Winter Sports Preview

By Staff Writers Kanupriya Goyal, Kelly Shi, & Leland Yu

Girls Soccer

As winter approaches, Girls Soccer is preparing for a year of growth, fun, and connection. Co-Captain Senior Ima Nissler hopes to maintain a positive overall environment while assisting players to refine their skills and strengthen their chemistry on the field. She’s optimistic about the season ahead, especially with several talented freshman prospects. The team has already been reconnecting through summer captain’s clinics, which the captains hosted themselves at MSJ to give players the chance to brush up on their ball control and get back into the rhythm. The hope is to secure a few more wins and really grow as a team.

Boys Soccer 

Varsity Boys Soccer is hitting the field hard with determination and focus this season. During the off-season, players stayed active through activities including club soccer, running, and working out at the gym. The team plans to improve this season by shooting and passing smarter, as well as maintaining a positive atmosphere overall. Dedication and attendance of practices are key points of emphasis, as it is a crucial part to building team chemistry, improving skills, and maintaining a cohesive strategy on the field. With many seniors graduating from the year before, many younger players have stepped up to take on larger roles. “Having the same drive and dedication [is] universal among everyone on the team … where everyone’s on the same page, everyone wants to win, everyone’s on the same level of mentality. I think that’s something that’s very key to the success of the team,” Central Midfielder Sophomore Ragav Ravi said.

Girls Basketball

This year, Girls Basketball is gearing up for another season of teamwork and determination. They hope to strengthen their sense of unity and spirit both on and off the court through team bonding and consistent effort in practices. Preseason training has already set the tone for their season ahead, from two-mile runs around campus to scrimmages and weight training. “I think on court we’re good at executing our play and getting back on defense, and also going hard at practice,” Co-Captain Senior Stephanie Yu said. She’s especially looking forward to the alumni game, which is a nostalgic tradition that brings together past and present players, and the West Coast Jamboree Tournament over winter break, where the team will face off against schools from California.

Boys Basketball 

As winter gets closer, Boys Basketball is putting in work during the off-season to prepare for a strong and competitive season ahead. During the off-season, the team held daily open gyms and conditioning sessions to stay in shape and maintain their feel for the basketball on court. As seniors return for a final season and new players step up to contribute, the team is leaning on strong leadership from the upperclassmen while integrating new talent. “I plan on learning a lot from the upperclassmen on the team that can help, [and] that can have a lot of insight on how I can be better,” Forward Sophomore Will Chapman said. Like past years, the basketball team consists of much smaller players than other schools, making defending, rebounding, and finishing at the rim more challenging. To compensate, the team will rely on their speed, agility, and basketball IQ to flourish in the season. 

Boys and Girls Wrestling

Boys and Girls Wrestling gear up for another thrilling and competitive season under Coach Ahmed Alwan’s guidance. After being a volunteer assistant last year, Alwan returned as head coach for both Girls and Boys Wrestling. After seven seniors graduated from the Boys Wrestling team, the squad looks to rebuild the group with returning athletes and a mix of new talents. “I’d say strength wise, [we’re] pretty confident in some of our abilities, and we’ve got a lot of enthusiasm for the sport,” Co-Captain Junior Orion Chau said. During off-season, members of the wrestling team stay in shape by running or working out, while also looking for as many wrestling opportunities as possible through either local competitions or friendly matchups. One of their aspiring goals this season is to win as many of the dual meets as possible against other schools.