NBA Preview

The 2010- 2011 NBA season is underway as thirty teams take the court, hoping to make a name for themselves as they begin the new season. Much early attention was paid to the Miami Heat as they gained two NBA hot-shots, LeBron James and Chris Bosh, as well as contributions from their returning star Dwanye Wade, critics said that they were going to be the team to beat this year. However, an early loss by the Heat surprised spectators. The three stars clashed as they all battled for the spotlight, causing disjointed playing within the team.

While most writers would agree that Miami Heat will ultimately  prevail at the end of the season, NBA sports writer Marc Spears stated in an e-mail interview, “There was a lot of talk about LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwanye Wade entering the NBA season. But the team that should have been talked about the most was the two-time reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers.”  

As the Los Angeles Lakers enter another season, they appear to have an upper hand yet again this year with the gain of veterans Steve Blake, Matt Barnes and Theo Ratliff, along with their star player Kobe Bryant. The newly-obtained players have provided the Lakers with a stronger bench, which was their weakness last season. Contributing players on the Lakers, such as Lamar Odom, have stepped up their game this year as they fight to win their third consecutive championship.

In addition to the Lakers, the Boston Celtics have recently made a name for themselves, as they have closely battled the Lakers in the championships two years in a row. “The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics have the biggest advantage due to their familiarity, camaraderie, experience, super coach and overall talent,”said Spears. “Both teams have most of their key players returning while adding quality veterans who fit needed roles. If both teams remain healthy, expect the Lakers and Celtics to be playing in the NBA Finals for the third time in four years this season.”

With the spotlight away from the previous champions, many underdog teams have stepped up in surprising winning streaks and have displayed promise. One team in particular that has taken a remarkable step up since past years is the New Orleans Hornets, who are currently 13-5. Hornets’ star player Chris Paul, who has returned this year after recovering from a torn meniscus, has led his team to amazing successes so far. Another contributing factor to the success of the Hornets is newly-hired coach Monty Williams, who was the assistant coach for the Portland Trailblazers last season.

Locally, the Golden State Warriors have started off much better than usual this season. Starting with a winning record at home, the Warriors have stepped up their game in hopes to bring the Bay Area basketball fans to their feet as they did in 2007. The Warriors’ success this season has sprouted from two key components. During the off-season, the Warriors hired Coach Keith Smart. Smart has worked to develop the Warriors’ defensive skills, which was a huge struggle in prior seasons. Along with gaining a new coach, the Warriors have picked up one of the best defensive players in the NBA, David Lee. Lee’s rebounding abilities have given the Warriors a defensive advantage that will ultimately lead them to success. The health of the Warriors is revitalized, and their spirits are high coming into the new season.

Regardless of what the opinions of the critics may be, the NBA season has just begun, leaving a lot of time for improvements as well as upsets.  The 2010 NBA season should be a promising one for the reigning champions and the Bay Area Warriors as well.

Cutting: The Burden of Emotional Stress

On Nov. 8, Demi Lovato, the Disney Channel star most known for her role in Sonny with a Chance, checked herself into a medical center for professional help and therapy to help her deal with eating disorders and cutting. Besides proving how the celebrity world can destroy a person at any age, this also demonstrates that the issue of cutting can affect anyone, even those who least expect it.

KidsHealth.org states, “Injuring yourself on purpose by making scratches or cuts on your body with a sharp object — enough to break the skin and make it bleed — is called cutting.” The act of cutting is a form of self-injury that is used to control emotional pain. It is cutting through one’s skin in common areas of the arms, thighs, wrists and/or even hips. It is important to know that cutting is not a suicide attempt. Self-injury may feel like a way of “waking up” from a sense of numbness after a traumatic experience.

The average age of beginner cutters is between ages 11 to 14, and it is reported that girls do it more than boys. Statistics show that about 1% of the population of the United States cuts.

These practices of cutting have been going on for decades if not centuries, but it has become less secretive in the past two decades. One of Presentation’s guidance counselors, Ms. Schrader, noted, “Cutting, in the past few years, has become the new anorexia and is used as a way for students to feel relief over ‘gaining control’ of situations.”

Once the compulsion to cut is acted upon enough times, it can become a compulsive behavior, just like any bad habit. Usually, when someone is that anxious and stressed, the cutting creates a “high” and certain rush that makes the act addictive. The addiction can happen to anyone, even the least expected.

Veronica* student said, “My friend cut because she never talked about her feelings and needed release, but no one could expect it of her because she was a 4.8 student and a top soccer player. Stress just took over.”

At times, people cut to fit in. Teenagers and young adults have often behaved in ways that they believe will make them popular and fit in, such as drinking and smoking, but now cutting has made that list.

Yes, cutting has become a factor in our society today, but has it affected Presentation? Ms. Schrader believes that it has. “There are a lot of factors to the blanket of stress that leads anyone to cutting, and I think college, technology and expectations play big roles, especially in Presentation.”

Ms. Schrader handles students who have cut or are thinking about cutting by referring them to outside counseling. She calls parents if the student does not want to face them herself because a common symptom of cutting is shame. Ms. Schrader says, “I will not bring up the cutting or why the student wants or needs the outside therapy unless the student asks me to.”

There are common signs of cutters to watch out for. These signs are not always the case of the classic cutter because cutting affects all people. If someone starts wearing long sleeve shirts or many bracelets, talk to them.

Anyone can give into the thought of cutting because it is not a thought-out process; it is an impulse brought on by extravagant emotional pain or stress, yearning to be shown. Cutting is brought on by emotions such as anger, hurt, shame, frustration or alienation. When these emotions aren’t expressed in a healthy manner, tension can be built up and eventually make a person snap.

Most importantly, if you are worried that one of your friends is cutting or if you are cutting secretly, please follow TeensHealth’s to-do list: talk to someone, figure out what emotion is triggering the cutting, ask for help and work on it. Once one is a cutter, she will always be a cutter because relapses can happen.

Veronica* says in order to remind Presentation, “Relapses do happen, especially in times of intense stress, so watch for your friends and yourself.”

Ms. Schrader finds out about most of the cutting at Presentation from the cutter’s friend who has come to her stating that they are worried and concerned for their classmate. Cutting usually comes about because of an underlying reason.

Velma*, “There is a huge misconception in cutting in that it is done for attention, but really it isn’t. When I found out my friend was cutting, I thought she was being dramatic, but it turns out that she really did believe she needed to be punished.”

No one can force someone who self-injures to stop by getting angry and lecturing them on how wrong self-inflicted pain is. Instead, letting a friend know you care and telling them that they deserve to be happy is more successful.

Overall, a new coping method is necessary because the act of cutting is very unhealthy, and if one damages their body, they degrade it. One way to help fight against this self-damaging act is writing “Love” on the wrist, like in the picture provided. It has been done throughout the world to spread awareness.

*Names have been changed

Game of the Month

 

On Wednesday the 27th, varsity volleyball put on their game faces and stepped on their home court to challenge St. Francis for their final WCAL league game. With three defeats over St. Francis, Presentation had the upper hand, but in a shocking finish St. Francis took the win 4-1.

Tough playing by both teams kept the excitement high and the crowd on their feet, but St. Francis brought their A game, and it was difficult to break their determination. With the loss, Presentation ended up with a record of 22-3.

After our senior stars were announced and applauded, the starting lineup stepped onto the court. Seniors Sarah Cole, Katie Pearson, Molly Pearson, Katy Shatzman as Libero and Katy Tagart set up in their starting positions accompanied by junior Ronnie Bither.

The first game started with high enthusiasm from St. Francis as they took the first two points of the match, but a quick change of

stamina sparked when Tagart hit a hard spike to gain Presentation’s first point. The game was back and forth as hard-hitting action took place on both sides of the court. A back-to-back spike by Cole and Sklar put Pres in the lead; but due to some hard Lancer spikes, St. Francis took the first game 25-19.

St. Francis’ athleticism provided them with a 4-0 lead over Pres in the beginning of the second game, but an out-of-bounds hit from St. Francis provided Pres with the side out needed to rekindle their high spirits. A spike by Sklar and a conjoined block by Tagart and Pearson led Pres to their next couple points, but an error by Pres put St. Francis back in the lead.

The energy change in this game moved with celerity and an amazing tip by Tagart brought Pres back in the game. Back and forth points from both teams resulted in St. Francis taking the win in this close match with a final score of 25-22.

The third game started again with St. Francis grasping the lead, but they did not hold onto it for long. Fans and players were on their feet when Sklar blocked a powerful hit from St. Francis; this exciting play gave Pres room to add to their score and get back into the game. A run from Presentation–including a block from Pearson and a powerful spike by Cole–brought Pres to a 22-18 lead over St. Francis; this was their biggest lead of the night.

One out hit brought St. Francis’s spirit back up and they succeeded in catching up and now only trailed by two points. Another incredible block by Pearson and Bither put the 24th point on the board, and with a hit in the net by St. Francis, Pres took the match 25-23.

St. Francis led the beginning of the fourth game, but, with no surprise, junior Sklar put points on the board for Pres with a strong spike. St. Francis led the Panthers 12-6. Cole raised the energy for Pres once again with a nerve-racking tip. The determination level remained high in the fourth game. Sklar finished off a long-lasting rally with an amazing spike. Pres battled hard to gain back the points lost by minuscule mistakes, but unluckily St. Francis ended up taking the fourth match 25-18 to win the game.

Senior Sarah Cole says that despite their loss this game was a turning point for their team. “I think we all would agree that it was an opportunity for us to really come together as a team, which we hadn’t ever fully done,” she said.

Presentation Volleyball was able to bounce back the following weekend and commandeer the title of #1 team in the country. The team went undefeated at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, where they faced St. Francis once again. Presentation received first place in the tournament and St. Francis was placed in 9th.

Presentation played St. Francis on November 4 for co-champions of WCAL.

Senior Sports Scholarships

A continuation of our article from last month highlighting seniors who have been recruited by and have committed to colleges.

Stephanie Sorg

Recruited for: soccer

Committed to: Santa Clara University

Sports Career: Has been playing since age seven.

Achievements: CCS finals freshman year, First Team All-WCAL sophomore and junior years     and First Team All-Country junior year.

“The part I most enjoy about playing soccer is competing against the other top teams in the country and meeting new people.”

Briana Fujii

 Recruited for: softball

Committed to: Villanova University

Sport Career: Began playing at age five and competitively at age 10.

Achievements: Honorable mention in the San Jose Mercury News junior year.

“Softball has been my passion my entire life.  Being able to play Division 1 softball for the next four years is something I always dreamed of, and now it has finally come true.  Just being on the field and playing brings me joy.”

Jennifer Randazzo

Recruited for: soccer

Committed to: UC Irvine

Achievements: Named Freshman of the Year in the San Jose Mercury News, honorable mention at CCS in 2007, honorable mention at WCAL in 2009, first place team at WCAL junior in 2010.

“I just love playing soccer and I love being a part of a team where we can challenge each other to be the best we can be. Also, you make a lot of new friends along the way.”

Try-outs and Training

It’s safe to say that starting a new school year brings academic worries. Hard classes and an overload of homework are the talk of the halls, but what else causes worry for students stepping back onto the Pres campus after summer vacation? For many, it’s the first day of tryouts.

Most athletes spend the whole of their summer vacation training in the hopes of gaining a spot on varsity. Most student athletes think they know what skills they need to display to their coaches in order to prove themselves, but what are the coaches actually searching for? Is it speed, stamina, or the ability to perfect movement? All of these qualities are vital in the tryout process, but they are not all that coaches focus on.

According to several Pres coaches, this year’s tryouts have been more difficult than previous years;

“The girls are more competitive this year, on both JV and varsity, they are all very good this year.”

the level of competitiveness among the returning athletes has risen. Athletes have taken the initiative to play not only during high school season, but at least six months out of the year on club teams as well.

“ The girls are more competitive this year, on both JV and varsity, they are all very good this year.” says Mr. Schmuck, JV golf coach.The increased commitment to sports has given this year’s coaches the opportunity to raise the standards this season and create a better, more skilled team. When going into tryouts at the beginning of the year, coaches look for those players that have put in effort during their off seasons.“I look for girls who have made an effort to maintain their physical shape over summer,” says Mr. Garbo, coach of the varsity volleyball team this year. That means not spending weeks sitting on the couch watching movies and eating popcorn.

“Tryouts started with double days on the field. We looked for

the girls who could complete the 20-minute run around the soccer field,” said Mr. Garbo. The double days may have helpful for coaches, but Natalie Samson, freshman, said, “Tryouts were too many days. They could have been shorter.”

However, this increased summer effort by the athletes has proven to give them an upper hand, as many have stated that the tryouts were “not really hard” this year.

But physical wellness and ability to perfect and carry out skills are not all that coaches are focusing on this season. Mr. Garbo, Mr. Schmuck, and Travis Wyckoff, varsity Water Polo coach, have all expressed the importance of teamwork this time around. Mr. Garbo specifically named “vocal leaders” and players who are willing to be “selfless” as potential leaders of the group.

In some sports, teamwork meant that varsity and JV practiced together. Mr. Schmuck confirmed, “There is no distinguishing between varsity players and JV players; we all practice together.” This unity has led to success in the recent golf seasons.

For other sports, however, this team unity has presented difficulties for the players. “The difficult part of tryouts was that they didn’t separate players based on ability, so it was hard to play with people of different levels,” said Kathryn Daugherty, a member of this year’s freshman volleyball team.

In the pool, teamwork is just as important as individual skills. “We plan to play girls where they do their best work,” says Travis.

Though coaches plan to focus on teamwork this season, they are also looking for serious commitment from their returning players. “We look for the increase in interest and competition,” said Mr. Wyckoff. “Expectation for returning players is higher.”

All of this year’s coaches would agree that teamwork is ultimately what leads to success, but the competitive spark is what carries a team through a tough season. They are all looking forward to the accomplishments and enjoyment that this year will bring.

So put on your uniform and get on the field or in the water and show your coaches all of the effort you have put in during the summer. Remember to work as a team and be mindful of everyone else. This should be a good year for Presentation sports, so show us what you’ve got.

Senior Scholarships

 

Julia Peters

Schools: UCLA, Cal, Stanford,

Harvard, UC Irvine, ASU,

University of

Hawaii, Santa Clara University,

and University of Maryland.

Sport: Water polo

“I have been playing since I was

8 or 9 years old and have been

playing

at Pres since my freshman

year. I have been on the youth

national team for two years

and am currently on the junior

national team.”

Katy Schatzman

School: Santa Clara University

Sport: Volleyball

“I have played varsity volleyball

for three years now. I have also

played club for six years at Vision

Volleyball Club. This year

my team got a bronze medal at

Junior Olympics.”

Mariko Tumangan

School: Stanford University

Sport: Golf

“I have played varsity golf for my

past three years at Pres. In those

three years, I have won WCAL

as an individual every year. Last

year, I shot a record breaking 62

at Rancho Canada to win CCS

and blowout the rest of the field

by 7 shots. I played in the U.S

Women’s Open in 2009. This past

summer I made it to the quarterfinals

at the

Girl’s Junior Amateur in North

Carolina.”

Every year, students in various high schools get scouted for exceptional athletic abilities. Seven

Presentation seniors have been recruited for sports through many different colleges.

Nici Gilday

School: Santa Clara University

Sport: Basketball

“I have committed to play on a

full-ride at Santa Clara University.

I have played varsity basketball

four years at Pres and have also

played for a club team called

Metro San Jose.”

Sarah Cole

School: UC Davis

Sport: Volleyball

“My dad got me started in

volleyball at a very young age,

but it wasn’t until seventh

grade that I was introduced to

a competitive setting. That’s

when I started club, which I’ve

played ever since. At Pres I

started on JV and then continued

to play two years for the

Varsity team.”

Congratulations as well to Brigitte Hoffman and JenniferRandazzo who received scholarships to LMU for Volleyball and UC Irvine for soccer.

All Stars On and Off the Field

We often find it difficult to listen to the wisdom of elders, teachers and parents. We would rather drown them out with iPods and remixes of the latest and most popular music than listen to the trite spiels discussing educational values. But sports give off a different effect. Sports often teach students lessons and skills without the 60-minute lecture attached. Student athletes learn to budget their time, collaborate with others and take responsibility for their actions.
“My academic life revolves around my planner,” said junior Emily Wolf who plays field hockey for Presentation. Involvement in sports forces students to take their work seriously, allotting time in their evening routine for papers, projects, reading assignments and last minute cramming. The lack of excess time after school often minimizes the amount of time students waste lurking on Facebook or vegging out on the sofa. In fact, according to a study at Marietta College, student athletes performed better during season than out of season. Optimal GPAs were achieved following regularly scheduled practices, games and work out sessions.
Betsey Stevenson, an economist at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, said, “It’s not just that the people who are going to do well in life play sports, but that sports help people do better in life,” she said, adding, “While I only show this for girls, it’s reasonable to believe it’s true for boys as well,” following an extensive study on sports participation and educational achievement.
Sports teach athletes long-term skills and assets needed for success in the real world. It promotes and indirectly emphasizes team building, leadership, endurance, positivity, problem solving, creativity and the ability to read others. Athletes are expected to envision the field or area of play through strategic analysis and accurate body positioning. Athletes must learn to work well with others in order to achieve a greater goal, mediating disputes and reconciling differences. This is the key to team cohesion and ultimately success.
The emergence of team solidarity develops through the ties of friendship and sisterhood. Friendship, more so than any score or trophy, is a lasting testimony to the success of any team. Friends are tangible memories, serving as the legacy of the team and its accomplishments. “Friends become family,” said sophomore Kayla Bose who plays varsity basketball. While knees, joints, and other body parts may give out over time, bearing the scars of a dedicated athlete, friends will last forever.

Spending time out on the field is also said to relieve stress and the burden of excessive amounts of homework. According to an article by Joseph Plazo of StressLive.Com, “It’s imperative to partake in physical exercise because inspiring the body refreshes the mind. Our brain requires activity by the rest of our body in order to regenerate the senses and enhance performance.” Exercise is an essential component of mental and physical help, much like sleeping and eating. Junior and golfer Jessie Walsh said, “Sports is an outlet for stress. It gets your mind off school.”
For many Presentation students, dedication to both sports and academics is a testament to their willingness to balance their lives in order to learn lifelong skills, forge bonds of friendship, and relieve stress on the court, field, diamond, green, track, or wherever their sport takes them. Despite the struggles of the daily balancing act, many students find involvement in sports rewarding. For some, it boosts self-esteem and confidence along with lasting implications for their future.

Sports are teachers without white boards, tests without grades, and homework assignments without point values. Athletes are evaluated by their ability to work with others, make progress, and think logically. It’s not about whether you make the grade; it’s about learning from mistakes and taking away the greater message.

Game of December: Varsity Basketball

The Panther’s Varsity Basketball team took on the Evergreen High School Cougars on December 8, 2009, and came out with a strong win of 76-43 by the end of the night, making their league count 2-0-0.

Nici Gilday, a guard who has been on the Presentation Varsity team since her freshman year, was proud of the game and the outcome. “The second half really picked up. What it all really comes down to is that we are a lot more disciplined than all the other teams we have been playing. We keep fighting until the end.”

As the team started every home game, senior Savanna Morgan led the team out of the gym foyer of Presentation High School by jumping up and hitting the sign of hope written on the gym wall. It says ‘Hard Work + Determination = CHAMPION.’ When Gilday was asked why the team did such a ritual, she commented, “We started that last year, and we hit it because it is a true testimony of what we believe. A creed, really.”

The starting lineup strutted onto the court, confident with their size and skill. Molly Pearson towered over Evergreen’s center for the tip-off, taking the ball for Presentation for the start of the game. Within the first couple of plays, the Panther’s energy shone, although shots were falling short and no shots made it in the basket. By the six minute mark, the only score on the board was 1-0 from a foul shot. Soon after, Gilday put up a shot from a breakaway, making the score 3-0. Evergreen kept fighting, but by the end of the first quarter, Presentation still came out on top.

The second quarter consisted of a lot of fouls and baskets. At the end of the half, the score was 34-15. The crowd was happy with the first half, but left room for improvement. One person in the crowd, Taylor Johnson, said, “I love going to support my friends on the team, and it’s a good feeling when your team does better because they know you are there supporting them. The second half had so much more energy in the air.”

The foul list for the home team reached up to 19 team fouls by the end of the night, showing their aggression and desire to win the game at any cost. Forward Chelsea Punian’s aggression tallied up four fouls. Cooling was very happy with the speed of the game, and how the team has been doing this season. “Our team is just winning everything in dominating fashion.” With the crowd’s support, who wouldn’t want to show their panther pride?

Credit for the win not only goes to the Varsity Basketball team, but also to the coaches, Wade Nakamura and Adam Blightman. Assistant Athletic Director Stacey Mallison, who was there to support her team, found the game exciting and was proud to see their success. “So far this season, everything looks good. There is a lot of potential and talent out on that court,” she said. “The game showed me that their speed of play has increased exponentially.”

Congratulations to the mighty strong basketball team, for not only did they defeat Evergreen, but they won the Pinewood Classic Tournament, winning the championship game 50-33. This leaves their current record at 5-0-0. The whole school is waiting to see how the Varsity Basketball team will do the rest of the season! After Christmas break, check out the following games: Valley Christian at Presentation on Wednesday January 6, 2010 at 7:30 pm AND Archbishop Mitty at Presentation on Wednesday January 13, 2010 at 7:30 pm.

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