For the first time in eleven years, my school has a boy’s volleyball team and we have done shockingly well. To begin I play middle blocker, which means that I only play in the front row of the court (against the net) and my main goal is to be a wall that blocks the enemy team’s spikes. I also occasionally spike the ball myself. Going back to the volleyball team as a whole, this season we went 4-5 and made it to CIF as third in the league. Sadly we lost our first match in CIF, but for a team of kids that are just learning how to play the sport, we did quite well. To cover the CIF match we were down for the majority of the first two sets but gained a small lead in the third set but we soon lost that lead and eventually lost the match. I think that we played the best we have all season at that specific match and we still have so much room to grow individually, as well as a team. If all of us put our minds to it and work hard we will get there and eventually destroy the league we play in and get first in the league.
Yoooooo so Volleyball made CIF somehow, even though we’re like 5-4 in the league. But it’s gonna be lit. We leave at two in the afternoon and the game starts at six in the evening so that’s really cool. We’re gonna be back at like 11 or 12 or something crazy like that, which is so ass, but I’m still excited. It’s hopefully gonna be an incredible game and we’re all super excited. It’s like the culmination of everything we’ve worked for this whole sports season and we are not gonna go quietly. We all love Volleyball and are all beyond passionate about it and cannot wait for the game. Anyway, wish us luck because we are gonna need it.
Ever since I became involved in sports I had always thought of CIF as the place where the best of the best go to compete. I never thought in a million years I would make it there, especially for cross country.
Photo Credit: MomoeTakamatsu
This past weekend, my high school girls’ cross country team (only consisting of five members), our two coaches and a few key members of our support group, made the long haul to Riverside, California. It was an all day event, starting from the early hours of the morning and not returning until well after the sun had gone down. The traffic was horrendous, the dust was suffocating (leaving us with the worst “runner’s cough,”) and the pain felt never ending.
I would do it all over again.
This is a memory I will cherish and I will always be grateful for being given this opportunity. The traffic, coughing and eternal pain, pale in comparison to the memories we made that day. The girls, some I knew from years before and some I just met this year, are now like sisters to me. All the long practices, blisters, sweat, tears and countless times of feeling like our chests were going to explode or we were going to lose our lunches, brought us together in an unexplainable bond.
Photo Credit: Momoe Takamatsu
Running has changed me and made me into the person I am. It has taught me so much more than just how to breathe or use my arms to make it up a hill. It has done more than just help me get into shape. It has been tough and very painful but it has taught me a sense of commitment, strength, and family.
I would have never experianced any of this if it wasn’t for my coach.
Our coach shared with us after the race that we were the first team he’s ever taken to CIF. When he told us how proud he was and how much growth he’s seen in us, it brought tears to my eyes. I have been running for him since my freshman year. I am now a senior and this past race was my final one. This man that I call a coach, teacher, advisor, and friend is the most generous and inspiring man I know. He has been there cheering me on and encouraging me more times than I can count. He is like a second father to me, pushing me to the point that I want to yell back, but always knowing what’s best for me, supporting me to no end. Turning my jersey in means so much more than just an end to a sports season. It is an end to that chapter in my life, but not an end to the friendship that was made. I know that will always be there and he will always be there, cheering me on at the finish line.
Today, two of my toenails fell off after my final season of track here at Ojai Valley School.
My roommate and I were talking about this to our coach (thebrownguy) and we were discussing how it is almost a badge of honor to have toenails that fall off. It shows our character and dedication in running, that despite the pain that comes with running, we give it our all.
My roommate’s toenail fell off a few days ago.
Now, let me tell you, this girl can run.
She was a new student this year and came to take advantage of the track team at our school. Her previous school did not have track as a sport. Now, for a girl who had no prior official track team training, she did fantastic.
My roommate broke several personal records, brought home multiple first place medals, broke a meet record, and even took the title of Condor League MVP this season. But this is not the crowning point in her high school track career. She ran at the CIF preliminary meet, placed second in her heat, and qualified for finals.
She is one of the most dedicated people I know. And dedication is not something you can fake. When I look at her run, its inspiring. The way she pushes herself to the hardest during practice and the way she takes such tender care of her feet afterwards is just fantastic. There is nobody I know that is as dedicated as her. And all of that dedication stems from her pure love for the sport. She loves running. And that is what makes her good.
Now, my roommate can be hard on herself sometimes but I hope when she reads this, she realizes how great she actually is.
She will only get better as she gets older. College is going to be fantastic for you. I just can’t wait to see how well you do, even in your first year in college. I know you will go on to do such great things!
And so back to the topic of toenails. Now that we have established them to be badges of honor, you deserve to have all of your toenails fall off.
Last Saturday was CIF Southern section division 4 preliminaries track meet at Carpinteria high school. It was pretty cold and cloudy, but perfect for running.
I ran the 1600 at 1 O’clock, and the 800 at around 3 O’clock. There were so many schools there which made me nervous. However, in the 1600 I could run my hardest and I was satisfied with what I ran. In the 800, I feel like I should’ve done better, but I think I did my best, so it’s all good.
I’d like to thank (krapyrres) and (r3t5nom) so much for coming and cheering me on. You have no idea how much it helped me and pumped me up.
Thank you so much for (thebrownguy) for taking me there and calming me down.
I want to start off by saying this, Reika Kijima who is a student at my school is one of the most amazing athletes I have ever had the chance to meet personally. Aside from being an impressive athlete she is also an amazing person and someone im proud to call my friend.
Saturday May 12th I had the opportunity to tag along to the CIF preliminaries with Reika, our friend Serry, and lets not forget to mention the great track&field coach and history teacher Mr. Alvarez. In my head I never expected to see the level of running that I ended up witnessing throughout the day. I saw a high school runner run the 100 meters in 10.73 seconds… that is insanity.
But truth be told we were there for one person only, we were there to support our runner girl Reika Kijima!!!
Reika left me in awe when I got to watch her drop her personal best time in the 1600M from 5 minutes 20 seconds to 5 minutes 9 seconds. It was amazing to see her do such great work, hard work which played off in the end when she placed second in her heat and earned a spot in CIF finals next coming saturday!!!!!!
Intensity and concentration are always awesome elements to witness in an athlete.
This next image to me captures everything there is between a runner and her coach, a beautiful bond that will last forever.
I’ll be there next Saturday cheering you on runner girl!!
Congrats again on such a great job, YOU’RE AWESOME!!!:)
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