Staff Profile
Sammy Solomon –– News Editor
Sammy is a senior at Paly and a co-captain of the varsity tennis team. In her free time she enjoys wakeboarding, skiing and traveling. Sammy is also a dedicated 49ers and Giants fan.
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PDFCoach of the Year 2013: Jamie Nesbitt
Sammy Solomon, News Editor
May 22, 2013
Filed under Featured Sports Scrollbox, Features, Lacrosse - Girls, Spring Sports, Top Stories
Just two years after the first varsity girls’ lacrosse team was fielded at Paly, the Lady Vikes triumphed over St. Francis to win the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) Championship, under the guidance of Jamie Nesbitt. Following that impressive season, Nesbitt was promoted from assistant... Read more »
Hops on hops on hops
Charlotte Biffar and Sammy Solomon
April 26, 2013
Filed under Features, Profiles, Top Stories, Track & Field
At the start of the spring sports season, most members of the Palo Alto High School track team hit the ground running. However, the Paly jumpers, those track members who participate in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump, could be seen just walking. “So far we’ve barely started jumping this... Read more »
Paly baseball comes back from 2-0 deficit to beat Gunn
Sammy Solomon, News Editor
March 22, 2013
Filed under Baseball, Top Stories
On a sunny Friday afternoon, the Viking baseball team defeated Gunn High School 6-2, led by Isaac Feldstein ('13), Austin Poore ('13) and pitcher Danny Erlich ('14). Erlich began the game on the mound for the Vikings, letting two Gunn runs in the first two innings, putting the Titans up 2-0. The momentum... Read more »
Boys’ lacrosse falls to Burlingame in the final 10 seconds
Sammy Solomon, News Editor
March 12, 2013
Filed under Lacrosse - Boys, Top Stories
In an intense, back and forth battle, the Palo Alto High School boys’ lacrosse team fell to Burlingame 12-11 under the Paly lights this Monday night. Burlingame started out strong driving toward goal, however the Viking defense kept the ball away, shutting down the Panther attack. The momentum changed... Read more »
Boys’ lacrosse drops heart breaker to Menlo Atherton 7-5
Ami Drez and Sammy Solomon
March 7, 2013
Filed under Lacrosse - Boys, Top Stories
For those who are familiar with the game of lacrosse, it is evident that very often the team that ends up on top is the team that is able to maintain the ground balls. Which, subsequently, determined the outcome of the boys' varsity lacrosse game this Wednesday under the Paly lights between the Menlo-Atherton... Read more »
Brief: Freshman clinches win for boys’ tennis
Sammy Solomon, News Editor
March 5, 2013
Filed under Tennis - Boys, Top Stories
Palo Alto High School's boys' tennis team squeaked by Lynbrook 4-3, today at home. With some tough singles match-ups, the team looked to the doubles players to secure wins. The Vikings were able to sweep the doubles with victories from Mason Haverstock ('13) and Mikael Lassooy ('13) at number one,... Read more »
Girls’ soccer shuts down Cupertino, advances to CCS
Sammy Solomon, News Editor
February 13, 2013
Filed under Soccer - Girls, Top Stories
On their senior night, the Paly's girls' soccer team conquered Cupertino High School 3-1, to end their regular season. The Lady Vikes, who remain undefeated in the El Camino league, will advance to the Central Coast Section Championships (CCS) next week. The Vikings began the game with aggressive... Read more »
The house that Harbaugh built
Sammy Solomon and Jonny Glazier
December 14, 2012
Filed under Featured Athlete, Profiles
Whispers circulated through the student section as the Viking football team took on the Los Gatos Wildcats; “Jim Harbaugh (‘82) is here.” Wearing a Giants baseball cap, the San Francisco 49ers head coach was sitting towards the top of the Paly stands next to his wife Sarah and high school friend,... Read more »
49ers team store opens at Town and Country
Sammy Solomon, News Editor
October 13, 2012
Filed under Football, Pro Sports, Top Stories, Uncategorized
Dear Paly 49ers fans, the day has finally come. At 10am on this sunny Saturday morning, the very first 49ers retail store opened its doors to eager niner fans from near and far. Located next to Douce France, the store will be up and running through the remainder of the football season. The grand... Read more »
Girls’ cross-country places 10th at the Stanford Invitational meet
Sammy Solomon, News Editor
September 29, 2012
Filed under Cross-Country - Girls
The Palo Alto High School girls’ cross-country team placed 10th out of 27 teams in the Stanford Invitational meet’s 5-kilometer race. Co-captain Nora Rosati ('13) maintained an average mile time of 6:28 throughout the race, finishing 31st out of the 196 runners with a total time of 20:05. Chika... Read more »
Girls’ water polo season preview
Sammy Solomon, News Editor
September 4, 2012
Filed under Fall Sports, Featured Sports Scrollbox, Water Polo - Girls
After advancing to the second round of the Central Coast Section Championships (CCS) last year, the girls’ water polo team hopes to improve on a 9-6 league record and to reappear at CCS. With the loss of leading scorers Shannon Scheel (‘12) and Stanford recruit Skylar Dorosin (‘12), the team... Read more »
Female team of the year: Volleyball
Sammy Solomon, News Editor
June 1, 2012
Filed under Features
Winning a State Championship is an arduous task that requires discipline, focus, determination and strong team chemistry. For most schools, it is an extremely rare feat to win one title and it could take decades to win another. But for Paly athletics, expectations can always be exceeded. After a remarkable... Read more »
Baseball defeats Wilcox 3-2
Sammy Solomon, News Editor
May 4, 2012
Filed under Baseball, Top Stories, Uncategorized
Palo Alto High School’s baseball team triumphed over Wilcox 3-2 today at Paly in the first round of the league tournament. The Vikings won the series two games to one and will now advance to the championship next week. Kevin Kannappan (’12) started on the mound for the Vikings and struck out the... Read more »
Brief: Boys’ tennis advances to second round of CCS
Sammy Solomon, News Editor
May 2, 2012
Filed under Uncategorized
The boys’ tennis team defeated Harker 14-4 in the first round of CCS today. As of last year, the tournament’s format changed so that the top three singles players will play three sets - one against each of the other team’s singles players. The doubles teams also play a total of three sets. Paly’s... Read more »
The elements of chemistry
Sammy Solomon, News Editor
April 20, 2012
Filed under Lacrosse - Boys, Lacrosse - Girls, Spring Sports, Top Stories
At a lacrosse practice last spring, Walker Mees (‘13) watched as two of his teammates hacked at each other with their lacrosse sticks - at first just aggressive play. The checks escalated into hard hits and a later, a full on fistfight. The other players just stared at their so-called teammates and... Read more »
Boys’ tennis squeezes past Sacred Heart 4-3
Sammy Solomon, Staff Writer
April 18, 2012
Filed under Spring Sports, Tennis - Boys, Top Stories
The boys’ varsity tennis team defeated Sacred Heart Prep in a tight 4-3 match at home today. With a quick win by number one singles player Nicky Hu ('12) 6-0, 6-1, the Vikings were off to a solid start. Paly was able to increase their lead with a win from number three singles player Austin Leung... Read more »
Girls’ lacrosse falls to Cherry Creek, 20-8
Sammy Solomon, Staff Writer
March 27, 2012
Filed under Lacrosse - Girls, Spring Sports, Top Stories
The Palo Alto High School girls’ lacrosse team fell to Cherry Creek High School, 20-8 at home in an exhibition game. Cherry Creek, nine time Colorado state champions and named “Best in the West” by Lacrosse Magazine, traveled all the way from Colorado to face the lady Vikes in today’s game.... Read more »
Baseball shuts out Mountain View 4-0
Sammy Solomon, Staff Writer
March 23, 2012
Filed under Baseball, Top Stories, Uncategorized
The Palo Alto High School baseball team shut out the Mountain View Spartans 4-0 at home this afternoon. In the bottom of the sixth the Vikings’ momentum picked up again, beginning with Feldstein’s hit off a Mountain View error and a double past the first baseman from Jack Witte ('12). Boyd... Read more »
The New Kid on the Block
Sammy Solomon, Staff Writer
March 7, 2012
Filed under Features, Top Stories
After receiving an ally-oop pass from forward Israel Hakim (‘12) in the game against Oak Grove, Aubrey Dawkins (‘13) a junior shooting guard for Palo Alto perfectly executed a slam dunk for two points which proved to fans that he was the real deal. Aubrey moved across the country from North... Read more »
Boys’ varsity tennis falls to Los Altos 5-2
Sammy Solomon, Staff Writer
February 29, 2012
Filed under Spring Sports, Tennis - Boys, Top Stories
The Palo Alto High School boys’ tennis team lost to the Los Altos Wildcats, 2-5 today at home. With a quick win by number one singles player Nicky Hu (‘12) the Vikings were off to a solid start with a 1-0 lead. However, after injuring his back in today’s match, Blake Smith (‘14) had to retire... Read more »
Girls’ basketball stages comeback, defeats Wilcox, 47-46
Sammy Solomon, Staff Writer
February 3, 2012
Filed under Basketball - Girls, Sports Center, Standings, Top Stories
The Palo Alto Vikings girls’ basketball team defeated the Wilcox chargers 47-46 in their second meeting of the season. With a tip off by Josie Butler (‘13), the Vikings drove towards the basket, but the ball was rebounded by Josetta Fatuesi who scored a layup giving the Chargers a 2-0 lead. A Wilcox... Read more »
The 49ers Breese by the Saints
Sammy Solomon, Staff Writer
January 15, 2012
Filed under Columns, Football, Top Stories
“Alex Smith has no chance of beating Drew Brees” is all we’ve heard on the radio for the past week. However, the forecast in San Francisco this afternoon was not as BREESy as expected.The Niners fans, decked out in red and gold, flooded the stadium gates at Candlestick park, roaring in anticipation... Read more »
On the Edge
Sammy Solomon, Staff Writer
December 16, 2011
Filed under Features, Top Stories
“I woke up and I was in a sled going toward the bottom of the mountain,” A.J. Schonenburg (‘12) recalls. “Apparently I caught an edge and I smacked down and I don’t remember any of it.” Earlier that day, one thousand feet lay between Schonenburg and the finish line. He waited with the... Read more »
Live Blog: Football takes on Bellarmine for the CCS Championship
Sammy Solomon
December 2, 2011
Filed under Blogs, Football, Top Stories
8:03 pm: Palo Alto receives kickoff. [4:01 left in the 1st Q] Keller Chryst ('15) is sacked on 4th and 10. [3:40 left in the 1st Q] Quarterback Travis McHugh throws for a 54 yard touchdown putting Bellarmine ahead 6-0. The extra point kick was missed. [3:30 left in the 1st Q] B.J. Boyd ('12)... Read more »
Paly boys’ water polo defeats the Monta Vista Matadors 10-7
Sammy Solomon, Staff Writer
October 19, 2011
Filed under Fall Sports, Sports Center, Water Polo - Boys
Palo Alto High School’s Boys’ water polo team (8-1) defeated Monta Vista 10-7 on Thursday Oct. 13. The Vikings got off to a strong start with a steal by Bret Pinsker (’13) followed by a goal with a just under six minutes left in the first quarter. Will Conner ('14) continued to drive toward the... Read more »
Column: No short cuts
Sammy Solomon, Staff Writer
September 11, 2011
Filed under Columns, Tennis - Girls
To many people, a four-week long trip to Bradenton, Florida sounds like the ideal vacation; 15 minutes away from white sandy beaches, one hour away from Universal Studios, and five minutes away from some of the most prestigious athletic training facilities in the world, IMG Academies. IMG offers seven... Read more »