Issue 7 Extended Sports Beats
Men’s Tennis
By Max Trexler, Staff Writer
Courtesy Photos by Arielle Sears
The men’s tennis team (6-0 overall, 0-1 league) is off to a fast start as they serve up another spring season.
The Dons defeated De La Salle (9-0) on Feb. 24 and Piedmont (8-1) on Feb. 25. They followed up those two victories with two games at home in which they defeated Head Royce 6-3 on Feb. 27 and Branson 6-3 on March 3. They then traveled to Heritage High School on March 4 and defeated the Patriots 6-3.
Later in the week the Dons traveled to Fresno to compete in the Fresno Invitational where they lost three games and won one.
“We went to Fresno over the weekend and I think the 12 of us who went really bonded together. We have some good memories to look back on and keep us bonded together and push us forward to the future,” captain and senior Nick Owens said.
It’s still early in the season and league for the Dons is right around the corner.
“I think we're about as prepared as we can be to take on Campo and Miramonte. I don't know what else I could have done. It’s up to the boys now, they've got to take the ball and run with it,” Head Coach Rick O’Brien said.
The senior leadership has worked towards making sure the team plays and works well together so far this season.
“We've been getting out there and making our practices efficient and making sure that our doubles teams are working hard. On the singles court as well, all six of us are working hard,” Owens said.
Men’s Golf
By Trevor Krick, Staff Writer
Courtesy Photo by Owen Hulst
The spring sports season is now in full swing and the Acalanes men’s golf team (3-1) has high hopes for this year’s season.
The Dons started off their season on Feb. 27, just barely losing to Athenian 192-190 at Rossmoor. The team bounced back quickly on March 3, playing at home at the Contra Costa Country Club and defeating Albany 194-231.
The Dons picked up another win on March 3, crushing Bentley 150-199 at Rossmoor. Continuing their hot streak, they got a third straight win, defeating Miramonte 201-209 at Contra Costa. The Don’s then travelled to the home course of Northgate, Boundary Oaks, and triumphed 201-209.
After losing many players last year due to senior graduation, head coaches Steve Nelsen and Randy Jones aim to develop new players.
“We are trying to build the program for the future. ...If we can continue to build our skill set while growing the program and contending each week, we will have accomplished a lot this season,” Nelsen said.
The coaches are confident that they will have success in the seasons to come.
“We have a lot of talent on the team and should for the next few years. If the boys set realistic individual goals, we should have no problem achieving our goals as a team,” Nelsen said.
Men’s Volleyball
By Sameed Marco, Staff Writer
Courtesy Photos by Gabriel Villasenor
The men’s volleyball team (4-10 overall, 0-4 league) are looking to improve their record and grow as a team.
The team started the season off with a 3-0 win against Saint Mary’s High School. They then lost 3-0 to Moreau Catholic and 3-0 to Amador Valley. On March 1, they played in the Stockton Preseason Tournament. On March 5 and 6 they beat Freedom 3-2 and Monte Vista 3-0 respectively. On March 11 they lost 3-0 to Northgate in their first league game. The team lost a close match to Pittsburgh on March 13 finishing with a score of 2-3. The team lost to Clayton Valley Charter on March 18 and lost to Las Lomas on March 20.
The team lacks experience playing together. They are attempting to build chemistry together as the season continues.
“Some goals for the team are just working on our chemistry, having better communication and just playing as a team. We are all new to playing with each other so it is hard to have chemistry together. That is what we want and need to work on as a team,” junior Arthur Tam said.
The team has already made major improvements on the court in terms of their presence as a unit.
“I couldn't be more pleased with the camaraderie and positive spirit of the team despite some challenging matches. We have a gritty mindset of never giving up,” Head Coach Steve Long said.
The team looks towards the community for energy at home games as the season progresses.
“We would love to pack the gym with raving fans. Every home game will have door prizes and spirit kits. Come one, come all, and be the 7th Don on the court,” junior Zane Long said.
Swimming
By Tatum McElhattan, Print Arts Editor
Courtesy Photo by Bill Gerhardt
Making a splash early in the season, the Acalanes swim team has faced a variety of competition.
In their first meet against College Park on March 5, they dominated almost every event they participated in. They then had a split of wins and losses at another meet at Acalanes on March 11 against Northgate. They rounded off their first few meets with many successes at the De La Salle Invitational on March 14.
The team works hard on preparing for each meet to ensure that they are ready to swim against others at meets and invitationals.
“Usually the day before we have a dual meet, we run a race simulation workout. There’s a heavy focus on dives, turns, and going really fast with a lot of rest in between. This allows us, as coaches, to do some last minute fine-tuning on technique as well,” Assistant Coach RJ Scott said.
They continued the season with a second invitational meet at Mission Viejo from March 14 to 16. The team traveled to southern California and came in fifth place overall, with many Acalanes athletes making it to the finals.
For the swim team, Mission Viejo was not just a swim competition, but also a valuable opportunity for team bonding.
“The team is most looking forward to the Mission Viejo swim meet. It’s a big meet in Southern California and we get to go to Disneyland the next day, which the whole team loves and really helps us bond as a group,” junior Estelle Block said.
The Dons battled against Miramonte on March 21, then competed with Benicia on March 26. In their upcoming meets, the team will face Campolindo on April 11 and Clayton Valley on April 14.
The team will continue working hard to achieve their season goals, but also remember to have fun and appreciate the camaraderie.
“The best part of being on the swim team is the culture. I always have so much fun with my teammates and coaches and it keeps the team's energy high. Because of this, I am super excited for how this season will go,” Block said.
Women’s Lacrosse
By Cara Hamilton, Staff Writer
Blueprint Photos by Audrey Martin
The women’s lacrosse team (3-6 overall, 1-1 league) has had a rough start to their season, but show promise for future games.
The team fell short in their first few matches with a striking loss to Amador Valley on Feb. 26, losing again to San Marin on Feb. 28, Monte Vista on Mar. 4, and Carondelet on Mar. 7. Despite these initial losses,The Dons made a comeback against University High School on March 11, winning 14-8.
Despite a rocky start, the team still has hope for a bright season. After losing 11 seniors last year, the Dons have been working hard to reestablish connection throughout the program.
“As everyone gets used to playing with each other and getting to know each other's strengths and weaknesses, we will be able to win more and play more cohesively,” captain and senior Claire Zimmerman said.
The team builds community through spending time together outside of practices and games, which serves to strengthen their bonds and create a stronger team that works great together.
“We do alot of team dinners with the girls after a practice or a game so we go to Chick-fil-A or In and Out or something like that . . . we also do more weekend bonding things, we will have everyone go to a girls house and just play games,” Zimmerman said.
The team’s sense of camaraderie has evolved as the team has been playing great thanks to this year’s senior leadership.
“The senior capints are great, and they really know how to lead the team,” senior Addie McShane said.
Despite the challenges the team has faced in the beginning of the season, through their sense of connection and hard work the team has greatly improved all while having a great time.
“We're improving each game, started off a little slow but we're getting there. Our team chemistry is really good and it's so far super fun and we won a game on Tuesday,” captain and senior Megan Churchill said.
As they continue to practice and play more games throughout the season, the team is excited to get more game time and are optimistic in their ability to win in their upcoming competitions.
“We had a really hard schedule in the beginning so our record is not that strong, but we're coming back stronger . . . We've got a great team and team culture, yeah, now we're just trying to rebuild and get some wins,” McShane said.
Track & Field
By Maya Stafford, Print Arts Editor
After a quick sprint back into the season, the track and field team has been successful with many standout athletes.
On February 22, Acalanes hosted the Don of the Season meet where Haley Chelemedos set a new javelin school record, Deonte Littlejohn won discus throw with a throw of 148 feet, and the boys 4x400 team placed fourth with a new PR (personal record).
On a sunny Saturday morning, March 8, Acalanes hosted the Bob Warren Invitational Meet resulting in numerous PR’s across the entire team, and a tremendous performance from everyone. The girls and boys 4x100 teams set a new PR and placed first in the meet and Isabelle Agnost set a new record in the 100 meter sprint.
Into the next week, the Dons had a dual meet against Las Lomas and won. The following weekend, the Dons were triumphant in the Annual Eddie Hart Invitational, with another round of PRs from the team.
After a senior class with numerous committed athletes and talented individuals, filling the roles is not an easy task. The juniors and seniors, however, are taking this job head on and working hard to continue past years’ greatness.
“Our upperclassmen have definitely shown that they are more than capable to fill the shoes from last year’s seniors - whether in relays or other highly competitive events,” senior Dulci Vail said.
Juniors and seniors stepping up have also created mentor-like positions to the underclassmen, setting up the entire team for success.
“A lot of the upperclassmen have taken on a lot of leadership roles in all of their respective events, taking on roles like that of a coach or motivator,” Vail said.
With the collective improvement of the team, they have high hopes and goals set for future meets.
“The team wants to sweep DAL this year, so win for both the girls and boys - and most importantly beat Campolindo and surpass their point counts in DAL and league meets,” Vail said.
Overall, the Dons are off to a great start and have a good outlook for the rest of the season.
“We are all really pumped for the rest of the season and I think that will just carry over to our determination in our league meets and the postseason,” senior track and field athlete Dulci Vail said.
Stunt Cheer
By Natalie Pecci, Staff Writer
Blueprint Photos by Natalie Pecci
The stunt cheer team (0-3) is flipping and tossing its way into this year’s season.
In the first week, the team watched the Concord vs Las Lomas stunt game to get a feel for the season.
During their first game of the season on March 13, the team lost to Las Lomas 8 to 11 after a hard-fought comeback attempt that prompted overtime. The team faced another tough loss against College Park the next day.
On March 19, the team hosted its first home game and its annual senior night. They faced off against Miramonte, but they fell to the Matadors four to seven.
The team will face off against Campolindo on March 26 for the first time.
“I am looking forward to going against Campo since they are our rival school, and it is their first year doing stunt,” senior Erica Gombodorj said.
The chemistry of the team has created a positive environment and is full of support, with the underclassmen adding special flair to the team.
“I think the underclassmen have brought in a certain joy and comedic relief to the team that allows all of the hard work we do to also mix with the fun and enjoyment of teamwork and for the sport itself… [Also, ] the rookies aren't afraid to ask questions and put themselves out there and the returners are open and supportive enough to step in and help, which creates a strong team bond,” Head Coach Faith McLeod said.
The team expects to continue to improve and work on their skills by having longer practices, better organization, and a new coach.
“My team's goals for this season is to reach higher levels of routines than we have in the past, which we have already made so much progress on,” Gombodorj said.
This year, the team feels stronger and more motivated than in previous years, which they think will help them accomplish their goal of improving their skills from previous years.
“I believe I've seen a shift in energy in the team - there's more energy, more drive, more skill, more desire to work and to win than I have seen in past seasons. The girls are constantly trying to improve and grow their skills to contribute to the team's success. I think this change has everything to do with the team believing in themselves and putting in the necessary work that Stunt requires,” McLeod said.
Men’s Lacrosse
By Arman Craig, Online Editor
Courtesy photos by Joshua Sinha
The men’s lacrosse team, (6-2) overall and (0-0) in league, started the season strong.
The team began their season in style, defeating Dublin (14-3) on Feb. 25 and followed it up with a big win over Stuart Hall (16-2) on Feb. 28. Continuing their winning streak, the Dons beat Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (8-3) on March 5, and Bishop O’Dowd (10-6) on March 7.
After struggling during the previous season with a young roster, the Dons start this year in full force with some key players stepping up.
The team has formed a tight bond, with several athletes returning to the team and frequent team bondings, team morale is always high.
“We always have team bondings for lacrosse. After each game we always hang out with each other with team bondings. That’s something that makes the team so fun. When you're friends with everyone on the team it’s a lot more enjoyable,” junior Jan Korzeniowski said.
Despite only playing a handful of games, players and coaches know how far the team can go. By staying the course and continuing to play as a team, they believe that there's no limit to what they can achieve.
“This year feels different. I know that we can go far this year if we put our minds to it,” Korzeniowski said.
Softball
By Saaj Shah, Online Editor
The Acalanes Softball Team has started off strong with a record of (4-1). On February 20, the season opened up with a tough fight against Dougherty Valley, when the team fell short (14-9). On February 27, the Dons began their series of consecutive wins with a decisive win over Albany (12-2). A week later, on March 4, the Dons faced Las Lomas, and won (13-2). Continuing their streak, the softball team won a match against Pinole Valley, on March 10.
This year, the softball team has shown chemistry and the ability to work well together as a team.
“We're playing great and the team is really coming together. The girls are getting along,” coach Victor Silva said.
The Softball team has been taking time outside of school to bond and learn about each other.
“During the season, we have pasta feeds and barbecues. Last Saturday, we had a field clean-up day with a team barbecue,” senior Emme Young said.
This year, the team has changed divisions, prompting them to work harder as they play against more competitive opponents.
“They moved us up to the upper league, which will make it a challenging year.
Improving every game and learning from each play. Preparing for the playoffs,” Silva said.
However, the team has assets that can help them throughout the season, but they also have to work on their areas of improvement.
“I think our pitching and defense are our strength and we have improved our offense a lot this year,” Silva said.
The Softball players hope to grow various aspects of the program while competing.
“Our goals are to improve and to compete against all teams,” junior Maya Shoenhair said.
Beach Volleyball
By Noah Frankel, Staff Writer
Courtesy Photos by Mira Clarke
With the weather getting warmer daily, the women's beach volleyball team is gearing up for their season.
As the women's beach volleyball team, (1-2) jumped into their new season, they had a tough game against Northgate on Feb. 26th and lost their first game. However, they quickly bounced back with a win against Northgate the next day. Unfortunately, they had another loss against Campolindo on March 13.
Although the team has faced some losses, they are ready to return stronger with guidance from their coach, Nicole Cuhnle. Leading a group of athletes who are determined to win, Cuhnle plans to help the team progress.
“I want my girls to be able to learn, to grow, to be challenged in a safe way, a healthy way. I want them to build their character and their volleyball skills. I want them to build their strength and their endurance,” Cuhnle said.
On March 19th the team beat Clayton Valley at home. Whether faced with victory or loss, the team likes to keep a positive attitude throughout the season.
“When you see the look on their face when they finally did that thing that they've been working on, or something clicks, or just seeing them have a good time and not being so hard on themselves,” Cuhnle said.
Baseball
By Will Miller, Staff Writer
Courtesy Photo by Tommy Terhar
The Acalanes baseball team (5-1-1 overall, 0-0 league) is looking to build off of last year’s success and challenge for the Division One North Coast Section (NCS) title. They started the season away on Feb. 25 at Pinole Valley where junior Branson Smith led the team to a 3-2 victory by pitching all eight innings.
On Feb. 28 the Dons traveled to Piedmont and lost in a thriller 7-5. Reeling from two games without a win the Dons went up to Marin Caliotic on March 8 and rallied for a four-run seventh inning, beating them 8-7. Since that game, the Dons have rattled off two straight wins, including their home opener against Bishop O’Dowd 3-0 on March 15.
Despite losing their head coach there are no changes to the team’s mentality as the new coaching staff believes in the players.
“We want to win an NCS championship and we want to win our league. These are things that the team decided upon going into this year and we work toward them every day,“ Head Coach Andrew Merken said.
