Volume 36 Issue 6 - Hoffman Estates High School

Sports 7
Hawkeye View March/April 2009
Justin Prince (‘09) holds his form as he plunges through the rings to keep up his
strength.
Photo courtesy of Halcyon
Boys’ Gymnastics raises the bar
Christian Gollayan
Staff Reporter
As the HEHS boys’ gymnastics
season starts, the coaches
and team remain optimistic after
their first two meets.
The current varsity team
is relatively new considering the
numerous seniors they’ve lost.
Regardless, their overall stats of
117.6 as compared to last year’s
117.2, proves to be a small indicator
of this year’s crop of boys’
potential, even with a significant
amount of newcomers entering
the team.
Scott Phillips, head
coach, responds to these numbers
with a positive outlook, citing
the team’s particular strengths
in floor, vault, and parallel bars.
Though when it comes to areas of
improvement, there is much to be
desired in events such as pommel
Boys’ Tennis off to smashing start
Steven Chin
Staff Reporter
A new season of Hoffman
Estates High School tennis has begun,
and there are many news faces.
The seniors from last year will be
missed, but the junior varsity players
from last year will have many chances
to make the varsity team and
make this season a successful one.
“I see our strengths this
year in singles. Tyler Buchinger
and David Krzepicki played as
our number two and three singles
last year so they have the experience
to lead our team this year,”
said Greg Rouse, varsity coach.
Last year, the team placed
fifth in conference and had an overall
record of 5-12. Many of the players feel
this year will be better than last year.
“We have a lot of people
moving up this year, so that will add
to our overall depth and will fill vacated
positions by the seniors that
left,” said Shawn Damodharan 09’.
“Overall I think it will be a pretty
good season with growth and team
Bowling strikes out competition
Renee Zhu
Staff Reporter
The Hofffman Estates
High School girls’ bowling team
had a smashing end to its 2008-
2009 season. All levels of the team
performed strongly, but varsity did
especially well. This year the varsity
team qualified for state, which was
held on February 13 and 14 in Rockford.
When the girls found out
they qualified, some bowlers, even
head coach Dan Pfligler, were somewhat
amazed.
“We were very surprised,”
said Kailey Schlosser (’11) who went
as an alternate. Kara Hartel (’11)
agrees.
“Well, I think we were kind
of in a daze because we were so
shocked that we made it and went
further than anyone else thought we
could. We were all very excited to
get the chance to go to state,” Hartel
said.
The girls finished 20th in
state and only two of the eights girls
chemistry. I have high expectations
to do well as a team.”
Practice begun on March
3, but many of the players have
been working on strength and conditioning
during the off-season.
Players have worked in the weight
room, spin room, on the shelf or
even at a local park playing tennis.
This year was one of the
first that many of the players have
been working out together and
playing together in the off-season.
Currently they are working
on using more backhand shots,
slices, and more offensive play.
While working on the
fundamentals, the players are
also challenging each other for
positions on singles and doubles.
The first meet is against
St. Edward on April 8th so they
have plenty of time to work on
drills and solidifying positions
on the varsity and junior varsity.
“I feel this is going to
be a great year. We have good
team unity this year and we all
get along with one another and
all look for the same outcome: a
good and fulfilling season. This
season will give many players a
shot at a new position and partner,”
said Marko Popovic 09’.
The tennis team has
some big invites this year. The
Hawk Invite will include many
strong MSL teams. The Lake
Park Quad will be a good challenge
for the team. The meet
includes West Aurora and Glenbrook
South, which are teams always
ranked in top ten every year.
The tennis season usually
lasts until mid-May or later. There
are many home meets this year
for the boys’ so there will be many
opportunities to come and watch
them play. This tennis season for
the boys will be one to watch.
“I tell the boys’ team
to always go for your shot and
play your own game. If the boys
can work on playing at the net
and practicing hard, I’m sure the
boys will do well this season,”
said Rouse. “We have the pieces
to be a good team this year.”
had ever competed in state before.
“Working together at
sectionals and cheering for each
other all the time really helped
the girls as a team,” Pfligler said.
“They really worked hard at practice
and learned from their mistakes.”
For aspiring bowlers interested
in participating next year,
Pfligler says that being a part of
the team offers an opportunity to
learn bowling skills, have fun and
be a team player.
“It’s great for your friendship
and concentrations skills,”
said Cate Brown (’12). “If you
want to be in bowling, or have an
interest in it, just go for it.”
For girls who want to
make it to varsity next year, Pfligler
advised to get involved this
summer with summer camps and
to keep working hard. “You’ve got
to develop a good attitude,” he
said.
Being a part of the bowling
team taught the girls many
other things besides the techniques.
“I have learned that
when you’re not doing so well,
you always have teammates to
help you out. You’re not alone,”
said Hartel. “You’ve got to think
about your team and not just yourself.”
The girls believe that
bowling is a great way to have fun
and to make friends. However,
they never lose sight of their goal.
The girls made it a goal at the beginning
of the year to finish in the
top three at conference, and almost
achieved it when they placed
fourth.
“We will definitely work
hard again next year to reach the
top three at conference and hopefully
see another trip to state,” said
Pfligler.
Hartel has similar goals
for herself and the team. “I’m
looking forward to working with
the team and raising the expectations
people have for us. I think
we could make it pretty far next
season; we just have to work hard
and put our minds to it,” she said.
horse and the high bars.
Coaches David Calisch,
Ryan Brown, and Phillips have
strived to focus in on these weaknesses
by working with both Varsity
and Junior Varsity members.
“All three of us work in
rotation with all the boys to provide
a holistic approach with our varying
strengths in certain events,”
said Phillips. “It’s something that
most other schools don’t do.”
This unique form of
coaching resonated with the boys,
such as Marcos Galvan (‘11). “I really
like how all three of them are
helping us individually; it definitely
gives more opportunities to improve
and lets us get to know each
coach better,” he said.
Even with the favorable
outlook, Phillips is adamant about
nailing the basics. “It’s always been
a goal of ours to fulfill basic event
requirements,” he said. “We’re currently
focused on breaking the 120
barrier, and if our performance is
consistent, our ultimate target is to
reach 130.”
Of course, it’s always
been every team’s goal to send at
least two or three athletes to state.
This year’s seniors Brian Manadero
(‘09) and Justin Price (‘09) are
looking to be state bound in the
coming months.
With a strong crop of seniors
leaving, coaches are already
starting to look ahead. “Right now
with the handful of varsity boys
that we have, and even fewer juniors,
we’re really emphasizing on
the lower levels to fill these shoes,”
said Phillips. Current juniors such
as Joe Naka (‘10) are expected to
take the leadership positions next
year.
For all the pressure that
is weighing on this year’s seniors,
Tunde Aransiola (‘09) is taking this
all in stride. “It’s definitely hard
work, but I’m always excited working
with everyone on the team in
every practice, every meet.”
Girls’ Track takes off
Agniezska Bar
Staff Reporter
After a strong start, the
Hoffman Estates High School
Girl’s Track Team is aiming to end
their indoor season with a victory
at conference on Saturday, March
21.
The team already has several
girls qualified for this year’s
state tournament, including the
two mile relay. aIf they succeed,
this would be the track team’s first
time to win conference in Hoffman’s
history.
“We having a very good
year,” said head coach, Daniel Andersen,
Science Department. He
said that because the team has expanded
in size and many talented
freshmen joined, the team has
been able to make vast improvements.
Hannah Worman (’10), a
varsity runner agrees, saying that
“a lot of young talented runners
came out this year.”
Worman also says that
because of the new members
and hard training over the winter,
“times are already faster then
what they were last year.” Teammate
Kati Mattes (’10) adds that
the team is off to a good start and
is hopefully going to compete at
a higher level and place better in
competitions.
The team’s improvement
is evident and can be seen
with their impressive record and
numerous wins in various invites.
They have been practicing since
February 2nd, but many of the
girls run all year.
They had a great season
last year, and with new members
and hard work, they are planning
to make this one even better. The
determination to do better than
last year is pushing many girls to
try their best.
Grace Watkins (’10), a
runner, is very excited about conference
and thinks anything is possible.
She has been on the track
team for three years and states that
this year is definitely the best one.
Besides a victory at conference,
Anderson hopes the girls
will win some medals at this year’s
state tournament.
Photo by Joseph Winner
Melissa Schmidt (‘10) flies past competitors at a recent track meet during the 800 meter run.
The track is continuing to set record times while representing Hoffman.