-2), whose pitcher Samantha Albanese (‘10) was challenging the state record for the number of consecutive no hitters at 11. The Lady Vikes broke this streak when they beat Castilleja 2-0. The Lady Vikes’ season ended in the first round CCS when they lost to Salinas after eight solid innings of play. Next year the team will compete without its starting pitcher, Kelly Jenks (‘10), short-stop Lauren Bucolo (‘10), third baseman Kristen Dauler (‘10) or left fielder Caroline McDonnel (‘10). Trevor Loveless (‘10)

Rank in League:

Coach: Doyle Night Record: 11-2-1

photo by Christine Chang

Coach: Tim Anderson Record: 19-9, league 6-6

by Mary Albertolle

Rachel Neel (‘10)

2 23

The Teams

Male Team of the year

Male

Team

f the

Year By MARK RAFTREy PHoToGRAPHy By ALLiE SHoRiN

RAKINg First baseman Wade Hauser (‘10) collects one of his team-leading 50 hits in a 5-3 win over Los Altos High School. Hauser has a .568 batting average that is ranked #149 nationally. The Vikings won the SCVAL with a perfect 14-0 record as part of a 23 game win streak as of May 24.

ALL IN gOOD FuN Center fielder Joc Pederson (‘10) and Pitcher Scott Witte (‘10) celebrate a good play in the field. The two have led the Vikings to the CCS semis.

osing is not a familiar feeling for the 2010 Palo Alto High School baseball team. The Vikings had not dropped a game in over two months going into the CCS finals, a streak of 24 straight victories. To go along with a 29-4 overall record, the Vikings captured the outright Santa Clara Valley Athletic League crown with a 14-0 league record and consecutive two-game series sweeps in the league tournament. As expected, they earned the number one seed in the Central Coast Section (CCS) division ii playoffs. The Wilcox Chargers posed the first major threat to the streak in the fifth game of the league season. After the

JOC PEDERSON CONOR RAFTERY DRAKE SWEZEY it rs Va

T.J. BRAFF

ALEC WONG

WADE HAUSER SCOTT WITTE

tin

CHRISTIAN LONSKY

lin p

(DH)

WILL GLAZIER “We’ve been playing good defense and throwing a lot of strikes so we’ve done a lot better than in the past couple of years,” Pederson said. Raich agrees with the keys outlined by Pederson. “For championship teams, it comes down to pitching and defense,” Raich said. “We’ve preached it all year.”

“We just love to compete,” Erick Raich said. “you could send us to a sandlot to play and we would be jazzed to play.” Pederson (’10) at .466 and third baseman T.J. Braff (’11) at .438. Pederson leads the team in home runs with seven, all of which have come in the last 14 games. Despite such offensive success, the Vikings pride themselves on their consistency in the field and on the mound.

CHRISTOPH BONO

r ta ls

Vikings won game one by scoring 13 runs, game two showcased pitcher Scott Witte (’10) who threw a complete game, threehit gem. After several routing victories to build momentum, the Vikings came into the final league series at 12-0 to take on second place Los Gatos, needing to win one of two in order to clinch the title. Trailing 8-3 in the fifth inning, Paly exploded for seven runs, including a monster 3-run home run by right fielder Christoph Bono (’11). The Vikings’ only regular season losses came against Archbishop Mitty (currently ranked 52 in the country and first in CCS division i), Willow Glen (27-1) and Wilcox, a loss that the Vikings have avenged four times over. The Vikings have done all of this under the direction of first year head coach Eric Raich, the seventh head coach in the past 10 years. Winning 24 games in a row requires excellence in all aspects of the game. But make no mistake about it; this team is an offensive juggernaut. over the course of the streak, the Vikings have scored fewer than seven runs only five times, and have averaged 9.9 per contest. “There are no weak spots in our lineup so we have been hitting really well,” center fielder Joc Pederson (’10) said. The team is hitting .364 on the year, and is led by designated hitter Wade Hauser (’10) at .568, center fielder Joc

Witte has anchored the pitching staff with an 11-2 record, a 2.21 era and 59 strikeouts. Pitcher and shortstop Drake Swezey (’11) has complimented Witte with a perfect 6-0 record and 3.14 era. “We just love to compete,” Raich said. “you could send us to a sandlot to play and we would be jazzed to play.” <<<

Lacrosse

Runners up

in its inaugural season, the Paly boys’ lacrosse team won the El Camino division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) with a 9-1 record. The Vikings also won the SCVAL tournament, which includes teams from the upper De Anza division. in the tournament, Paly beat Burlingame and Menlo before beating Mountain View in the final. Menlo had not lost a league game over a span of five years before losing 11-10 to the Vikings in overtime.

Basketball

The boys’ basketball team overcame a midseason coaching change to win the SCVAL title with just one league loss against Los Gatos High School in overtime. in the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs, the Vikings obliterated Wilox High School, 85-57 in the second round. The next round matched Paly with Archbishop Mitty of the West Catholic Athletic League. The Vikings could not keep up with the eventual CCS champions and they lost 62-39 to end the season.

Junior Varsity Basketball

The junior varsity boys’ basketball team went undefeated this year, raking up a 24 game win streak and a league championship.

The Teams

Female Team of the year

Team of theYear

Female

photo by Talia Moyal

By WiLL GLAZiER AND JACK SMALE

he stars certainly aligned for the Palo Alto High School varsity volleyball team in the 2009 season as they enjoyed a memorable ride that included an unbelievable 33 match winning streak, plenty of miraculous five game victories, and a berth in the NorCal playoffs. only one thing was missing from the magical ‘09 season, an elusive Central Coast Section (CCS) championship. Although the Lady Vikes could not take down the nationally top ranked Archbishop Mitty Monarchs in the finals, there was still plenty to smile about following one of the best public school seasons of the decade. Not many people knew what to expect of the Lady Vikes as they came into the season with only four healthy upperclassmen, Marissa Florant (‘10), Cassie Prio-

leau (‘10), Megan Coleman (‘11) and Trina ohms (‘11). “i think that we were all pretty unsure of what was going to happen this season,” setter Kimmy Whitson (‘12) said. “in the back of our minds, i think there was doubt because of the amount of starters that graduated, and that our inexperience would be a disadvantage. After the first tournament of the year, the Milpitas Spikefest 1, the Lady Vikes left with a 2-3 record after losing to Presentation, Saratoga and Carlmont High Schools. The tournament performance certainly did not leave anybody thinking the Lady Vikes would make a charge at the CCS championship. The Lady Vikes rediscovered their winning ways with a five game victory over

Sacred Heart Prep, and they didn’t look back. They rattled off a record breaking 33 match winning streak, won the most matches, at 36 in school history, and made it to their first CCS finals since 2000. The Lady Vikes were led by captain and outside hitter Florant, who won Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the entire Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL). Florant led the team with 459 kills on the year with a 3.7 kills per game average and a 36.4 kill percentage. “Marissa was the biggest impact to our team of any player,” libero Megan Coleman (‘11) said. “We could always rely on her to get big kills in pressure situations. Marissa was really good on the court, but she was also a great emotional leader. She kept everyone focused on the court and

improved everyone’s game around her.” The team also received great leadership from defensive specialist Prioleau and Kristen Dauler (‘10), who was out for the season with a knee injury. The leadership of those three seniors proved valuable on such a young squad. “Without our seniors, we definitely wouldn’t have done as well as we did,” Whitson said. “Cassie and Marissa provided the fire power and mental toughness that we needed to pull through tough matches and practices. We really needed strong leaders.” The Lady Vikes also received lots of help from talented outside hitters ohms and Maddie Kuppe (‘12) who contributed 318 and 316 kills on the season respectively. Coleman was the anchor of the Lady Vikes backcourt as she contributed 589 digs, with an average of 4.8 digs per game, as well as a team leading 46 aces. Whitson, the team’s setter, led the team in assists and contributed a 38.2 kill percentage. Melanie Wade (‘12), a 6 foot 5 inch tall sophomore led the team with 74 blocks and also contributed 253 kills. After taking home the Harbor invita-

tional tournament championship with a 2-1 victory over Aptos High School, the Lady Vikes opened up De Anza Division play with four wins in a row over Gunn, Los Altos, Saratoga, and a thrilling five game win over Mountain View High School and the team’s star player Brittney Howard (‘10) “She was basically unstoppable, but there are six players on the court and one player can’t do everything.” Florant said. The team agrees with Flourant’s view. “Playing Mountain View was one of the best games of the season,”Whitson said. i think we went in to the match knowing that if we beat them, we’d secure 1st in league, so that really helped us get fired up.” The Lady Vikes breezed through the Menlo invitational and won six more league games to set up a showdown for first place with division rivals Los Gatos. The winning streak seemed like it would finally come to a halt at 24 matches as the Lady Vikes found themselves down two games to none and down 23-21 in game three. However, the Lady Vikes miraculously scratched and clawed their way back into the match and

SPiKE Trina ohms (‘11) (left) and Marissa Florant (‘11) (right) go up for the kill.

downed the Wildcats 15-13 in the fifth and final game to keep the streak alive. “Every win was just a win for us,” Florant said. “Los Gatos always has a good team and beating them and remaining undefeated in league play was huge. Having an undefeated season really helped us realize how much talent we had and how good we were. We needed that mind-set to go into CCS.” After the Los Gatos win, the team continued to roll into the CCS playoffs where they downed their first round opponent, Aragon, in a three game victory. That win set up a rematch with Presentation. The Lady Vikes once again squeezed out a five game victory to clinch a berth in the CCS finals, and more importantly a berth in the NorCal playoffs. Although the magical season came to a close with a Paly loss to St. Francis High School of Sacramento in the second round of the NorCal playoffs, the 2009 varsity volleyball team was one to remember. “A lot of people told us that this year would be a rebuilding year for Paly volleyball,” Whitson said. “i’m pretty sure we surprised a lot of people.” <<<

Runners up

Lacrosse

The Palo Alto High School girls’ varsity lacrosse team finished up a remarkable season with a 16-4 record and a 10-2 mark in SCVAL play. The Lady Vikes, the top seed, took down St. Francis in a nail-biting 9-8 win in the championship. The team’s season was also highlighted by a miraculous victory over Saint ignatius, which was ranked No. 1 in Northern California at the time of the upset.

photos by Maliaka Drebin

Swimming

The Palo Alto High School girls’ varsity swim team stormed to another highly successful season as it finished first in the SCVAL league meet. Despite a disappointing loss to local rival Gunn High School midseason, the Lady Vikes placed first in league for the eighth season in a row. in CCS, the Lady Vikes finished second overall behind Archbishop Mitty.

Junior Varsity Volleyball

The junior varsity volleyball team went undefeated in league play and won the De Anza division in SCVAL.

The issues

Sleep. Just Snooze it

Sleep.Ê JustÊ SnoozeÊ It By SAM GREENE

photo by Allie Shorin

photo by Brandon Dukovic

affeine-packed, the freshly brewed cup of java continues to jump-start sleep-deprived citizens with a temporary boost of energy. Day in and day out, they wake up with the luxury of knowing that their consistent five hours of sleep will not hold them back; at 5:30 a.m. the coffee machine is on the grind and the illusion of fatigue is out the door. By cramming extensive hours into an already tight workday, they brush aside necessary, consistent and wholesome sleep. The common perception is that pushing it to the limit can only make one stronger-the problem comes when disregarding the limit becomes a habit. At Palo Alto High School, students are well aware that time is of the essence. it is the hardly manageable aspect of students’ lives that may put a cap on daylight, but certainly not on their schedules. Between shuffling through classes, managing a hefty work-load, handling social life and eating sometime between, students, and let alone student-athletes, can barely muster the energy to flop out of bed, after having had a routine five hours of sleep.

While dedication to weight room routines and training sessions are essential to improving performance, sacrificing a good nights rest may cause athletes to drift farther away from their goals. it’s simple, rest first, then work.

TiME MANAGEMENT Student athletes fall short balancing academics with sports.

“if i’m lucky, between four and a half seven hours of sleep daily,” Palo Alto varhours of practice in the morning and a sity and Stanford Aquatics swimmer Sastack of work at night, i manage five to brina Lee (‘11) said. To cram her extensive activities and commitments into the average school day, Lee wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to attend first club and then school swim training. By the nature of her schedule, Lee finds no time to utilize her first period prep in the same way that the majority of students do; to sleep. For Lee, after intense cardio and weight-lifting training, the 7:50 a.m. bell calls for study hall rather than a much needed rest. “immediately after a workout, it’s hard [to go back to sleep] because i’m so awake and energetic from exercising,” Lee said. “i have to do something like homework or reading to bring my heart rate down to make me sleepy.” Academics alone are a stressful load on the body and brain. When mixed with DiViNG Starting a strong performance, Sabrina Lee (‘11) dives into a 200-yard freestyle.

Photo by Brandon Dukovic

the demand for muscle repair and maximized functionality that are implicit in high-school sports, the body simply needs more sleep to regenerate and repair. After a period of extended wakefulness or reduced sleep, neurons in the brain begin to malfunction, visibly affecting a person’s

hours of sleep, however, ten hours would be ideal to sustain optimal performance. For Lee’s demanding schedule, the doctor’s orders are nothing more than wishful thinking. Without consistent sleep, Lee’s sustained energy remains unfounded within the medical community. Re-

“By sticking to my regular routine for morning practices, i’m able to maintain my health, strength and academic responsibilities because i know what to expect,” Sabrina Lee (‘11) said gardless of science, she believes that her dedication to her demanding routine has allowed her to adjust more readily to the difficult hours. “By sticking to my regular routine for morning practices, i’m able to maintain my health, strength and academic responsibilities because i know what to expect,” Lee said. Furthermore, Lee finds that her mental awareness and physical ability increases immediately after a workout. Dr. Kushida attributes this to a rise in endorphins released during and following her workout. “My energy levels definitely start out

photo by Brandon Dukovic

behavior. under the pressure of school, Lee finds that a lack of sleep weakens her physically and creates an irritable temperament, causing difficulty in her ability to focus. “it’s much more difficult to comprehend my schoolwork,” Lee said. “it’s literally hard to keep my eyes open and taking notes is less productive because i just copy them and don’t absorb what i’m reading.” While the concept that lack of sleep can affect behavior is widely accepted, Dr. Mary Carskadon, Ph.D at the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center, suggests that insufficient sleep can also directly and negatively impact productivity and performance of a teen athlete. Beyond a grumpy disposition, lack of sleep can significantly affect a student athlete’s performance through muscle fatigue, decrease in attention and poor frontal-lobe function, which controls decision-making abilities. Nevertheless, Lee feels that academic stress affects her athletic performance more than sleep, but recognizes that both are debilitating factors. “i think that stress from school affects my swimming more than sleep,” Lee said. “But without sleep, it’s really hard to get warmed up and ready for a race because i feel sluggish and unprepared.” While the effects of sleep may differ between individuals, Dr. Kushida, Ph.D at Stanford’s Sleep Medicine Clinic, believes that teen athletes need at least eight

high and i’m more awake and ready to work,” Lee said. “But, as the day goes on it slowly declines and then picks back up right before my second practice after school.” By the end of a full day in the pool and the classroom, Lee manages to complete her homework before jumping under the covers to restart the cycle. While Lee does not find it difficult to complete her homework after an intense practice in the morning and a light sleep the night before, she recognizes that her workout in the morning helps her fall asleep quicker and sleep deeper that night. “After a workout and homework and such, i am totally ready for bed,” Lee said. “it takes like five minutes to actually fall asleep.” Be that as it may, Lee’s ability to adapt to minimal sleep is abnormal for the average teen athlete. For NorCal Crew rower Laura Jalalian (‘11), rowing on five hours of sleep does not fly. “When i don’t have sleep it takes a while for me to start getting alert and stay focused on what workout we are doing,” Jalalian said. “it’s the mental aspect that affects my performance the most.” Like Lee, Jalalian balances her schoolwork with demanding morning practices, but has the advantage of having both a first and second prep, and morning practices only on Monday, Tuesday and Satur-

RiSE AND SHiNE Sabrina Lee (‘11) wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to attend morning swim practice.

Sleep. Just Snooze it

day. After training in the morning, Jalalian plays catch-up with her homework from the night before. Although the morning preps allow Jalalian to work productively at the time, by mid-afternoon, her early start delivers an all too familiar crash-the crash from accumulated sleep debt. “At first [after morning practice], i feel like it [morning practice] wasn’t so bad, but then a couple of classes later, i start

said. “Sometimes i find myself sleeping so much longer, and falling asleep in random places; usually five times a week.” A nap or two in class, however, is the least of her concerns. During morning practices, Jalalian’s early start breaks down her mental awareness to the point that it prevents her from improving her performance and can cause her serious injury during her workout. By the nature

“i remember for one second i was holding the bar on my shoulders, and the next second my teammates were running over to lift it off of me after it drove me to the ground,” Laura Jalalian (‘11) said. to collapse,” Jalalian said. “After lunch is when i start to fall asleep in classes and can’t keep my eyes open. Really, i just become inattentive and careless.” Sometimes overwhelmed by drowsiness and fatigue during the day, Jalalian tries to make up for her lack of sleep with a refreshing glass of green tea. However, when green tea does not pack enough punch to liven up her day, she resorts to using a comforting desk as her pillow during class. Afternoon naps are just as much a part of her everyday schedule as going to in which she takes them. “i take naps whenever i can,” Jalalian

of crew, a poor performance by one rower in the boat will lower the overall execution by the team. “When i come to regattas or practices without enough rest i tend to miss my calls from the coxswain,” Jalalian said. “Because i don’t perform my best in the boat, especially on courses like the 2K, i let my whole team down and we can’t break times.” While Jalalian recognizes that when rowing on minimal sleep she is not mentally prepared to react to critical communications, she also notices that reduced sleep affects her physically, to the point

oN THE GRiND Student athletes use caffeinated and energy supplemented beverages.

that she becomes increasingly weaker over time. “Sometimes in the mornings i have to skip out on weight training because i simply can’t do what i should be able to,” Jalalian said. “i find myself just lying down on the mats, resting and slowly losing my strength.” Without sleep, improving her performance becomes an increasingly difficult

task. At the end of the day, in order to get stronger, Jalalian needs to sticks to her workout routine and trains relentlessly when ever the opportunity arises. There is a point, however, where training under sleep-deprived conditions sets a dangerous precedent. The body requires a certain amount of sleep to promote muscle growth and repair. When that need is not met, the body is susceptible to serious injury. Jalalian experienced such injury while lifting this past year. “i came to morning practice incredibly tired after a long night of homework and i knew i had some lifting to do if i wanted to stick to my routine and improve my strength,” Jalalian said. “i remember for one second i was holding the bar on my shoulders, and the next second my teammates were running over to lift it off of me after it drove me to the ground.” Consequently, Jalalian’s weight lifting incidenttweakedherbackandpreventedherfrom training and competing for two weeks. Like most athletes, whether at the high school, collegiate or professional level, Jalalian maintains an attitude toward training that pushes her to exercise consistently and tirelessly,alwaysaimingtoimprove. unfortunately, pushing the limit is not always the key to success and in light of an injury can in fact prevent improvement following the damage. While it is essential to maintain consistency in an athlete’s trainingroutine,vigorousconditioningcoupled with a lack of sleep is likely to hinder athletes from improving their performance, both in the moment and down the line . <<<

photo by Brandon Dukovic

The issues

By ALiSTAiR THoMPSoN PHoToGRAPHy By BRANDoN DuKoViC PHoTo iLLuSTRATioN & DESiGN By CooPER LEViTAN AND WiLL GLAZiER

photo by Brandon Dukovic

Fan base is what makes a sports team work. A team that is supported by a community will thrive. Across city lines, an East Palo Alto basketball program is doing just that.

reat teams have great supporting communities that fill the bleachers. The legendary Milan High School Hoosiers played for a community that rallied around them and followed them all the way to the 1954 Indiana basketball state championship. The famed Permian High School Panthers football team of odessa, Tex. is supported today by a community that lives to watch its team play. The Panthers are not famous for their success alone, but for the community that supports them. That is exactly what a great sports community does: it rallies around its team and provides support through wins and losses of all magnitudes. At times, East Palo Alto and Palo Alto seem worlds apart. Drive west down university avenue after crossing the Dumbarton Bridge and head through East Palo Alto. Houses are modest; a few empty lots stand abandoned and out

of place. Palm trees and taquerias dot the blocks and car radios compete for eardrums. Chain link fences surround the houses and people of all ages fill the sidewalks. Cross over Highway 101 and sit at the light for a few seconds. Head into Palo Alto and tall, shady trees line the sidewalks and two story houses suddenly appear. Stone walls and gates replace the chain-link fences. This transition alone informs any passerby that the two cities are far from ordinary neighbors. Like the scenery, the sports communities in both cities reveal sharp contrast. Playing sports in the city of Palo Alto is a blessing that any athlete can appreciate. Pick any sport at any level of competition and Palo Alto has it. Not only does Palo Alto have it, but the chances are the sport is well funded and organized to a tee. Coaches coach and players play. All programs work

with near flawless efficiency. However, rarely does a Palo Alto team have a diehard following. When the games end, fans and players scatter to move on to the next events in their lives.

acroSS the San franciSquito creek an East Palo Alto community seems to have this unity concept figured out. an amateur athletic union (aau) basketball program called the Roadrunners Sports Club sits at the center of one of the strongest sports communities in the Bay Area. Although the program is known for its highly successful basketball teams, it means more than that for the community. Kids of all ages, often times in need of role models, find guidance from the leaders of the the program. Parents, eager to find outlets for their kids, look to the Roadrunners. While the Roadrunners provide inspiration and direction, they do more than that.

The issues Kids that enter the program are not only educated as basketball players, but also as leaders. Roadrunners point guard and Palo Alto high School basketball and football player, Davante Adams ('11) has a foot in both worlds. Although little kids are convinced his dunks defy gravity, he is by no means in space. His mom, Pam Brown, does her best to keep him grounded. Adams spends half his time living with Brown in Palo Alto and the other half with his Dad in East Palo Alto. Adams embodies the overlap between the two communities. While the constant transitioning may seem difficult, it has given Adams the opportunity to immerse himself in two separate sports communities. This means two sets of coaches, two sets of fans and two sources of opportunities. When staying in Palo Alto, Adams takes advantage of his proximity to the Paly gym and the basketball courts at Stanford; while in East

Crossing over Palo Alto, he has a better chance of finding a good pickup game. “Playing in EPA, people love to get a good run in,” Adams said. “old and young.” G r o w i n g up, Adams had his sights set on attending St. Francis High School in Mountain View, but after missing a shadow with a friend, the idea of attending St. Francis faded. Instead, he settled on Paly as his school of choice. Having grown up playing in the Palo Alto Pop Warner football program and in the Palo Alto National Junior Basketball (NJB) league, Adams knows THE PRoGRAM The Roadrunners program poses for a group the community. teams of all ages from elementary school to the high school team, However, Adams not gonna be put in the doghouse,” never feels more at home than Adams said of the Roadrunners. “If you while playing basketball for the make a mistake, it's all good either way.” Roadrunners. Here, Adams is free Maybe that is why Adams takes the from Paly's strict, anti-improvisation court for his aau team with a different offense and rapid substitution. Here demeanor. For this squad, Adams is a he can play loose and push the limits leader. At Paly, his role is not always of his game. clear. or maybe it is the community “You don't worry about all the that shows up to each and every game, technical things if you know that you're

WoRLDS APART The transformation from East Palo Alto (left page) to Palo Alto

people who aren't even related to us.”

photo courtesy of Curtis Haggins

w h i l e croSSing highway 101 into East Menlo Park, Adams seems not to notice the change in scenery. Instead, he points out a bad driving maneuver by a Saab two cars ahead. In between discussion about how the world might be a better place if Lady Gaga did not make music, Adams talks about the promising aau season ahead of him. This is Adams' last year of aau eligibility picture after a tournament. The Roadrunners includes and will most which Adams (‘11) plays on. likely be his best chance of getting regardless of place and time, that gives interest from college coaches. Along him the ability to take his game to the with a core of veteran players including next level. “There's always somebody comin' to Paly players Max Schmarzo ('11) and the game, whether it's in Sacramento Bill Gray ('11), the Roadrunners will or wherever,” adams said. “You have look to make big statements on both more than just the parents. You have the state and national levels. Guiding all the kids and other peoples' family this effort will be the Roadrunners' members. We'll pack the gym with program director and coach Curtis Haggins. Having grown up in the East

Palo Alto sports community playing for the Roadrunners, Haggins knows the community as well as anybody. After driving a few blocks down Willow Road in Menlo Park, MidPeninsula High School appears on the right. Here, Haggins serves as Dean of students and Athletic Director. Pinned to the wall of Haggins' office is an article about 23-year old former Florida state university football player Myron Rolle. Along with being one of the nation's top college safeties, Rolle performed as one of the nation's top students. After graduating from Florida State, Rolle spent this past year at oxford university on a rhodes Scholarship. After a career in the National Football League, (Rolle was drafted in the sixth round in this year's draft by the Tennesse Titans), his goal is to become a neurosurgeon. Rolle is the kind of role model that Haggins wants for kids in the Roadrunners program. After sitting down, Adams and Haggins debate comparisons between former ohio state university basketball player Evan Turner and Magic Johnson.

(right page) is noticable when drving across the San Francisquito Creek

The issues

Crossing over

HANG LooSE Davante Adams (‘11) is the starting pointguard for the Roadrunners basketball team, and also starts on Paly’s varsity football and basketball teams.

Discussion soon turns to basketball on the local level. Haggins and Adams talk as if they have known each other for years. This is no illusion, as the two have known each other since Adams was an eight-year-old attending basketball clinics at the onetta Harris Community Center, not far from Mid-Peninsula. unlike at paly, adams does not have to worry about switching coaches every year. With the Roadrunners, coaches stay with the same group of kids as they get older, which helps to build more chemistry each year the team is together. Haggins, who recently received the Positive Coaching Alliance's DoubleGoal Coaching Award, feels that the relationships Roadrunners coaches have built with their players over the years are unlike any that can be built in Palo Alto. He believes this to be especially true for kids coming from East Palo Alto to play in Palo Alto. “In Palo Alto, you're gettin' direction from somebody who doesn't have the same struggle that you have,” Haggins said. “They don't know that when you go home, you may not have dinner.” While Haggins acknowledges that this is not always the case in Palo Alto, he believes that Roadrunners players

are able to make stronger connections with their coaches because the coaches have fought similar battles in everyday life. “[Coaches] have made mistakes and they've been down different paths, different walks of life and they have experienced things that you may go through or you may not go through, but you know they've been through it,” Haggins said. over the years, Haggins has found that this shared struggle produces a

“Experience is the best teacher.” While Haggins believes that people face challenges in all communities, he feels that the obstacles that members of the Roadrunners have faced make the community that much stronger. In a sense, the ability to overcome adversity is what makes the Roadrunners work. “Everybody has somethin' in their life that they're dealin' with and it's a matter of whether you're gonna use it as a crutch or if you're gonna use it as your motivation,” Haggins said. The Roadrunners seem to have taken the motivation route, as the program has seen tremendous success over the past two years. Last year, the 16 and under team took Bay Area tournaments by storm and finished the year by placing 28th at the national tournament in orlando last July. This kind of success created a following. When the younger teams finish playing, the players and their families stay to watch the older teams in their matchups. When a Roadrunners team takes the court, members of all the other teams will be in the bleachers. Many of the younger players like to stay to watch their favorite players on the 17 and under team. Kids copy Adams' crossover and Schmarzo's shot. one kid even got a mohawk to look like small forward Lydell Cardwell ('11). While fan turnout is strongest at Mid-Peninsula, the Roadrunners' following is by no means limited to home games. In fact, Roadrunners fans often travel to neighboring cities to watch Roadrunners players play for their high school teams. one younger Roadrunners player brought his family to Paly home and away games to watch Gray, Schmarzo and Adams. It seems that no matter where a Roadrunners player plays, a Roadrunners fan is

“The kids are more willing to listen to somebody who has overcome obstacles than somebody who is tellin’ you somethin’ that they may have heard or saw in a movie or in a book and tryin’ to apply that to you,” coach Curtis Haggins said. “Experience is the best teacher.”

tremendous level of respect between Roadrunners coaches and their players. This ensures that coaches' lessons do not fall on deaf ears. “The kids are more willing to listen to somebody who has overcome obstacles than somebody who is tellin' you somethin' that they may have heard or saw in a movie or in a book and tryin' to apply that to you,” Haggins said.

always there to watch him. “The whole community is backin' each other up,” adams said. “You know that there is somebody there for you.” the roadrunnerS community is not new on the scene. over the past few decades, Roadrunners basketball has become ingrained in the East Palo

team called the EPA Greyhounds. Both Max and Bill knew little of the program and even less of the coach. Eager for a new opportunity for summer basketball, Max tried out. A few days later, Max got a call from his new coach, Curtis Haggins, telling him that he had made the team. Two years later, Max is the starting shooting guard for the same team, now called the Roadrunners. over those past two years, Max has become a part of the Roadrunners family. ''The kids and parents from the younger Roadrunners team always encourage me,'' Max said. ''The Roadrunners community supports me on and off the court.''

“The kids and parents from the younger Roadrunners team always encourage me,” Max Schmarzo (‘11) said. “The Roadrunners community supports me on and off the court.”

can name that played basketball in the area came to onetta Harris.” While its basketball reputation grew, perhaps more importantly, onetta Harris became a center for community life. “It meant a lot to the community to have that place to go to as an outlet to watch games,” Haggins said. “It was the lifeline of the community and it is needed in a major way today.” Since the Roadrunners program was cut from the onetta Harris budget, Haggins has tried to restore the level of community in which he grew up. Thanks to the history of onetta Harris, the Roadrunners are well on their way to achieving that goal. After graduating from Woodside High School, Haggins attended Cañada Community College in Redwood City before earning a basketball scholarship at Western illinois university. “a free education,” Haggins calls it. After college, Haggins returned to his community. For Haggins, the rationale for working in his community is simple. “The main reason I work with the kids is a) you make lifelong friendships through sports, but b),” Haggins pauses. He talks like somebody who has been chasing this goal his entire life. “We want these kids to be good people.” Haggins' office falls silent. Two years ago, Bill Schmarzo brought his son Max to Mid-Peninsula to attend a tryout for a start up aau

Bill knows the Palo Alto sports community as well as almost anyone. Having coached all three of his kids through a variety of sports, he knows the community's strengths and weaknesses. For strengths, Bill thinks of Palo Alto's ability to fund and organize a variety of programs that are open to a wide range of skill levels and interests. However, he feels that coaches do not always have the kids' best interests in mind. ''I fear that a small number of the coaches are in it for their own benefit, and not as much as for the kids' benefits,'' Bill said.

When Bill brought his son to the Roadrunners (the EPA Greyhounds, at the time) community, he found an environment unlike any in which his kids had played before. Both Schmarzos found something new in this program. “The biggest difference is that the Roadrunners is more than a sports team, it is a community,” Bill said. “There is incredible community and family support.” Beyond community support, Bill found a sense of tradition within the program. “There is a strong sense of heritage, given the association with the onetta Harris Community center,” Bill said. “Many of the coaches and families grew up being a part of onetta Harris, and that sense of heritage and associated responsibility permeates everything the Roadrunners do.” the roadrunnerS community seems to be on to something. Roadrunners fans never leave bleachers empty. They do not worry about individual potential, but team progress. They hold daylong community cookouts in preparation for big games. They take struggles and mishaps and turn them into the motivation that brings everyone to the next level – together. They do everything that a truly great sports community should do. Roadrunners teams win because they owe it to their team, to their fans and to their entire community. They win because they owe it to a program that is more than just basketball. They owe it to a program that is family. <<<

THE SQuAD Adams’ Roadrunners team poses for a shot before a tournament in Florida

photo used with permission of Davante Adams

Alto and East Menlo Park community. Before the Roadrunners of today, the program was based at the onetta Harris Community Center in East Menlo Park. “The crazy thing about onetta Harris is Davante's dad played there, my uncles played there,” Haggins said. “It's generations upon generations of people that played there and that place meant a lot to a lot of people.” As the program developed, it became the center of Bay Area basketball culture. “It was like the Mecca of [Bay Area] basketball,” Haggins said. “Everybody from Jason Kidd to Antonio Davis to Gary Payton played there. Anybody you

The Moments

Top 10

top 10 moments

photo by Allie Shorin

uNBEATABLE...NoT FoR LoNG

LiKE TAKiNG KANDy FRoM A BABy

In a hotly contested league game that determined the teams fate in the league, Paly held a slim 21-20 lead late in the third quarter and Milpitas had seized the momentum. Defensive end Kevin Anderson (‘11) swooped in front of a screen pass, picked off the pass and ran it 25 yards into the endzone. The Vikings regained a 28-20 lead. After Milpitas drove and scored a touchdown and nailed home the two point conversion to tie the game, wide receiever Joc Pederson (‘10) kicked a 27 yard field goal to put the Vikings ahead for good. Milpitas botched its game-tying field goal attempt with 3 seconds left, and the Vikings had pulled off the upset over the previously number one ranked Trojans.

photo by Maliaka Drebin

In the girls’ lacrosse season opener, the team faced Central Coast Section (CCS) powerhouse St. Ignatius High School (SI). SI had been 30-0 since 2002. The Lady Vikes’ tenacity showed as they started with goals by Kimmie Flather (‘12), Emily Fowler (‘10), Maya Fielder (‘10) and Nina Kelty (‘13), leading the Wildcats 4-2 at halftime. St. Ignatius would not come back to tie the game until just 23 seconds before the end, pushing the game into overtime as the score stood at 4-4. The Lady Vikes would not back down, as Lauren Mah (‘10) scored the game winner, which put the game away to stun the Wildcats, 5-4. With this win under its belt, the girls’ lacrosse team rode this victory all the way to win the SCVAL league title on May 15.

photo by Allie Shorin

LAX BRoS TuRN ouT THE LiGHTS FoR THE KNiGHTS

BASEBALL STREAKERS

The only streak baseball has been riding for the past four years is the number of coaches the team has gone through. It’s a new era for Paly baseball as the team went on a different streak: a 24-game win streak. Among those wins was its 16th win in a row, to clinch the SCVAL league championship against Los Gatos on April 28. With home runs by Joc Pederson (‘10) and Scott Witte (‘10), the Vikings led the Wildcats 3-1 in the second inning. in the fifth inning, the Wildcats took alead, putting the score at 8-3. But, the Vikings responded in the bottom of the fifth to take a 10-8 lead.paly’s late rally helped secured it first sCVal championship in 16 years.

photo by Maliaka Drebin

EASy To WiNN!

photo by Allie Shorin

The Boys’ Lacrosse team had only one obstacle to clear before they could play for title of the league championships in their first year as a team: the Menlo knights, who had not lost a league game in 5 years and had defeated the Vikings 13-11 earlier in the year. The Knights took the lead in the first quarter, ending the half, 5-3. the Vikings came into the second half ready to fight back. the Vikings closed in on the knights bringing the score to 10-7 with two minutes to go. In sudden death Kris Hoglund (‘12) received a pass from Proceviat right in front of the cage and pocketed the game winning goal. this upset put the Vikings on their way to their first championship appearance where they would defeat the Mountain View Spartans 10-9.

With only three returning seniors, the Palo Alto High School varsity volleyball team looked to reload and raise its young team to fill in big shoes last year’s team left. But the lady Vikes surprised everyone, going on a 33-game win streak after losing three of their first five matches in the team’s first tournament. among the 33 wins was the victory over los Gatos High school. Down two games to none, the Lady Vikes barely survived to make it to game four. Then they won the fourth, but again almost fell in the fifth game. the win gave the improbable solo league title to the Lady Vikes for thr fourth consecutive year, all under coach David Winn. Marissa Flourant (‘10) also made the De Anza all league team. The Lady Vikes have set their hopes high for next year with only three less names on their roster.

of 2009-2010

By CHRiSTiNE CHANG AND VARuN KHoLi

photo by Hana Kajimura

P-MAC RuNS FoR HiS LiFE

JACK GoES To STATES

photo by Brandon Dukovic

For the second year in a row, the Palo Alto High School wrestling team sent a wrestler to the CiF state finals. Jack sakai (‘10) was paly’s star athlete this year. sakai was able to advance Ci this far because of his work ethic and the extra time he put in after practice. After placing second overall and only losing one match in the santa Clara Valley athletic league (sCVal) finals, sakai advanced to the Central Coast section (CCs) finals where he went 5-2 and placed fourth overall at 130 lbs. in the state tournament, sakai lost his first two matches, but the accomplishment of qualifiying alone serves reason enough for this top moment. The wrestling team hopes to send a third consecutive wrestler to the state finals again next year.

For the second straight year, the boys’ cross-country team made the long trip down to Fresno’s Woodward Park for the CIF State Championships. This past season, despite losing the team’s number two and number three runners from 2008, Charlie Avis (‘09) and Skyler Cummins (‘09), the boys’ team was ready to make the trip to states again and make its dream happen. In the Central Coast Section (CCS) meet at Crystal Springs, the Vikings placed third place, losing the Mountain View and Gunn. The team had not beat Gunn in any previous races, including the Palo Alto City Championships, which Paly had not lost since 2006. In states, the boys placed 12th. For the boys, they had achieved the only goal which they had set out to complete, beating cross-town rival, Gunn High School.

ENDiNG iN THE ELEVENTH

the first time the paly softball team faced the Fremont Falcons in the 2010 season, it suffered a defeat in extra innings. The next time the Lady Vikes faced the Falcons, it was their final home game of the season and CC CCs was on the line. after seven grueling innings, the game was tied at four, forcing the game into extra innings. After a game of catch-up every inning, the lady Vikes sent left fielder Caroline McDonnell (‘10) up to plate with a runner on second and two outs in the eleventh. She hit a RBI to win the game. This not only clinched the fourth place for the lady Vikes in their first year in the De anza league, but also qualified them for CCs.

photo courtesy of Madrono

BoyS CRoSS-CouNTRy GETS FRESH iN FRESNo

BABy B-BALLERS Go BiG

photo by Allie Shorin

Philip MacQuitty (‘10), the daddy of all long legs has been wowing Paly sports fans since his freshmen year, But coming into his senior track season, his legacy consisted of zero Paly records. This all changed on March 20 at the St. Francis Invitational. MacQuitty entered the 800 meter race in a deep field with previous CCs champion nathan strum (‘10) of pioneer High school. sitting on strum through the first lap, and 300 meters into the second, Macquitty kicked past him in the last 100 meters to win the race in 1:52.37, which at that time was the year’s record in the entire country. MacQuittty’s second Paly record came at the prestigious Stanford Invitational on March 27. In the race he split a 58 second last lap to win the race, running a 4:13.92.

Who says varsity teams are the only teams worth following? not us. the 2009-2010 junior varsity boys’ basketball team had a season worthy of any varsity team, as it finished with a perfect 24-0 record. To start the streak, the team won both the Fremont and Menlo Atherton tournaments in its pre-season play. Following these wins, the Vikings secured first place in their De Anza division in Santa Clara Valley Athletic Leagu (SCVAL), mirroring the effort of their role models on varsity. Players to look out for next year include point guard Alec Wong (‘12), who was asked to move up to varsity for CCS, post Israel Hakim (‘12), center Aaron Zelinger (‘12) and center Chris Bisbee (‘12). The Viking looks forward to seeing these ballers on varsity in the upcoming years and wishes the rest of the players the best of luck!

The Moments

Bottom 10

Bottom 10 moments

photo by Hana Kajimura

CLEAN SLATE, RoLL oN

WE’VE BEEN PRiVATE SCHooLED

This year, the football team thought it could mirror the 2006 run at the state title. Prior to the first game of the CC CCs playoffs, they thought they could run with the big dogs in the open Division. After much build-up smack talk, the Vikings came out and played like kitty cats against Bellarmine College Prepatory. Perhaps it was the rain, or the fact there were approximately 10 Paly fans at the game- blame it on what you like but, one thing is certain, the Vikings lost, 34-6. Sure, it may have started close, with the Vikings ending first quarter tied 0-0. But at that point they did not know that they would only score one touchdown, and would not even manage to secure the extra point. the open Division may be impressive, but losing in the first round is certainly not.

photo by Malaika Drebin

We realize it may be hard to live up to a legend like peter Diepenbrock, but really? usually, seniors on a team lead the squad, and typically the coach will coach for the entire season. Neither of the above applied this year to the boys’ basketball team at the beginning of its season. While kicking off his second season, Andrew Slayton angered many with his suddenly controversial coaching strategies. After a ranking of the players that slotted a number of the team’s previous starters towards the bottom of the list, several seniors decided to leave the team. And the administration decided that Slayton should leave the team too. The squad rebounded after the administration hired Bob Roehl midseason to replace Slayton. After clearing the slate, the team was on a roll.

photo by Allie Shorin

PALy’S BASEBALL NoN-FABRiCATED“CuRSE”

A DRoWNiNG DiSSAPoiNTMENT

Everyone knows that the swim/wopo cult is virtually the same thing. For that we charge a double offense. How could both lose to Gunn? it would not be as big of a deal if only one team lost, but really? Both? We’ll start with wopo. after that disappointment, the double slap in the face is the repeat offense this spring. The swim team, who has won its league for the past eight years, and always makes a splash in CCS could not even pull out the win over Gunn. Sure, we know the Vikings were missing their top swimmers because they were off competing nationally or something, but there is no excuse to lose to Gunn in the world of Paly athletics.

photo by Allie Shorin

THiRTy SECoNDS, TWo THREE PoiNTERS, oNE LoSS

photo by Allie Shorin

The position of Paly head baseball coach holds many similarities to that of the Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. It is cursed. Ever since head coach Pete Columbo left in 2005, the baseball team has yet to keep a head coach for more than a year. In october 2009, Jordan French was announced as the new coach. French did not last after rumors circled about alleged fabrications on his resume. The administration decided to re-interview applicants, and ended up hiring Erick Raich as the new head coach. Hopes are high that Raich will break the curse, and he is well on his way after winning The Viking’s Coach of the Year award, but just in case- knock on wood.

Gunn might have more AP students, higher average SAT scores and rank higher than Paly, but we always have our wins on quad night. It is generally accepted by Paly and Gunn students alike that Paly wins every year. Apparently the girls’ varsity basketball team is having a hard time grasping this concept. After a disappointing loss last year, the girls looked like they had a chance to redeem themselves in close match up this winter. The Titans held on to a lead for the first three quarters only for the lady Vikes to rally and comeback in the fourth. it was looking like Paly would pull off an upset until the last 30 seconds when the Gunn offense ran the same play twice and put up back-to-back three pointers. The girls’ varsity team was the only team to lose on quad night, and it had better get some good SAT scores to make up for it.

of 2009-2010

By EMiLy FoWLER AND CASSiE PRioLAEu

photo by Allie Shorin

KNiGHTS SiNK ViKiNGS’

FouRTH TiME NoT THE CHARM

So... fourth time is not the charm. Coming off a three year legacy of sweeping through its season and making it to the CC CCs finals, this year’s boys’ varsity soccer team was not so impressive. The Vikings squeaked out a CCS berth with a mediocre 5-3-4 record in league and placed third overall. the team had quite a reputation to uphold as it took the field for the opening CCs game. apparently this year tradition didn’t pay off. after scoring their first goal, the boys played a lackluster game and ended up losing 2-1 to Leland. We can only hope that the fifth time will be the charm.

photo by Allie Shotin

KiTTy CATS BEAT ViKiNGS?

apparently teams can have heated rivalries even in their first seasons. Whether it be because Los Gatos girls are allegedly hotter, or because the Gatos boys’ lacrosse team allegedly talks a lot of trash, such a rivalry developed between the Paly and Gatos boys lacrosse teams this year. the Vikings dominated the first half of play, but took the field the second half in a cloud of overconfidence. the squad racked up numerous penalties and with less than 50 seconds left, the Gatos boys scored the game-winning goal. The Vikings failed to deliver in the sole rival match-up of the year, and accumulated one of the three league losses on their record. on the bright side, since the game was away, it wasn’t a total loss because the Gatos girls were there to cheer up the squad.

photo from Creative Commons

It was a match. A duel match. The opponent was Cupertino High School. The singlet-clad boys took to the wrestling matt, preparing to win the key match-up. They knew they had to win this match in order to win league. If not, that plaque on the gym wall would be a long shot. In hindsight, if a team can send a player to continue on to the state tournament, one might think it could win league. The wrestling team thought so too - before this disappointing loss. Apparently this was not the case. the meet seemed neck and neck until the final pin. Cupertino prevailed and came out on top. Literally. And the team’s hopes of league remained squashed on the mat.

CRoSS-CouNTRy TEAM RiDiN’ DiRTy

photo by Hana Kajimura

SQuASHED

photo by Talia Moyal

Flying high with a 9-0 record, the girls’ lacrosse team prepared to face the Menlo Knights, who were 5-3 at the time. the teams faced-off on a rainy day on Menlo’s grass field, and the weather proved to be as gloomy as the game’s outcome. The Knights seemed nervous even with the Menlo’s all time leading scorer, Georgetown-bound Maggie Brown (‘10), in their arsenal. The score was close throughout the entire game, with neither team ever leading by more than two goals. The Lady Vikes were up by two and thought they had the game won, when the Knights came back to tie the game, sending it into sudden death. the knights came off the field with the 12-11 win, handing paly its first loss of the season.

The boys’ cross-country team spends hours training, to the point of exhaustion. They claim it is for their races. This fall, the training came in handy for something else: running from the law. on a typical run through Stanford campus, a few unnamed members of the notoriously promiscuous XC team spotted an abandoned golf cart. Doing what any logical XC boys would do, four runners conquered the cart and took it for a few victory laps around Lake Lagunita. The boys returned a couple days later for round two. This time, the boys weren’t so lucky. All their extra training and aerodynamic hairless legs gave them a leg up as they narrowly escaped the much-feared Stanford campus security. While avoiding immediate danger, the law did catch up with the boys in the form of a one-meet suspension. Stick to running boys, and leave NASCAR

cliff1066™

AS IF BY MAGIC “Magic (above) took AiDS out of the closet and put it on the kitchen table,” Roy Johnson said. “He made it comfortable, or at least more comfortable to talk about.”

By HANA KAJiMuRA DESiGN & PHoTo iLLuSTRATioN By EMiLy FoWLER

yiNG PLA iTiVE

PoS

The crowd rises to its feet as a purple 32 flashes past the scorer’s table. on January 30, 1996, Earvin “Magic” Johnson makes his reappearing act with nine minutes and 39 seconds remaining in the first quarter. After missing his first shot, Magic makes an assist for a three, sinks a right-handed runner, and then posts up for a left-handed hook. Los Angeles Lakers lead by 11. With four minutes left in the first quarter, Magic pump-fakes a pass past Golden State Warrior Latrell Spreewell for an easy lay-up. in 27 minutes, Magic scores 19 points, with 10 assists and eight rebounds, leading the Lakers to a 128-118 victory over the Warriors. As the game ends with the ball in his hands, he pumps his fist and flashes a 100-watt smile. The Magic is back. He may have been five years older and 30 pounds heavier, but the Magic who entered the game in January of 1996 played with the same heart as the Magic who left it on Nov. 7th, 1991. only five years earlier, Earvin “Magic” Johnson announced his immediate retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers after contracting HiV (see sidebar), through unprotected sex with women. With little information and little understanding about HiV, many feared for Magic’s life, let alone his career. So, Magic did what no one expected when he took the court against the Warriors; he was living with HIV, not dying of AIDS. “you can give athletes as many statistics as you want,”Phil Taylor of Sports illustrated said in a recent interview with The Viking, “but it wouldn’t have the same effect as seeing Magic Johnson healthy and strong, as they see him now. That’s the proof. Magic’s not only surviving, but he’s thriving.”

top 10 California HIV counties 1. Los Angeles 2. San Francisco 3. San Diego 4. orange 5. San Bernardino 6. Riverside 7. Alameda 8. Sacramento

9. Santa Clara

Swerve Magazine

10. Contra Costa

It is normal to be fearful and to have the occasional pity party or blame game, but at some point, life does go on and it does get better.” -Francis Broome

aidS: the Big Picture With the exception of in high profile cases like Magic Johnson’s, the subject of HIV does not come up very often in the world of sports, but it should. Magic made his announcement in the early 90’s when many students at Palo Alto High School were just beginning their lives. As we grew up, so did the world’s knowledge about HIV prevention and treatment. As Palo Altans, we still thought that AIDS was remote. Magic showed us that HIV was here, in our arenas and courts. HIV/AIDS affects men and women, gay and straight, San Franciscans and Africans, adults and children, drug users and athletes. HIV positive athletes today strengthen immune systems

career. Suddenly, AIDS became everyone’s disease. Magic represents the changing face of AIDS in the early 90’s, when the tipping point changed from living with HIV and dying of AIDS due to advances in antiretroviral drugs. “People just thought that with HIV, death was imminent,” Taylor said. Dr. Michael Mellman, the Laker’s team physician at the time, sidelined Magic when the diagnosis was made. “We just had to get knowledge of what he had,” Dr. Mellman said. “In that era, the magic number was six months. We had to see how someone did over six months in order to start therapy. That took him out of the season.”

by staying active. They also help tear down stigma on and off the court by showing that AIDS is no longer a disease for “those people”; it is our disease. Those with HIV, especially athletes, face increased discrimination, raising questions about disclosure. The Viking was also interested in how the issue of HIV would be handled in the setting of a high school athletic program like Paly’s. over the course of eight months, The Viking held exclusive interviews with the Lakers team physician in 1991, the reporters who broke Magic’s story, and a number of athletes living and playing with HIV.

Newspapers and magazines began “gathering string” for obituaries. Athletes ran from the press conference crying while others remember not being able to breathe. For the most part, they were right to be scared for Magic. Twenty years ago, the prognosis for those with HIV was grim. Few treatment options existed, and even those did not stop the progression from HIV to AIDS. Death seemed inevitable in a few months or a few years. In an interview with The Viking in March, Roy Johnson, editor of Men’s Fitness Magazine, recounted this fear. A longtime friend of Magic’s, Roy Johnson interviewed the NBA star and detailed the story from Magic’s point of view in a special edition of Sports Illustrated. “People didn’t know whether they could hug him,” Roy Johnson said. “They didn’t know whether they could eat next to him, they didn’t know what would happen if he breathed on them, or if they could sit in a car next to him. He

Francis Broome, 35, was born in Barbados and later moved to Brooklyn, Ny. Track is his gift, but basketball is his passion. Fifteen years ago, Broome joined the Rockdogs when he moved to San Francisco. They haven’t lost a game in four years. “i had tested nine months ago,” Broome said, “And was so sure about the results that when they came back positive, it floored me. it felt like someone had punched me in the stomach and took the wind from me. i walked home numb.” He was 24. Living in San Francisco, the epicenter of the epidemic, helped him to understand and cope with his diagnosis and a discouraging prognosis. “i was surrounded by an incredible group of people who made sure that my life would go on even when i didn’t think that it was possible,” Broome said. Growing up, sports had always provided Broome with a source of confidence. once again, the game was there for him. “i was at one of the gay bars in Castro when i noticed a group of guys dribbling a basketball,” Broome said. “i felt that a new world was uncovered. These guys formed a team called the Rockdogs and over the past 15 years, they have become brothers and friends to me.”

the magic numBer, 1991 Before Magic’s press conference in 1991, AIDS was someone else’s disease, a disease for gay males and drug users. AIDS was not for someone like Magic, a heterosexual National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar at the peak of his

photo by Hana Kajimura

ing that every time he got cut, the entire arena might gasp.”

away from the headlineS I was born in 1991. It was also the year of the Rodney King Riots in Los Angeles, CA, the year the u.s. warred with iraq to end of the Gulf War, the year the Minnesota Twins battled the Atlanta Braves to win the World Series, and the year Bill Clinton campaigned against George Bush Sr. for the presidency. Away from the headlines, millions around the world fought a losing battle against the new pandemic: AIDS. Magic Johnson shocked the world that year with his announcement. off-screen, the world began trying to cope with a global disease. In 1991, someone died of AIDS every eight minutes. The World Health organization (WHo) projected that by the year 2000, 40 million people would be infected with HIV (see sideAIDS IN AFRICA According to uSAiD, approximately 14 million children around bar). the world had lost one or both parents to HiV/AiDS as of 2008. But AIDS was not an issue for me, or for Palo Alto. In 1991, the seniors that I will be graduating with were just learning to roll over. Statistics show, faced much of the same discrimination that other people with however, that people around me in 1991 were living with HIV. HIV faced.” Since 1983, 2,119 people have died of AIDS in Santa Clara a few nBa players, such as karl Malone of the utah Jazz, County, while another 2,046 are still living with AIDS. were outspoken about their desire for Magic to leave the Africa faces an entirely different reality: dying with AIDS. league. Regardless of who said what, everyone felt that retireWhen I was 13, I went to Ethiopia on a trip sponsored by the ment was not the best option, but the only option for Magic, Packard Foundation. I saw kids who were sick and parents out of fear for his health and for their own. who were dying. At one rural youth center, a sea of dusty blue “I think he still wanted to play, and he was still capable of and green uniformed children, and a hundred pairs of eyes playing,” Roy Johnson said, “But it was too much to bear thinkwelcomed me. Each of the children had lost a family member,

10 things to know about HIV/AIDS

1 hIV = Human immunodeficiency Virus 2 aIDs = Acquired immune Deficiency Syndrome 3 HiV does not mean AiDS: “HiV simply means that

an individual shows evidence of infection with the virus, but not evidence of profound changes which indicate AiDS.”—Dr. Michael Mellman

4 HiV is transmitted by blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk

due to advances in treatment.

8 Just this year, President obama removed the ban

on HiV-positive people from entering the country.

9 under Food and Drug Administration rules, men who have had sex -- even once -- with another man since 1977 are not permitted to give blood under Food and Drug Administration rules. in May. the Federal Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability announced that it is considering amending this policy.

5 AiDS is NoT transmitted by saliva, sweat, or tears. 6 AiDS is a disease that weakens the immune system 10 “There’ve been studies that say that a person

by destroying the specialized white blood cells called helper T cells that would normally fight infection.

7 in 1991, the WHo predicted that by the year 2000,

40 million people would be infected with HiV. The statistic in 2000 was around 30 million

[in the uS] who contracts HiV at 25 years old today can expect to live a completely normal lifespan. it’s something like up to 72 years.” – Jack Mackenroth in poorer countries, AiDS has cut life expectancy almost in half.

photo by Hana Kajimura

PoSItIve PeDAleRS Celebrating its 15th anniversary with over 800 members across the country, the PosPeds tear down stigma with jerseys that read “we all have AiDS if one of us does” and “one of the things destroying people with AiDS is the stigma we attach to it.”

“I have told people for various reasons. , to come out of my shell, to help with my own discomfort, to show that it’s and will not cripple me from living my life.” -Francis Broome 44

a friend, or a neighbor to AIDS. All my life, headlines had told me that AIDS was a disease for someone else. After that visit, AIDS became more personal. What I saw in Ethiopia taught me that AIDS was for women, for children, for married couples. In Sub-Saharan Africa, AIDS is largely contracted through mother-to-child transmission and unprotected heterosexual sex. according to the us Census Bureau in 2003, 12 percent of pregnant women in Ethiopia were HIV positive with little access to treatment or hope of survival. aidS meanS Someone elSe Fast forward. Here at Palo Alto High School, graduation of the class of 2010 is a week away. AIDS is still just a red ribbon. HIV is taught among a handful of other STD’s in a Living Skills sexual education unit. on paly’s courts and fields, there is no policy or plan of action in place regarding student athletes who have HIV/AIDS. Paly Athletic Director Earl Hansen says he knows of no such policy. Central Coast Section (CCS) and California Interscholastic Federation (CiF) have no specific policies regarding HiV, CCS Commissioner Nancy Blaser said in an email. In Paly athletics, AIDS still means someone else. “I would be stunned if I found out that someone on one of my sports teams was HIV positive,” Boys’ varsity soccer forward and varsity lacrosse middie Kris Hoglund (‘12) said. Girls’ varsity lacrosse middie and varsity basketball guard Lauren Mah (‘10) agrees.

photo used with permission by J. Mackenroth

who to tell? the diScloSure iSSue While Mackenroth is living proof that HIV can affect young athletes, many students in the Paly community cannot identify with the possibility of infection. “I’d want to know why and how the hell he got it,” varsity wrestler Jack Sakai (‘10) said. “How many people do you know at paly with HiV?” Good question. Without mandatory disclosure, HIV positive athletes face a decision about sharing their HIV status. Francis Broome (see profile), 35, an HiV positive basketball player in San Francisco, recalls that disclosure is not easy for fear of discrimination. “it’s like coming out all over again,” Broome said. “You lose some people in the process. Your feelings can get trampled on if you don’t develop a thick coat quickly.” While disclosure of HIV status is a gamble, being open and honest about HIV can send a powerful message. “I can count on one hand the number of celebrities or public figures who are open about their HiV status,” Mackenroth said. As a contestant on BRAVo’s Project Runway in 2007,

original photo from Creative Commons, photo illustration by Emily Fowler

“I would be in a daze that HIV could really hit so close to home,” Mah said. Maybe Paly should not be so shocked. Though they may be few and far between, high school students with HIV are not unheard of. “of course there are HIV positive athletes in high school, of course there are,” Jack Mackenroth (see profile), 41, an HiV positive swimmer in new York, said. “there are 1.1 million HiV positive people living in the united states. nearly a quarter of them don’t know it yet.” Current statistics suggest that Mackenroth’s assumption is correct. according to the united states agency for international Development (usaiD), there were 1,392 reported cases of 13-19 year old Californians living with HIV as of September 30, 2009. Approximately half of all new adult HIV infections occur in 15-24 year olds. “Teenagers are sexually active, and they think that they are invincible,” Mackenroth said. “You have to realize that i was only 20 when I got HIV, so I wasn’t that far out of high school.”

Mackenroth used his elevated visibility to bring the discussion of HIV and AIDS into millions of household living rooms. “I was happy to take on the role of the HIV positive poster boy.” Broome believes that there is far more to gain from honesty and openness when it comes to HIV and AIDS. “I have told people for various reasons,” Broome said. “To educate, to bond, to allay fears and concerns, so they can put a face to ‘those people’, to teach, to come out of my shell, to help with my own discomfort, to show that it’s just a disease and will not cripple me from living my life.” The debate about whether or not athletes should disclose their HIV status is far from settled. Magic went public days after he found out, while olympic diver Greg Louganis came out in his autobiography years after a potentially threatening diving accident at the Seoul olympics in 1988, in which he hit his head on the diving board. when Playing meanS Blood At Paly, administration, coaches, and athletes alike advocate full disclosure, but for different reasons. “I don’t believe there is a law that says you have to

Jack Mackenroth, 41, originally from Seattle, has three All-American titles, and a national record in the breaststroke leg of the 4 x 50 relay at the Gay Games in 2006. When he went to uC Berkeley, he took a break from swimming, but returned to the sport when he moved to New york City in 1991 to attend Parsons at the New School of Design. He joined uS Masters, a national adult swim league, where he has been swimming ever since. Mackenroth also appeared as a contestant on season four of Project Runway. “i found out that i was HiV positive when i was a freshman at Parsons,” Mackenroth said. “i wasn’t worried about it because i’ve never had unprotected sex, as far as i knew, but then the test came back positive.” He was 20. Mackenroth remembers having few options and little information at the time. Even the doctors didn’t have answers. “i didn’t think i was going to live until i was 30– that was the best case scenario,” Mackenroth said. “i went out all the time, and experimented with a lot of things… everything to me was like a party.”

“

, or think you were stupid, or say h . Wherever you are on the HIV scale, decide what you want

photo used with permission by G. Dermondy

a game?” Athletic competitions at all levels and across most sports have regulations that immediately remove athletes from the game if they draw blood. Since the AIDS virus is most commonly transmitted in athletics through blood-to-blood contact, sports with the highest risk of transmission include wresting, boxing and rugby. In other sports, such as soccer or basketball, transmission is a lot less likely. A basketball player’s risk of contracting AIDS from incidental touching is 1 in 85 million, according to the Center for Disease Control. Additionally, HiV transmission through sport poses a significantly smaller risk of infection compared to ringworm or other skin diseases.

gene Dermody of San Francisco, wrestled at New york university in the late 60’s. Dermody is a leader of the Golden Gate Wrestling Club, and has coached many high school athletes. Dermody is currently a finalist for the Tom Waddell Award, which recognizes one man and one woman who have made outstanding contributions to the Gay Games and worldwide LGBT sport and culture. “Many friends were being diagnosed with all kinds of maladies,” Dermody said. “i lived through it all, took care of dozens of guys who died the most horrendous deaths, and witnessed many ‘suicide parties’. i lost three life partners to AiDS since 1978, and i am still HiV negative. Go figure.” For Dermody, the scars of the AiDS epidemic have left him stronger, and instilled in him the will not only to fight, but to give back. “i have had a wonderful, fulfilling, satisfying life, coaching hundreds of wrestlers,” Dermody said. “i am truly blessed, and i believe it is good karma for me to give back to my community. i may not have had biological sons, but i have coach hundreds to achieve their potential.”

photo courtesy of u.S. Army

[disclose HIV], but there should be,” Paly Athletic Director Earl Hansen said. Hansen’s stance is largely fueled by his concern for student athletes. “They could be a danger to anyone,” Hansen said. “I don’t know if you can keep something that serious a secret. How would you feel if you had an open wound and you were wrestling somebody and they were HIV positive but you didn’t know it? then you caught it. How are you going to feel?” others in Paly’s community of student athletes echo Hansen’s opinion. “If someone on my team had HIV, I would really want to know who it was,” varsity wrestler Joey Christopherson (‘12) said. “I would not feel comfortable wrestling someone with HIV.” Sakai, a teammate of Christopherson’s, feels the same way. “I’d avoid drilling with that guy altogether,” Sakai said. “In wrestling, it’s not rare to see blood being shed, even at practice.” In wrestling, bloody noses, scratches, and cuts from shoes and headgear are seldom cause for alarm. Even so, Golden Gate Wrestling Club coach Gene Dermody (see profile), 61, notes that fear and misinformation still create a fog around HIV positive athletes. over the last 30 years, Dermody has coached many HIV positive wrestlers though he himself is HIV negative. “Homophobia is rapidly dying a quick death in this new generation,” Dermody said. “But HIV fears are still there and in many cases, warranted.” HIV positive athletes also worry about putting their competitors at risk. “There were the occasional ‘what if’s’ that came to my mind,” Broome said. “What if I got injured and bled during

y how could you get this. Think that it’s good because nt to do, and get a good doctor, because it’s not going to go away.” -Chuck Louden

Playing hard, Playing Safe HIV positive athletes are not only concerned with the health of their competitors, but also with their own. one sunday morning in May, Chuck louden (see profile), 48, and the PosPeds team were riding at the Russian River when it began to rain. About a quarter of the cyclists decided to pedal back to San Francisco; the rest ended their ride. “The riding conditions are not that great,” Louden said. “I don’t want to get sick. My immune system isn’t as strong as everybody else’s. I certainly want to be a part of the game, and exercise and work out, but I’ve also got to take precautions. Today it’s raining, and it’s not worth getting sick. HIV has taught me that i’m number one. i come first.” Despite any added risk, sports are a better option than the alternative. “I’d rather be out peddling with my friends or running with my running group than sitting in a meeting where people are smoking cigarettes and complaining that they’re getting sick,” louden said. “You have to stick with the winners.”

PoSitiVe ProgreSS Since that autumn day in 1991 when Magic stood at the podium and shook the sports world with his HIV announcement, much has changed. Protocol is now in place about injuries and blood in athletic competitions; physicians have become experts on effective treatments; and laws protect the rights of those living with HIV/AIDS. Athletes like Magic Johnson and Chuck Louden provide examples of positive approaches to living and competing with HIV. “Fifteen to 20 years ago, people felt sorry for us,” Louden said. “I was always really clear that I did not want people feeling sorry for me. I didn’t feel sorry for myself, and I didn’t want to be an object of pity.” HIV is not a sure death sentence for an athlete anymore; it is an obstacle that is no longer a reason to stop playing or to

photo by Hana Kajimura

Charles (Chuck) Louden, 48, moved to San Francisco 25 years ago. He swims three times a week, runs Saturday morning, rides 80-90 miles Sunday as a training ride leader with PosPeds, a group of HiV positive cyclers, teaches an aerobics class, and attends yoga at least once a week. Louden has coached swimming and cross-country at three private high schools in San Fransisco. “i ran into somebody on the street that i had had sex with a long time ago, and he was really sick,” Louden said. “i had this really bad, sinking feeling. i went to my doctor and sure enough, i was HiV positive.” He was 30. Louden estimated that he had roughly 10 years to live. it was as good a time as any to push himself. “i thought, i better do this now, i better not wait,” Louden said. Louden’s father, a physician, encouraged Louden to compete in smaller races. Despite his father’s concerns, Louden trained hard that same summer, lost some weight and got stronger. “i ran the San Francisco marathon in August of ’92,” Louden said. “i ran it in three hours and 25 minutes. Long story short, i’ve run 107 marathons.”

feel excluded. “I’m not ashamed of having HIV,” Louden said. “Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, but I’m not ashamed of it. There’s nothing wrong with me.” Paly has also come a long way in the last 20 years. Though the school and CCS conference still lack a policy concerning HIV positive athletes, this community has raised its awareness. Attitudes are changing. “on the field, you’re all just athletes,” Mah said. “You don’t think about who to treat differently because the biggest form of respect is challenging someone to make them stronger.”<<<

ORgANIZATIONS

grassroot Soccer mobilizes the global soccer community in the fight against HiV/AiDS, providing African youth with the knowledge and life skills to live HiVfree. http://www.grassrootsoccer.org Bay Area young Positives, established in 1990, was the first peer run agency in the world for young people living with HiV/AiDS. Bay Positives encourages young people to get tested, and provides support. http://www.baypositives.org/ Keep a Child Alive provides life-saving anti-retroviral treatment, care and support to children and families affected by HiV/AiDS in Africa and india. A dollar a day saves a life. http://keepachildalive.org/

The People

Awards intro

2009-2010 Paly Sports Awards unDerClassMan oF tHe Year

the underclassman of the Year is given to a paly freshman or sophomore who have demonstrated athletic excellence in their sports, despite their younger age. These athletes are the players who are expected to dominate Paly athletics throughout their years to come. Although, junior varsity athletes were considered, underclassmen on varsity teams had an advantage in the voting of awards.

CoaCH oF tHe Year

the Coach of the Year award goes to the coach who has contributed the most to the paly sports program which they are involved in. after palo alto online’s article, “out of bounds? Defining ‘motivational’ vs. ‘abusive’ coaching in palo alto’s high schools”, the Viking feels it is increasingly important to recognize the positive coaching influences on the paly sports community. This award is a ‘thank you’ to the coaches who have dedicated their time to bettering their teams, and individual players, while maintaining tempers and sportsmanship.

atHlete oF tHe Year

the athlete of the Year is granted to a player in the paly community who has stood out as the leading force behind his or her team’s success. The two award winners have delivered standout performances day in and day out, carrying their team to league championships. the male and female who have been awarded athlete of the Year have proven to be the core of their team, always reliable in the clutch and always capable of bringing home a win.

alok suBBarao aWarD

The Alok Subbarao goes out to those players whose greatest impacts on their team are not printed in the newspapers or visible at the top of every statistics category. The Viking grants this award to the player who carries their teams with his or her leadership abilities and acts as the glue that keeps the team working as one cohesive unit. The value of this sort of player cannot be measured by the number of goals he or she score or the number of strikeouts he or she deliver, but instead by the motivation

A Coach of the

year By LAuREN HAMMERSoN AND MALAiKA DREBiN

photo by Alex Kershner

iNTENSiTy Raich coaches third base during the baseball team’s win over Los Gatos, 10-6.

seniors, this was the fourth person they have played for,” Held said. “He has been patient in explaining what they’re trying to do.” Captain Scott Witte (‘10), a pitcher and shortstop, appreciates Raich’s ability to balance hard work with a friendly atmosphere. “He helps us stay grounded and realize the big picture,” Witte said. “He doesn’t let us get carried away with every win, but he also makes sure we’re having fun.” Braff feels that Raich’s coaching tactics are effective for the team’s success. “He gets on you at practice, but during the game he only encourages you,” Braff said. “i like it because nobody ever gets down on themselves.” Although Raich is the captain of the coaching staff, Dick Held, Rick “Papa” Raich, Dave Goldman and Wayne Machado, as well as head JV coach John Tamez, share credit for the success of the team. Their cohesive work and constant communication as a coaching staff play a large role in Raich’s success as head coach. Raich feels that the team, in addition to the coaching staff, led him to win this award. “our success this year wasn’t because of me,” Raich said. “i have great players.” one of the defining aspects of Raich’s coaching philosophy is the ability to listen and collaborate with players and assistant coaches alike. Players believe Raich’s communication contributes to the strong player relationships that have helped rocket the Vikings to a 24 game winning streak, and an undefeated league championship with no end in sight. “My goal was to come in every day and try to make the players better,” Raich said. “For them to reach their full potential.” <<<

Jen Gray

Jen Gray, awarded “Coach of the year 2009,” coaches girls’ varsity lacrosse and has done so for the past two years. Gray recently returned to California from her hometown in New york to keep the lacrosse program alive. She led the team to its first league championship victory this year; the Lady Vikes won 9-8.

David Winn

Runners up

ERiCK RAiCH

fter a tumultuous four years of disappointing records and coaching changes, it seems like the Palo Alto High School varsity baseball team has finally found its footing. The Vikings finished the regular season with an undefeated league record and a strong sense of team unity. At the center of it all is new coach Erick Raich. Coach Raich has been awarded The Viking’s coach of the year not only for his team’s impressive record, but also because of his dedication and leadership throughout the season. “He came into a delicate situation, but he came in despite the awkwardness, none of which had anything to do with him,” assistant coach Dick Held said. “He has just done an exceptional job of quickly preparing for the season.” According to Held, preparation for practices and games is Raich’s strong suit. “Nobody on the team [of coaches] works harder than he does,” Held said. “He’s very passionate about his profession. He does lots of homework to help get the boys prepared for whoever the particular opponent is going to be.” Although adjusting to six coaches in four years could easily leave a baseball team jaded, players agree that Raich was easy to adapt to and well-respected from the beginning. “We knew he had a pretty good reputation before coming to Paly,” infielder T.J. Braff (‘11) said. “Coming into the season we could tell that he wasn’t messing around and he wanted to win, so that mentality was passed onto us.” Held feels that when Raich was given the position, he started with the right tactics and knowledge of the team’s past. “He came in understanding that, for his

Volleyball coach David Winn led Paly to its fourth consecutive SCVAL championship during the 2009 season. He also coached the team through the Central Coast Section (CCS) and Northern California playoffs. The team placed second in CCS and qualified for the semifinals during the NorCal playoffs.

The People

photo by Allie Shorin

underclassmen underclassmen of the year

Emy Kelty T

Runners up: Jasmine Tosky(‘12) Kimmie Whitson (‘12)

As for soccer, Kelty was a starting midfielder with one goal and one assist. Mira Ahmad (’12), her teammate on the team expressed that Kelty is different from other motivational players. “Watching Emy play makes me want to push myself harder when I’m tired because it seems like she has endless energy to play,” Ahmad said. Kelty’s calm and consistent play inspires others to play with serenity. Her silent drive allows her to keep her composure while still persevering. “I don’t think twice about doing what she says on the field because i trust her so much,” Ahmad said. “She never does anything selfish on the field.” In lacrosse, Kelty had the most ground balls recovered per game, 3.9, with 54 overall. She also scored seven goals and had four assists. “Emy is one of the hardest workers on the team,” lacrosse coach Jen Gray said. “She takes personal accountability for her skills.” Kelty, however, was unable to fully devote herself to lacrosse because midseason she started to find it impossible to cut quickly back and forth. An MRI

then showed multiple fractures in her right foot. The doctor was stunned as Kelty told him that she had been playing on the foot for the past two months, and that she had gotten X-rays that stated her foot was fine. “When I’m in the zone concentrating on the game, I forget about the pain,” Kelty said. “[At a certain point] I couldn’t deal with the mental frustration of competing at such a high level without being able to do my best.” Kelty’s foot was encased in a boot cast, as she watched from the sidelines. Nevertheless Kelty was a standout player on the cross-country, lacrosse and soccer teams throughout this year. “I never settle for less than perfect, but I am always proud of myself for doing things that I didn’t think were possible,” Kelty said. <<<

photo by Ali Kershner

he ball drops on a badly timed pass and players swarm from all over the field to make the recovery, one player gets there first. With others still hustling to drop their sticks to the ground position, Emy Kelty (’12) swoops down and takes possession of the ball, creating yet another offensive opportunity for the Palo Alto High School girls’ varsity lacrosse team. The Viking goes beyond record keeping to notices the behind the scenes play in order to define a well-rounded player. Kelty is this player. As a varsity athlete on cross-country, soccer and lacrosse, Kelty commands respect from all of her teammates to lead her teams to success. “In each sport I have a different persona,” Kelty said. “In soccer I’m little and calm, in lacrosse I’m speedy and aggressive, and in cross-country I’m motivated to pass more than I get passed.” Kelty ended up being the top runner on the junior varsity cross-country team despite having no previous training.

BY BranDon DukoViC

photo by Allie Shorin

the

year o

BY erin kiekHaeFer

photo by Ali Kershner

ne of the most dedicated, talented and confident athlete on the soccer and lacrosse fields, kris Hoglund (’12) stands out amongst his fellow teammates. Hoglund began playing soccer at the age of four. Since then, he has continued to play at the high school varsity level. Hoglund has many characteristics that make him a formidable player during games and practices. Paly forward Ethan Plant (’10) views Hoglund as a committed and perceptive player, despite the fact that he is younger than much of the team. “The one thing that really sticks out about Kris is his commitment to the team,” Plant said. “He has a keen sense for where on the field he needs to be to make a difference. Although Hoglund has played soc-

Kris Hoglund

cer longer, his true passion lies with lacrosse after his fourth full season. “I honestly like everything about lacrosse,” Hoglund said. “The competition is always intense and I can’t get enough.” Hoglund is nostalgic when reminiscing about Paly’s inaugural season as he remembers key plays. Hoglund’s favorite game from the season was beating Menlo School in the Santa Clara Valley athletic league (sCVal) semifinals in overtime – Hoglund scored the game winning goal. Hoglund was the leading scorer for the Paly lacrosse team, with a grand total of 58 goals, seven of which occurred during the SCVAL playoffs. Not only is Hoglund the Vikings’ highest scorer, but also led Paly in the number of assists, 35 total. “He does practices and plays the way I want everyone on the team to practice and play,” varsity boys’ lacrosse head coach Craig Conover said. “I never have to tell Kris to pay attention, to focus, to give me a little more passion. Kris’s work ethic is like no other. His passion to be the best is obvious when you see him shooting at the cage after practice is

over while most others are packing up to head home.” Cooper Levitan (’11) has played on the same lacrosse team as Hoglund for three years, and he testifies to the commitment that lacrosse midfielder Hoglund put in over the years. “Initially, Kris was one of those kids who was good at lacrosse because he was a good athlete, but he never had great stick skills,” Levitan said. “The summer after his first year he went out every other day and took about 100 shots - right and left hand.” Hoglund is of the most dedicated players on both the varsity soccer and lacrosse teams. “Kris means business, but he knows how to have fun as well,” Conover said. “When the game is going our way, you see that he is enjoying it. But when we are behind or just struggling to keep the lead, he’s all business. He’s what you call a “go to player”. If you need something done, you hand it over to Kris.” <<<

Runners up: Tory Prati (‘12) Alec Wong (‘12)

The People

Female Athlete of the year

female

athlete year of the

GRaCIE CaIN By MARiAH PHiLiPS

photo by Allie Shorin

oN EVERy TEAM THERE iS A PLAyMAKER, an athlete who gets the glory for the game winning plays or the best statistics. But behind that player, in order for a team to be successful, there has to be a player of equal talent, who may get less acclaim, but makes the big plays that often become forgotten. The player who does the little things which can amount to a huge difference in the outcome of a game. This player is the unsung hero, who plays solidly every game, and provides a sturdy foundation for a successful team. usually The Viking celebrates the playmakers, the statistical standouts, and the game winners. This year, The Viking awards the Female Athlete of the year to Gracie Cain (‘11) for outstanding performance on a consistent basis for three different Palo Alto high school varsity sports. Cain’s unrelenting reliability is a quality that distinguishes her from most athletes. She represents composure in all of the sports teams of which she is a member, including cross-country, soccer, and lacrosse. “i really look up to how poised and calm ON THE gO Cain sprints down field during a game Gracie is on the field,” Paly lacrosse teammate and against Gunn which the Lady Vikes won 15-1 on 52

midfielder Lauren Mah (‘10) said. “Sometimes i get angry when teammates don’t execute, but Gracie always focuses on her own game and what is within her control.” Aside from containing her frustration with other teammates, Cain also remains composed in game situations during play.

crosse] field, and she always does it with a positive attitude,” Mah said. “She defines what it means to be an athlete.” According to Mah, athleticism is not always defined as being the strongest, the fastest or the most gifted individual; it is the player who is mentally strong,

nently than any voice could, challenging and enticing teammates to follow suit. “[Cain’s] lack of being vocal is actually her form of leadership, she leads through example rather than just yelling at people,” Mah said. “Teammates watch her on the field and they just want to emulate

able to persevere through adversity in a game, and maintains a love and devotion to it. Because Cain is such a force both mentally and physically, she is able to excel and help her team to a greater extent. The ability to maintain composure under the toughest of circumstances is an admirable skill, one which has enabled Cain to become a leader even without being completely vocal. often in sports this player is referred to as a ‘silent leader’. Despite being quiet, the skill, work ethic and passion come through more promi-

her playing style.” Cain’s lack of self-promotion on and off the field has been surprising given her talent. Even Cain’s mom and biggest inspiration, Margie Cain, is awed by her daughter’s humble attitude. “i wouldn’t call her quiet because on the field, i think she is a good communicator with her teammates and can be loud and encouraging,” Margie said. “But off the field she is not the type of athlete that will do the stuff to promote herself.” Before Cain stepped onto a Paly field, photo by Brandon Dukovic

By remaining a solid player in every game, Cain is able to extend and continue the team’s success. “[Cain] is a really hard worker no matter what the conditions are and she’s a positive influence on everyone,” Paly soccer teammate and midfielder Mayssen Labidi (‘12) said. “She keeps the future looking bright for the team.” Cain’s positive approach to the game and her work ethic are admired by her teammates and because of a greater emphasis on school sports this year Cain feels she has been able to step her game up and be a force for her Paly teams. “i think this year i tried to be more focused on the high school sport in season,” Cain said. “i made the alternate club sport secondary.” one of the sports that Cain focused on was cross-country. Cain is the number one ranked runner on the Paly girls’ crosscountry squad, finishing first for the Paly girls in most races, according to teammate Erin Kiekhaefer (‘11). Aside from her dominance in crosscountry, Cain’s commitment this year has been noticeable by her teammates in other sports as well. Her optimism and willingness to follow instructions have been standout qualities that separate her from the average athlete. “She never complains, she does what she is told, she executes when she is asked to perform a specific task on the [la-

photo by Allie Shorin

“She never complains, she does what she is told, she executes when she is asked to perform a specific task on the [lacrosse] field, and she always does it with a positive attitude,” Lauren Mah (‘10) said. “She defines what it means to be an athlete.”

PACiNG Cain competes in a cross-country meet at Crystal Springs on Nov. 14.

The People

Although soccer has been one of Cain’s favorite sports since first grade, lacrosse is a different story. interested in venturing into uncharted territory, Cain jumped at the opportunity to try yet another sport. “When we heard her freshman year that Paly was going to have a lacrosse team, i asked [assistant coach] Mark Dahm if he wouldn’t mind showing Grace how to hold a stick and pass the ball,” Margie said. “She quickly became hooked.” Now, back to today. Cain is back on the field of play, back in her role as leader, the glue that holds teams together. She is back to the field carrying the weight of her teams on her shoulders, inspiring her teammates to be the best they can be. With Cain’s mental strength accompanying her physical strength, it is understandable that she has become a role model and leader carrying her teammates through their seasons. Although it often disturbs Cain after a loss or tough game, she has the ability to turn disappointment into motivation, a skill even the most mentally tough often fail to achieve. “She never blames [a tough game or loss] on anyone, but she can take losses pretty hard,” Sophie said. “No one likes to

Kelly Jenks

lose, but Gracie just uses it as an excuse to play harder and better the next time.” With the burden of a loss, any athlete can get frustrated, but Cain knows how to balance the competitive nature with the fun nature of sports. “Gracie[Cain] is a really focused athlete, but she knows how to have fun,” Sophie said. “in [soccer] games she always gives it her all and you can never catch her being lazy.” Aside from mental toughness, leadership qualities and enthusiasm, Cain manages to put the team first and foremost, showing ultimate selflessness. She acknowledges the game is bigger than any one person, including herself. “Typically you hear about the athletes who score goals,” Cain said. “These are team sports anyway, and the only results that should matter are wins or losses.” Cain’s priorities have always been with the team. Sacrifices must be made, and nothing but maximum effort exerted at every game. The unsung hero, Cain is always in control of her game and attitude, ceaselessly pulling for her team. “She wants to be a team player first and always,” Margie said. “i think this is why this award will be so special for

Runners up

led any team, or dominated any sports, she was just a girl with a knack for sports. Before Cain even knew how to hold a lacrosse stick she was in the gymnastics gym, working on form. it did not take long, however, to discover Cain’s need for cardio. “When Gracie was in elementary school i thought she’d be a gymnast,” Margie said. “i took her to Burgess Gym, but she continued to complain about the instructor’s criticism about how she landed or that her toes weren’t pointed correctly.” Wanting a more active sport, away from the meticulous detail of gymnastics, Cain commenced her search. “She said she just wanted to run around and play on the equipment,” Margie said. “it became apparent to me that she’d be better off in running sports.” And with gymnastics a thing of the past, Cain tried five more sports: soccer, tennis, volleyball, softball and karate, where she advanced to the brown belt level. With undeniable athleticism, Cain faced a new challenge: which sport to pursue. With a commitment to the American youth Soccer organization (AySo) beginning in first grade, it seemed only natural that Cain would continue to pursue it, especially with her dad and coach, Tim Cain. Cain’s older sister and soccer teammate, Sophie Cain (‘10), often practices with Cain, and has also been able to improve alongside her sister. “Gracie [Cain] is definitely faster than me, but i’m meaner and push her around so its interesting when we practice one versus one,” Sophie said. “My dad built us a net in our front yard with a goal spray painted on it so some times we will just practice shots together. We also play on the same side for club and high school so we work really well together.”

Female Athlete of the year

Kelly Jenks (‘10) was a force on both the Paly softball and soccer teams. Jenks made first team all league for soccer and will be attending the university of Santa Clara on a soccer scholarship. on top of her soccer dominance, Jenks also pitched all but one of the girls’ softball games -- and even pitched a perfect game in a preseason match-up against Woodside High School.

Lauren Mah

Lauren Mah (‘10) is a three-sport varsity athlete and has played varsity tennis, basketball and lacrosse since coming to Paly from Castillejah for her sophomore year. Mah has been a leader on all three teams, but has focused mainly on lacrosse and is looking to play in college. Mah finished the season with 55 ground balls and 15 goals.

BooT Cain kicks the ball out to a teammate in a soccer game against cross-town rival Gunn High School on Jan. 12, 2010. Paly went on to win 2-0. photos by Brandon Dukovic

1654

0. c

male

athlete year of the

JoC pEDERSoN By GRACiE MARSHALL PHoToGRAPHy By ALLiE SHoRiN

iT iS HARD To FiND A GooD THiNG To SAy ABouT A 35-13 LoSS. Taking a beating in their sec-

ond game on September 19, 2009 after RoPED Pederson smokes the ball into the field in Paly’s 12-8 victory over Los Gatos on April 28. their 48-21 win over Burlingame a week earlier, the players on the Palo Alto High pass from quarterback Christoph Bono ber one seed in Division ii, had to win one School varsity football team walked off (‘11). He added six more points to the out of its two games against Los Gatos the field with their heads down after Vikings’ total in the fourth quarter with a to clinch the league title. Paly won both; their loss against Archbishop Mitty. The 60-yard pass from Bono. Similarly, in the Pederson contributed six runs out of the Vikings threw three interceptions to the Vikings’ 34-6 loss against Bellarmine in 22 that the Vikings scored against Los GaMonarchs’ zero, were outrushed by 260 the first round of Central Coast Section tos in both games and hit two home runs yards and the Monarchs landed in the (CCS) playoffs, Pederson kept his team’s in the two game series. Pederson, with his end zone three more times than the Vihopes alive with a 44-yard touchdown in enormous skill set and even greater dedikings did. Joc Pederson (‘10), however, the second quarter. cation to improving his game, has come to kept Paly in the game. After sitting on on the flip side, Pederson also carries be known as the face of Paly athletics. For the bench for the first half of the game, his team when things are going well. The his numerous achievements on both the he put the Vikings on the board in the Paly varsity baseball team (26-3, 15-1), football and baseball field, The Viking has third quarter after receiving a 50-yard came into the CCS playoffs as the num- named Joc Pederson male athlete of the

55 17

The People

Male Athlete of The year

year. Pederson’s accomplishments throughout his four years on the varsity baseball team as well his success on NorCal Baseball, his club team that he has played on since eighth grade, have qualified him for an opportunity to play professional baseball. Scouts from every single team in Major League Baseball come to watch Pederson during games as well as during

balls or change ups.” Paly’s first year varsity baseball head coach, Erick Raich, commends Pederson on his ability to stay focused and collective despite the critical eye of the scouts. “i really have to give Joc credit on how well he has handled all of the scouts being at our game this year,” Raich said. “For him to be scrutinized on everything he does on the field and then perform the way he has is a true testament to him.” Pederson, who plays center field and

puts on the board, but the positive energy and motivation he exudes to his teammates. “He brings great leadership qualities to the baseball team and keeps everyone loose all the time,” teammate and shortstop Scott Witte (‘10) said. “He knows when he needs to be serious and when it’s okay to have fun.” Pederson put up equally impressive numbers on the Paly football team this year. He led the team with 30 receptions

leads off for the Vikings, currently leads the team in runs, home runs, steals and has the highest on base percentage as well as the highest slugging percentage on the team. Looking beyond the statistics, Pederson’s biggest job during games is setting the tone for the rest of the team right at the get go. “Joc’s main role on the team is our lead off hitter and center fielder,” Raich said. “Having him in the lead off spot really sets the tone for our team offensively. He is our catalyst and when he gets on base the rest of our offense rolls right behind him.” However, his greatest contribution to the team does not come from the runs he

for 650 yards. Witte, who also plays football with Pederson, attributes his success in football to his raw athletic ability. “He’s just naturally gifted,” Witte said. “No one can lock him down at receiver and he can shut down anyone at cornerback. He could probably start at quarterback for half the teams in our league if he wanted to.” The key factor that sets Pederson apart from the rest of the athletes in the Palo Alto community is his dedication to his sport. He takes batting practice at lunch every day that he has a game and spends an estimated 35 hours a week working out. “His work ethic is unmatched,” Witte said. “No one at Paly even comes close to

“No one at Paly even comes close to how hard he works at sports,” Scott Witte (‘10) said. “He knows that he’s going to have a career in baseball and he knows how much it takes to get to where he wants to be.” batting practice. “There’s been a scout at every single game,”Pederson (‘10) said. “The number ranges from one to twenty five. Every game we play on Monday there are twenty to thirty but when we play on Fridays, when college teams have games, they have to scout the college players so there’s only like two or three. They even come to our preseason games.” Despite the enormous amount of pressure to perform well in front of the scouts, Pederson finds that it does not distract him during the game. “it doesn’t really affect me,” Pederson said. “i don’t really get to see that many good pitches, i usually see a lot of curve

ALL ouT EFFoRT Pederson leaps over the center field fence to track down a ball but does not get it in Paly’s victory over Los Gatos.

summer to see if he will be drafted on the 7 through 9 of June. if he does in fact get drafted, Pederson sees a lot of benefits by going straight to the majors, however, he would miss the college life he would be giving up. “A pro would be that i would get a lot better,” Pederson said. “i would get to play every day and i would be in the line-up every day no matter what if i went pro. But if i missed college i would miss the college atmosphere and all the life that encompasses that, like all the hot girls at uSC. But if i want to live out my dream there are a lot more pros to playing professionally straight out of high school rather than out of college. But i wouldn’t be mad if i went to college first because it would be a great experience so it’s nothing to look down upon.” Whatever decision Pederson makes, whether he goes straight to the big leagues out of high school or plays college ball, he has a bright future ahead of him. Pederson’s commitment and enthu-

Philip MacQuitty

siasm for both baseball and football has ingrained a solid sense of worth ethic in both programs and his performance on the field has gained him national attention. “i expect Joc to be sending me gear weekly from whatever pro baseball team he eventually signs with,” Witte said. “He has incredible potential and he’s going to be successful not just because of his natural talent, but because of his passion for baseball.” Raich holds a similar view, commenting that his dedication is what will ultimately get him to the next level. “The sky is the limit for Joc and the future,” Raich said. “He has all of the ability to play professional baseball and even Major League Baseball. As long as he continues to work to get better everyday i don’t see why he wouldn’t make it. He is by far the best high school player i have ever coached, but at the next level everyone is extremely good and the players who continue to stay at it and work

Runners up

how hard he works at sports. He knows that he’s going to have a career in baseball and he knows how much it takes to get to where he wants to be.” His hard work and devotion to his sport have advanced him to the next level of play; Pederson committed to play baseball at the university of Southern California (uSC) in August of 2009. Pederson had been interested in uSC since he was a little kid and feels that it will be a great match for him. “[uSC] has been my favorite college since i was younger and they offered me a good scholarship,” Pederson said. “i felt the most comfortable with the coaches. it was my dream school.” Pederson also held interest in playing football in college, a decision that he and his family took into consideration when deciding between different colleges. Pederson, however, will not be playing football at uSC. “i’m not going to walk on at uSC,” Pederson said. “if i would have gone to oregon or oregon State i probably would’ve played both, but at uSC, their football is too good. oregon runs an offense that has six wide receivers and uSC runs one that has two and uSC has the number one and number two rated wide receivers coming in as freshmen this year, so that’s how i made my decision to just focus on baseball.” Another decision that Pederson is now faced with is whether to forego college altogether and go straight to the major leagues or pursue a collegiate career at uSC. Pederson must attend professional workouts on June 1 and 2 this

Philip MacQuitty (‘10) was the top runner on the cross-country team and the top long distance runner on the track team. He broke two Paly records in the 800-meter run and one mile run. At the time that he broke the 800-meter record it was the best time in the nation. He sacrificed running a good time in the mile run at Arcadia, one of the biggest meets in the country, to help the 4 x 100 relay team.

Jack Sakai

Jack Sakai (‘10) played an integral part on the Paly wrestling team. He wrestled well enough in the regular season to advance to the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs, where he finished fourth. His finish in CCS qualified him to advance to the state championships. Sakai was the only wrestler on the team to qualify for the state tournament.

SamĂ&#x160; Hertzog WE WISH YOU EVERYTHING OF WHICH YOU DREAM. Congratulations Captain Sam! Love, Grandma and Grandpa

Would like to thank our Viking parents and the Paly community for their generous support of our magazine!

Anonymous & Jane Solomon

Alok SubbaraoAward

The

MaEvEÊS TEWaRT

By DuSTiN NiZAMiAN AND SANA BAKSHi

photo by Malaika Drebin

Palo Alto High School boasts some of the best student-athletes in high school sports. Throughout this issue we honor athletes such as Joc Pederson (‘10), Gracie Cain (‘11), Emy Kelty (‘12), and Kris Hoglund (‘12), all of who contributed significantly to Paly sports with stellar athletic performances this year. The Alok Subbarao Award honors the members of Paly’s athletic community who help bring success to their teams in ways besides direct athletic performance, specifically by their leadership and inspiration. Maeve Stewart (‘10), captain of the varsity girls’ soccer team, exemplifies the qualities The Viking looks for in the recipient of the Alok award. in her fourth year on the varsity soccer team this season, Stewart demonstrated these virtues in abundance. Commanding the respect of her teammates on the field while uniting the team off of it, Stewart proved her mettle as a leader. Entering the season sidelined with an injury and continuing to do all in her power to benefit her team, she showed her teammates the definition of perseverance. Returning from her injury midway through the season as a driving force on the team, she proved to be an inspiration. Before Stewart came to Paly, soccer already played a major role in her life. She joined her current club team, the Alpine FC Ruckus, in eighth grade and was self-admittedly “one of the worst people on the team”. Stewart, however, worked hard to improve herself and was a team captain the very next year. “My coach pushed me to work harder,” Stewart said. “He helped me be the leader i am today.” When Stewart did arrive on the upper field, she made the varsity squad as a freshman and scored eight goals with two assists in her first high school season. More importantly, her time on the team allowed her to gain valuable experience at the varsity level from veteran teammates. “Being a freshman on varsity i saw what the seniors were like and i really looked up to them,” Stewart said. “Another cool thing was that i got to play with Teresa Noyola [‘08] She was a really inspirational leader who made me want to try my best. [Playing with seniors] drove me to want to be like them when i was a senior,” RAINBOW Maeve Stewart (‘10) shows a photographer how to Stewart sat out much of her sophomore year with a foot inrainbow the ball over her head last fall, just one of her tricks. jury, but then had an impressive junior year, scoring eight goals 59

The People

The Alok Subbarao Award

and racking up 22 points overall (goals are worth two points and assists one). Finishing her third year on the team as a leading candidate for a captain spot, Stewart looked forward to her best year of Paly soccer yet. Then, the summer before her senior year, playing countless soccer matches in order to improve her recruiting standing, Stewart injured her groin. She continued to play on the injured groin throughout the summer, worsening the injury until the pain became unbearable and she was forced to stop playing to heal herself. “it turned out to be a lot worse than i thought it would be,” Stewart said, “i sat out, three months of no soccer at all. i finally started taking care of my body and building strength back and starting from the beginning.” Far from the exciting expectations she had entertained, Stewart entered her senior season chained to the sideline. it wasn’t easy for Stewart to cope with her injury at first. “it was tough to sit on the bench for the first half of the sea-

well, but i think that was the first time she had to deal with something like that,” Cruz said. “We had a little talk and then she was right there, she was cheering and directing. She is a total leader, inside and outside.” After her talk with Cruz, Stewart stepped up into her role as team captain, offering encouragement, guidance, and friendship to her teammates. A mere groin injury was not going to be enough to beat Stewart’s passion for the game. “Even though she wasn’t on the field, she was just as encouraging on the bench,” goalie Erin Chang (‘13) said. “Her pregame pep talks always sparked some energy into the team.” Stewart pressed on through the first half of the season, sitting on the bench and recovering from her injury, until finally the time came for her return. However, returning from injury is never an easy thing to do, and Stewart had to start off slowly. “Coming back was hard. i guess being a senior and being on the team for four years i was expected to come back as my normal self, which wasn’t exactly the case,” Stewart said. “i start-

DRIVINg FORCE Stewart (#4) goes up to head in the only goal in the CCS semifinals on Feb. 25, 2009, Paly won 1-0. photo by John Christopherson

son and watch the team have their ups and downs, and know that i could have been out there if i were healthy,” Stewart said. “i just sat there.” Frustrated by her inability to play, Stewart lost some of her characteristic focus. “it was easy to joke around with everyone and not pay attention to the game,” Stewart said. When head coach Ernesto Cruz took notice that Stewart’s frustration was manifesting itself in her behavior, he pulled her aside after practice to speak with her. “At the beginning she was not dealing with [being injured]

ed out playing 20 minutes a half and when i was in, the team would do different things on the field. i would play the first half and depending on how the game was going i would play the last 20 minutes of the second half.” if Stewart’s performances on the field were lackluster, her spirit was anything but. As she made her comeback run, Stewart showed abundant energy in both practices and games, even while she struggled to regain her pre-injury abilities. “Maeve is a great leader on the field because she always works so hard, it motivates others to do the same,” midfielder Emy Kelty (‘12) said. “When Maeve wasn’t injured and when she

“The energy level would just go up when she was in there. She is so energetic and her work ethic is contagious.”

“She was the heart of the team. i know that it’s a team concept, but Maeve Stewart is the type of player that as soon as she came in the level of the game goes up right away,” Cruz said. “She is very intense and very kind. Maeve was probably one of the best leaders i have had on the team in the last five seasons” Stewart’s relationship with coaches and her ability to act as a bridge between players and coaches add significantly to her abilities as a leader. “i have a lot of respect for my club coach and Ernesto. i never want to disappoint them,” Stewart said. “There is always joking around but when it gets down to business you’ve got to be serious.” Stewart’s penchant for “keeping things light” seems to also be a major cause of the praise and adoration with which she is showered by her teammates. off the field, Stewart, along with other team seniors, were largely responsible for the team’s social agenda, organizing pasta feeds and get-togethers that helped build a strong bond of friendship between the girls of the team.

photo by Malaika Drebin

“When Maeve wasn’t injured and when she was playing in the games we were a different team,” Emy Kelty (‘12) said.

photo by Hana Kajimura

was playing in the games we were a different team. The energy level would just go up when she was in there. She is so energetic and her work ethic is contagious.” Stewart’s attitude towards the game also stands out as an area of inspiration for her teammates. “Maeve just has this great attitude toward the game, and it never changes,” Chang (‘13) said. “She’s always positive and trying to encourage our teammates to be as well. When she’s on the field she’s so encouraging, it’s like serious about the game, but she’ll never yell at you, i’ve never seen her seriously angry, unless it’s at a referee. She leads by example, i feel like just being on the field with her pumps up the entire team.” This sentiment is echoed by Kelty, who notes both Stewart’s lightheartedness and simultaneous intensity. “Maeve is really funny and jokes around a lot off the field, but when she is on the field she is all serious. She likes to have fun, but she is a real competitor,” Kelty said. Head coach Cruz sums up Stewart’s attitude in terms of immeasurable praise.

DETERMINATION Maeve Stewart (‘10) led her soccer team from the sideline when she was benched with a groin injury before the beginning of her senior season. “i didn’t want people to feel awkward,” Stewart said. “Ernesto wants all of us to feel comfortable on the team” As crucial as Stewart’s leadership was for the team during the season, it is equally important for the future of Paly girls’ soccer. in the same way as the seniors she played with influenced her, Stewart has influenced her younger teammates who look up to her. “[The seniors] left a great example for the juniors,” Cruz said. “She definitely showed a lot to the juniors.” Stewart will depart for Tufts university in Boston, in the fall, where she will play for the girls’ soccer team, leaving a memorable legacy on Palo Alto girls’soccer and likely having influenced a number of future team leaders. However, taking into account the fantastically high esteem in which her teammates and coaches hold her, finding the next Maeve Stewart might prove a difficult task for Ernesto and the girls. in the words of Cruz himself, “Someone has some big shoes to fill.” <<<

Last Word

Mike, the Vike, in the Hat

The Last Word

by Michael Cullen photo illustration by Cooper Levitan

he bell on the last day of school brings joy to the land. the children let papers fly free from their hands. through happy cries of joy and elation, the students commence academic hibernation. With no more school to pass the time, I sit here turning my column to rhyme. I’m not actually about to Dr. Seuss the Last Word, I just wanted to give you a preview of the possibilities that come with the extensive amount of free time available during summer. the glorious wail of the final bell on the last day of school is one of the most treasured and anticipated sounds any student will hear in his or her academic career. It triggers the kind of euphoria a game-winning buzzer beater or sudden death goal does. It also triggers an almost instantaneous reaction for me, because once that bell goes off, I enter what I like to call “academic hibernation”. Summer is near-time to start leaving an impression in the couch. During the school year, the question at 11 a.m. may be, “... to be, or not to be”, whereas at 11 a.m. on a summer day, the question shifts to being “to get up, or to sleep in two more hours until my mother hits me.” once I get up the hardest problem i have to solve all day will likely be what flavor popTart to plug in to the toaster. A quick brunch and my day begins. Football workouts and ESPN will dominate the majority of my vacation, but summer sports is a loose term that I interpret to include everything from Slip n’ Slide to the good ol’ American tradition of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest. Watching the amazing display of esophageal endurance and gluttony on our Nation’s birthday has always been impres-

sive to me. I once saw Joey Chestnut eat 10.5 pounds of macaroni and cheese at the halftime of a San Jose Stealth game. Despite stretching the limits of what fits the criteria of “athletics”, you have got to admit that shoving down 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes is an amazing feat. Beach volleyball is another summer sport that I love. To play you say? sure, i can ball like kerri Walsh on the sand, but I’m more of a spectator when it comes to the beach games. Because let’s face it, no matter what the score is when the game is over, when it comes to beach volleyball, everyone wins. Beach volleyball allows you to appreciate the finesse and skill required to do anything in the sand except build towers and dig holes in the sand. I’ve tried the whole long distance beach running thing, and running on sand is like trying to stop Kevin Anderson (‘11) from getting to a quarterback with a steak taped to his chest. You just don’t want to do it. 2010 brings another sporting event that the world only gets to experience every four years. The World Cup will be played in South Africa this year, which means the eyes of the globe will be focused on Johannesburg, Durban, and Polokwane as dedicated fans and hooligans alike will cheer themselves hoarse rooting for their respective teams. During a typical year, you’re more likely to find me reading Shakespeare than watching soccer, but when the World Cup rolls around, I get my futbolista on. The worlds favorite sport is pretty easy to pick up, and even if you don’t understand soccer, it’s not that hard to know something exciting is happening when a middle aged Latin American man is screaming, “goooooooal” at the top of his lungs. When it comes down to it though, I don’t know if there is any summer memory or activity I love more than barbecuing. There is nothing better than sitting outdoors on nice summer day, throwing around the pigskin, and kicking back to watch a game on the flat screen. the wonderful weather of California and the sports that we love bring us together year round, and whether it’s the Super Bowl or a younger siblings’ little league game, athletics provide us with entertainment, community, and a sense of belonging even when school is not in session. once that bell rings and your troubles float away with the wind, have fun this summer. Go to the beach with your friends. Hit up Great America or Raging Waters (and make sure to close your mouth when you swim there). Heck, you can spend your entire summer watching reruns of Degrassi for all I care, just make sure you relax. If you don’t, then I will hunt you down and duct tape you to a Lay-Z-Boy to make sure that you do. Summer is sweet, but oh so short, and come August, I’ll have to get new pencils, a new lunch box, and begin another year of school... oh the possibilities. Have a great summer Paly and I’ll catch y’all next year. <<<

iAS SuPPoRTS THE STuDENTS oF PALo ALTo HiGH SCHooL AND STANDS WiTH you!!!!!!

photos by Allie Shorin

Will Glazier (‘11)

Nate Hubbard (‘12)