36 | FALL 2023
|ATHLETICS |
Debunking stereotypes BY JADEN GERVACIO
W
THE MIRROR STAFF
hen it comes to high school sports and student athletes, various myths and misconceptions circulate the halls. It’s crucial to separate stereotypes from facts.
MYTH: You have to be tall to be good at volleyball FACT: This is completely false. Even though height can be beneficial for players, students shouldn’t doubt themselves because they aren’t as tall as others. If the team as a whole is motivated and determined enough, then they can easily increase their vertical reach and make up for shorter heights. In our girls varsity volleyball team, 5-foot-3 opposite hitter Bella Mokhtari is tasked with leading her team on offense. Since her determination for the sport is unmatched, her vertical reach is high enough to compete with 5-foot-8 competitors. MYTH: Football players are bullies FACT: Every football player has a lot of responsibilities on the field and in school. Coaches expect players to be role models to others by exemplifying respect and kindness. While there are exceptions depending on the person, overall, this is a false stereotype perpetuated by the media.
MYTH: Tennis players are entitled jerks FACT: There are a handful of professional players who think they are above everyone else, and constantly argue with judges until they get their way. However, the majority of
tennis players, like Roger Federer for example, are cooperative and respectful individuals. All in all, this stereotype is untrue.
MYTH: Cheerleaders are popular Fact: In high school movies, cheerleaders are often de-
athletes, some athletes have many academic achievements. A number of professional athletes graduated from top tier colleges. Jeremy Lin, a former NBA player, graduated from Harvard.
MYTH: Student athletes are all extroverts FACT: Although athletes are some of the most well-known faces at school, this doesn’t mean that they are extroverts. While there are many athletes who love to interact with other students, a large number of them are shy when it comes to socializing. Just because a student may appear on a flier or Instagram post, it doesn’t necessarily make them outgoing. They are simply being recognized by the school community.
picted as social party girls who are admired by everyone. This is yet another myth bolstered by the media. Cheerleaders don’t necessarily view themselves as popular. They are just regular students trying to show school spirit by cheering for their school’s sports teams.
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MYTH: Student athletes plan to incorporate sports into their careers FACT: Not every student athlete plans on pursuing a career in sports. Many of these students are interested in math, science, history, art and various other fields. However, there are some dedicated athletes who aspire to play their sport professionally and work hard everyday to achieve their goal.
MYTH VS REALITY The popular-
ity of sports has created stereotypes about athletics that do not correspond with the facts.
MYTH: Student athletes are dumb FACT: Many student athletes are required to pass their classes with good grades in order to participate in a sport. This means that in the process of maintaining their position on a team, they do their homework and study to do well on tests. Despite having less time to study and do schoolwork compared to non-
GRAPHIC FOR THE MIRROR | NASIM ABDUL-MALIK
Changes in leadership boost girls basketball team THE MIRROR | CHRISTOPHER MONTERROSA
BY ISABEL VALLES
SWISH SWISH Girls basketball players
THE MIRROR ATHLETICS EDITOR
Karen Grewal and Olamide Olumide challenge one an-
t the end of last year, Coach Steve Eshleman moved to Burbank High School and left the girls basketball team high and dry a day after their season ended. That’s when Coach Sara Marroquin stepped in. Usually when a coach leaves, a team feels a sense of sadness, especially after having spent a whole season with them. But instead, the female athletes felt a weight lifted off their shoulders. Last season, many players struggled with their relationship with the coach. He would yell at the players during games, and this caused them to lose respect for him. “He would yell at us a lot for no reason during practice, but it was worse during games,” junior Karan Grewal said. Due to the yelling, the team felt disrespected and patronized. Not only did the girls feel embarrassed, but the coach’s incessant hostility distracted the players. With Coach Maroquin as head of the team, the girls have significantly im-
senior Cara Dechathong said. “You can see all the development and improvements in most of the players that have been here. She has a functioning structure for our program.” Despite their significant growth, some team members believe that there is still much to be done, such as team bonding. “There is always room to improve,” junior Karen Grewal said. “We definitely have to work more on team chemistry on the court.” Last season, the team qualified for the playoffs where they won 15-13 overall and won 7-5 in their league. While the team put up a good fight against El Camino Real High School in their first playoff game and final game of the season, unfortunately the team lost with a score of 59-35. Judging by the tenacity with which the team has been getting prepped, it seems like the girls basketball team may have a chance of winning the playoffs this year.
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proved as they prepare for their season beginning in November. Some strategies that Coach Marroquin has implemented are new drills that improve ball handling and defense skills. The team has prepared for the newseason by practicing every weekday over
the summer. The girls attended practice games on the weekends, winning the majority of them. They even entered tournaments in which they won first place a total of three times. “I think our new coach has definitely brought an improvement to the program,”
