Player Profile: Savannah Morgan

The Voice caught up with varsity basketball player, Savannah Morgan. This year Savannah is the only senior on the Presentation basketball team. From the looks of it, Savannah is on her way to a successful season with the panthers and a hoops-filled future.

The Voice: How long have you been playing basketball?
Savannah Morgan: I’ve been playing basketball since the year before 4th grade.

V: How did you get started?
SM: I needed something to do during the summer and I didn’t want to go to a summer camp. There was a little girls’ league called G-Ball. My dad took me to try out, even though I didn’t want to, but then I loved it!

V: Where are you playing basketball? How did you choose that school?
SM: I am playing at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. I played on a traveling team this summer and they saw me play at a tournament. Coaches from Emory called me and said they were interested. Then I got to know the coaches better, went to see saw the campus and fell in love.

V: What are you looking forward to most in playing college basketball?
SM: I’m looking forward to getting better, meeting my new teammates, and playing at a higher level.

V: What is your favorite position to play?
SM: I play point guard and it’s my favorite.

V: Do you have any favorite professional teams or players?
SM: I have a lot of favorite players. Right now my favorite player is Tyreke Evans. He plays on The Kings but I don’t really like The Kings.

V: Explain the best game you’ve played in at Pres.
SM: My favorite game was the SI game, the first round of WCAL playoffs last year. We beat them 52-51. The whole team played really well as a team, it all came together in that game, and it felt really good.

V: Being the only senior on the team, what are you doing to be a leader?
SM: I try to help the younger kids as much as I can when they come to ask me questions about plays and what to do in certain situations. And of course I lead by example.

V: What is one goal you are trying to achieve this season with the basketball team?
SM: I’m hoping to win a CCS championship with my team. And beating Mitty.

Player Profile: Emma Caringello

The Voice: How long have you been playing soccer? How did you get into soccer?
EC: I have been playing since I was five and I started in Rec. My parents put me in it because its just one of those sports that everyone plays at that age, and I just stuck with it.

The Voice: Do you play any other sports?
EC: No, I used to swim but I quit before freshman year.

The Voice: Do you play soccer for a club team or just for Presentation?
EC: I play for both a club team, NVLA Storm, as well as at Presentation.

The Voice: What do you like most about soccer?
EC: The team atmosphere and how you are always with the same people so they become your best friends. My best friends have always been on my soccer team.

The Voice: How many days a week do you practice?
EC: I practice two days a week with my team and another day a week by myself or with some other teammates. Then we also have games on the weekends.

The Voice: What teams are going to be your biggest competition this year?
EC: Mitty always has a good team and they have tons of seniors this year. So they will be a good challenge but I think we can do well.

The Voice: What do you believe is your greatest success as a soccer player?
EC: I believe my greatest success would be committing to Boston University and being able to play Division I soccer in college.

The Voice: What position do you play?
EC: I mostly play defense on the outside but I can play in the center too. I sometimes play midfield but not that much.

The Voice: How did you decide on Boston University and how does it feel to be a signed athlete?
EC: The hardest part for me was deciding whether I was going to stay close to home or whether I was going to go across the country. Then I went on my official and I went to a camp at BU and the people were what did it for me. When you live that far away from your actual family, the people become your family. I decided to go to BU because I had such a great experience when I was out there. It feels great especially only having to fill out one application.

The Voice: What is your personal goal this season?
EC: This season I would really like to grow as captain and lead the team well through the season.  It would be great to win a CCS championship my senior year.
The Voice: Have you thought about going pro?
EC: I haven’t ever really thought about going pro.  It would definitely be a challenge and even though I love soccer, it isn’t what I want to do as a job.  It has always been about the game and playing for enjoyment.  I think making it a profession would change the way I love it and put extra pressure on the game.

The Voice: Are you looking forward to playing soccer in college?
EC: I am definitely looking forward to playing in college. I saw a BU game against Harvard when I was out there, and it is definitely a different level but it’s exciting.

The Voice: What keeps you pushing through your last year even after you have signed and are set in terms of college?
EC: Even though I am already “set” in terms of college, I just want to finish the year well. Sometimes it is hard to stay focused on schoolwork, but I don’t want my grades to slip when there is only half the year left.  Even though it’s a cliché, I just want to end high school on a good note.

Player Profile: Tori Tsolis

Tori Tsolis has been running miles and miles with times shorter than anyone in the school. The Voice Newspaper caught up with this star athlete for a quick questionnare:

Voice: How long have you been doing cross country?

Tori Tsolis: This is my second year doing cross country. I started on varsity last season because I ran track freshman year.

Voice: What influenced you to join cross country?

Tori: Mr. Cozort told me that I would not do well in track if I did not do cross country and it sounded fun.

Voice: How do you balance school work and sports?

Tori: It starts getting really hard because I get home late from practices. But it definitely helps me organize my time better.

Voice: What are the responsibilities of being team captain?

Tori: Pretty much just keeping everyone together, staying positive, and being supportive of everyone. I also made a poster for one of the meets which was fun to do.

Voice: Where are the meets held?

Tori: The meets are all over. The first one is in San Francisco, the second one is in Mountain View and the third one is in Crystal Springs at San Mateo.

Voice: How often do you practice and where do you run?

Tori: We practice six times a week at Los Gatos High School and in the Quick Silver Hills. Twice a week we also run at Pres at six in the morning. It’s tough but I like it.

Voice: Do you like track or cross country more?

Tori: I definitely like track a lot more because it is less running. It is more natural to me than running the long distances.

Voice: How do you consider cross country a team sport?

Tori: I consider it a team sport because it takes five people to score. Everyone has to work together to beat certain people. You want to get the lowest score so you can win.

Voice: Have you ever been injured and how did you recover from it?

Tori: Yes, I have a reoccurring hip problem and my knee is actually injured right now. I go to the physical therapist and get deep tissue massages from Julia here at Pres. Hopefully my knee will get better soon.

Voice: Have you ever seen any wildlife when you were running?

Tori: Actually I have. I’ve seen a big snake, a very hairy tarantula, and a super cool peacock while running in Los Gatos.

Voice: How has cross country helped you grow as a person?

Tori: Cross country has helped me become a team player because track is more individual. It also has definitely helped me manage my time. I learned how to be a better leader and how to stay positive.

Player Profile: Hisako Yamato

The Presentation diving team has grown very much in the past four years. The Voice talks to veteran diver Helen Hisako Yamato about her career as a Presentation diver.

Voice: When did you first start diving? How long have you been diving with Pres?

HY: I started diving my sophomore year here at Presentation and I have been diving with Presentation every since. I started diving at Stanford Diving Club summer of 2008.

Voice: What other sports have you played in the past?

HY: I did gymnastics for 10 years before starting diving.

Voice: Why did you decide to get involved in diving? Are there any specific advantages to diving?

HY: I decided to do diving because I had quit gymnastics the year before and I had figured that diving was a sport that I could do that would allow me to use the gymnastics skills I already had.

Voice: What are competitions like?

HY: At competitions, we have a warm up about a half hour before the actual competition. This allows us to practice the dives we plan to do in the meet. And then each diver does 6 dives and we get scored on them. I try to stay focused on what I am doing at the moment and try to do my best.

Voice: What is your favorite thing about diving with Pres?

HY: My favorite thing about diving with Pres is getting to dive with other people and really establishing a team bond with all of the other divers. Another thing I like about it is seeing all of the other divers’ progress and seeing them learn new dives and becoming better divers.

Voice: What is the most difficult part about this sport?

HY: The most difficult part of the sport for me is learning new dives. It can be very scary and intimidating and you don’t always get it right the first time, which can be painful.

Voice: Are you planning on continuing with sports in the future?

HY: I am planning on doing diving while I am in college at Arizona State. If that doesn’t work out, I definitely plan on doing other sports and staying involved in diving by maybe doing some coaching on the side.

Voice: Do you have any funny stories you would like to share?

HY: There have been many funny moments during out practices. But one funny moment was during my first season of diving during my sophomore year. The diving team included me and only one other person, Nickie Ellis. We were at practice one day and our coach, Jen Gonzalez, and her dad were talking and Nickie was listening and she walked straight off of the board. It was a very funny day, to say the least.

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