As mid-August rolls around Paly’s fall sports are officially in full swing. A large crop of new freshman athletes bolster young rosters and give Paly sports fans hope for continued success in coming years. However, for the 2012 season expectations have never been so high for many teams.
With the introduction of a new schedule this year, summer practice time was cut short for all fall teams. This led to the introduction of new weekend practices and the increase in morning practices for football and water polo.
After a disappointing loss to Bellarmine in last years CCS Open Division Championship game, football is looking to reload and come out with a vengeance. The return of junior quarterback Keller Chryst and running back Matt Tolbert (’13) appears to make this possible. The team will be tested early; they open at San Benito on Sept. 7 and then meet rival Archbishop Mitty the following week, in what appears to be the Vikes’ toughest game of their 10-game season.
Girls’ cross-country will be led by last year’s freshman sensation, Katie Foug, and a tested veteran in senior Chika Kasahara. Foug was the only Lady Vike to qualify for last year’s state meet. The girls, as a team, will look to build off their top 10 finish at the CCS meet last year.
As for the girls’ counterparts, the 2012 boys’ cross-country squad looks to rebuild after the departure of standout Nikolai Solgaard (’12). The team will be led by seniors Justin Zheng and Kevin Lavelle. The team is still searching for a replacement for longtime coach Joe Ginnani who left after last season; the team’s first meet is next Thursday.
Girls’ tennis placed fourth in league last year but the graduation of only one senior bodes well for an improved finish this year. Led by juniors Aashli Budhiraja and Felicia Wang, the girls are confident they can qualify for CCS this fall.
The departure of four senior starters has given the girls’ water polo team a tall task. However, team captains Abbey Kinnaman (’13) and Martin Leclerc (’13) are getting the girls in shape and prepared to make a post season run. Last year’s team made it all the way to the CCS semi-finals, but an exciting batch of incoming freshman should make 2012 an impelling year for girls’ wopo.
The boys’ water polo team was riddled with drama last year after parental discontent led to the firing of their head coach, Giovanni Napolitano. This year the boys will be led by new coaches and seniors Quinn Rockwell and Brett Pinsker. Both Rockwell and Pinsker are tested starters and will provide valuable leadership to an otherwise young group of players.
The time has finally come for what appears to be the beginning of an exciting year for Paly athletics.