Parts of a whole
For every fan that attends a game, there is an athlete that strives for success during practice; for the athletes that play, there is a coach that helps motivate and train them. These essential pieces are all part of a whole that create love of the game; in Peninsula’s case, the pieces are the athletes, the coaches and the Zoo.
Athletes love the sports they play for many different reasons. For junior water polo player Hannah McGuinness, it’s the exhilarating feeling whenever she steps into the pool. For senior basketball captain Jason Burr, it’s creating bonds with his teammates. For others, it’s the mental reprieve from academic loads because all concentration must be on the present moment. Regardless of the reason, more often than not, love of the game leads to improved athletic performance.
“I love the adrenaline rush I get from playing in games,” McGuinness said. “Every mistake I make drives me to work harder to improve myself.”
Athletes spend hours training, practicing and working out to prepare themselves for an upcoming season or game, many doing more than the scheduled practice. Senior softball player and Ole Miss commit Soraya Shabazian has been playing softball for almost 14 years. She plays on a club team, drives to Temecula for practices on the weekends and conditions about six times a week. Shabazian is not alone: Many athletes spend hours improving their sport and sacrifice studying, sleep and social functions.
“I miss out on dances, Friday night football games, parties and even family time, but the sacrifices are worth it,” Shabazian said.
It also takes coaches and athletes spending countless number hours together for the team to improve as a whole. With the support they offer, coaches often form a bond with their athletes and can impact them in many ways. Track coach Dale Thompson trains his athletes for the sport while also instilling important life traits, such as character, discipline and integrity.
“My hope is that [my athletes gain skills] that will be able to use in their everyday lives when they go into endeavors beyond sports,” Thompson said.
Senior varsity soccer captain Victoria Buda has found that her coaches create a enjoyable, competitive environment.
“They push me to reach beyond my potential and make me reach goals in my soccer career that I never knew I had in me,” Buda said. “I really feel like I am not just a player, but a part of a family. They really show they care about you, more than just a player.”
The cheering section of any sport can play a role in a game’s final score and with enough cheering, the crowd can help athletes remain focused and pumped to win the game. The Zoo, led by Associated Student Body-appointed Zookeepers, vocalizes such support. Clad in animal costumes and school-identifying garments, students show their fandom.
“The idea was created by the creative students that were attending this school at the time,” Activities Director Season Pollock said. “They thought it would be funny and entertaining to dress up as animals for the cheering section.”
Each year, the Zoo is kept under careful watch by its Zookeepers. This year’s elected seniors and keepers Max Shafer and Jordi Adomie work to keep fans wild for their own athletes, but respectful of the opposing team.
