Volleyball Game Against Harvard Westlake (9/18)
By Brandy Siegel
Edited by Jane Staley
Our very own Varsity Girls Volleyball Team is seated 32nd in all of California and currently in 4th in their Mission League. On September 18th, our Eagles played the Harvard Westlake Wolverines at home and finished strong with a 3-1 victory. If you have not already supported a Chaminade Girls Volleyball game, keep an eye out for the next one, because the effort from these passionate and dedicated girls never goes unnoticed. The possibilities are endless for this team, as our Eagles continue to dominate their league.. Led by seniors Piper Carlson, Stella Burns, Emma Martini, Kaitlyn Trifiletti, Makenna Hawkins, Sarah Shaw, and Shyla Williams, these girls are ready to give this last season their all so stay tuned for more updates on the upcoming Girls Volleyball games!
By Brandy Siegel
Edited by Jane Staley
Our very own Varsity Girls Volleyball Team is seated 32nd in all of California and currently in 4th in their Mission League. On September 18th, our Eagles played the Harvard Westlake Wolverines at home and finished strong with a 3-1 victory. If you have not already supported a Chaminade Girls Volleyball game, keep an eye out for the next one, because the effort from these passionate and dedicated girls never goes unnoticed. The possibilities are endless for this team, as our Eagles continue to dominate their league.. Led by seniors Piper Carlson, Stella Burns, Emma Martini, Kaitlyn Trifiletti, Makenna Hawkins, Sarah Shaw, and Shyla Williams, these girls are ready to give this last season their all so stay tuned for more updates on the upcoming Girls Volleyball games!
Photos by Claire Molnar '26
Leave Your Worries Behind, Just Run
By Kristen Wichman '26
Edited by Sebastian Scholte '25
Wednesday 9.18. 2024
League 1 Crescenta Valley
The cross-country runners sit together on a bus in apprehension for the upcoming race in Crescenta Valley. The bus departs around 11:20 am. The air – was cool, and the freeway almost empty. The bus travels along the 118 freeway, passing through the brassy California mountains. The chatter of anxious long-distance runners fills the vehicle, as they wait for their upcoming adventure. It will be difficult, it may cause pain, but it will be worth it.
Today I, Kristen Wichman, have been tasked with interviewing one of our runners. That runner is Lucas Jimenez, and he will share his take on the 2024 Crescenta Valley Race.
Before the race:
Q: How are you feeling about today’s race?
A: Overall, I’m feeling relatively calm about the race. I’m mentally preparing and planning out how I want to run it. Friday, we have a more important race, so I will be treating this more as a tempo race.
Q: What is a tempo run in your own words?
A: The purpose is to run for a prolonged period of time, making the run slightly slower than if one was running at race pace.
Q: What are your goals for this upcoming race?
A: My goal is to run a 17:30 and avoid any injuries.
After the race:
Q: How was the race?
A: It went really well. I treated it more as a tempo run so the run wasn’t too demanding.
Q: What made this course challenging?
A: There were a lot of rocks on the course, making one susceptible to ankle rolls. The ground wasn’t completely flat which made it more challenging than if it were a flat course.
Q: What improvements do you plan to make at Woodbridge?
A: I plan to run a sub 16.
Friday 20th September 2024
Woodbridge 2024
It's another lovely day in Los Angeles, California, as the cross-country runners once again wait in anticipation for another upcoming race. But this time, it's the big one. This time it's at Woodbridge.
Today, hundreds of schools will compete in this race, coming from all over the state of California to a single course in Irvine. Today, I had the pleasure of interviewing one of our runners, Colleen Molnar, about her thoughts on this exhilarating race.
Before the race:
Q: Do you feel prepared for your race?
A: Yes, I think our training this season will pay off for all my teammates.
Q: What improvements do you want to make during this race?
A: I want to improve my mindset during the run and break my previous record or PR [personal record].
Q: Are you nervous?
A: Yeah, I have a mixture of excitement and nerves.
After the race:
Q: How was the race?
A: The race went well! I got a new PR by 2:30 so I’m really happy about that! I think our new training plan for this season is really paying off.
Q: How did you feel about this specific course?
A: I really enjoyed this course! It was relatively flat and the weather was perfect. It was also really fun to run under the lights and night sky.
Q: How do you feel about your performance at Woodbridge?
A: I am very happy with my performance! I ran 2:30 faster than I have ever ran before, which was faster than my goal for this race. I’m so proud of all our team’s accomplishments and I think everyone did very well.
*Some of these answers have been edited for clarity*
Conclusion:
These athletes have worked incredibly hard and will continue to work hard for the rest of this cross-country season. This past Friday, records were broken and 83% of the team ran a lifetime personal best. Congratulations to all the athletes who ran this past Wednesday and Friday! You all were incredible!
By Kristen Wichman '26
Edited by Sebastian Scholte '25
Wednesday 9.18. 2024
League 1 Crescenta Valley
The cross-country runners sit together on a bus in apprehension for the upcoming race in Crescenta Valley. The bus departs around 11:20 am. The air – was cool, and the freeway almost empty. The bus travels along the 118 freeway, passing through the brassy California mountains. The chatter of anxious long-distance runners fills the vehicle, as they wait for their upcoming adventure. It will be difficult, it may cause pain, but it will be worth it.
Today I, Kristen Wichman, have been tasked with interviewing one of our runners. That runner is Lucas Jimenez, and he will share his take on the 2024 Crescenta Valley Race.
Before the race:
Q: How are you feeling about today’s race?
A: Overall, I’m feeling relatively calm about the race. I’m mentally preparing and planning out how I want to run it. Friday, we have a more important race, so I will be treating this more as a tempo race.
Q: What is a tempo run in your own words?
A: The purpose is to run for a prolonged period of time, making the run slightly slower than if one was running at race pace.
Q: What are your goals for this upcoming race?
A: My goal is to run a 17:30 and avoid any injuries.
After the race:
Q: How was the race?
A: It went really well. I treated it more as a tempo run so the run wasn’t too demanding.
Q: What made this course challenging?
A: There were a lot of rocks on the course, making one susceptible to ankle rolls. The ground wasn’t completely flat which made it more challenging than if it were a flat course.
Q: What improvements do you plan to make at Woodbridge?
A: I plan to run a sub 16.
Friday 20th September 2024
Woodbridge 2024
It's another lovely day in Los Angeles, California, as the cross-country runners once again wait in anticipation for another upcoming race. But this time, it's the big one. This time it's at Woodbridge.
Today, hundreds of schools will compete in this race, coming from all over the state of California to a single course in Irvine. Today, I had the pleasure of interviewing one of our runners, Colleen Molnar, about her thoughts on this exhilarating race.
Before the race:
Q: Do you feel prepared for your race?
A: Yes, I think our training this season will pay off for all my teammates.
Q: What improvements do you want to make during this race?
A: I want to improve my mindset during the run and break my previous record or PR [personal record].
Q: Are you nervous?
A: Yeah, I have a mixture of excitement and nerves.
After the race:
Q: How was the race?
A: The race went well! I got a new PR by 2:30 so I’m really happy about that! I think our new training plan for this season is really paying off.
Q: How did you feel about this specific course?
A: I really enjoyed this course! It was relatively flat and the weather was perfect. It was also really fun to run under the lights and night sky.
Q: How do you feel about your performance at Woodbridge?
A: I am very happy with my performance! I ran 2:30 faster than I have ever ran before, which was faster than my goal for this race. I’m so proud of all our team’s accomplishments and I think everyone did very well.
*Some of these answers have been edited for clarity*
Conclusion:
These athletes have worked incredibly hard and will continue to work hard for the rest of this cross-country season. This past Friday, records were broken and 83% of the team ran a lifetime personal best. Congratulations to all the athletes who ran this past Wednesday and Friday! You all were incredible!
Field Hockey Spotlight
By Mariah Phillips '26
Edited by Jane Staley '25
With the season starting on September 13th, the Chaminade girls' field hockey team aims not only to win, but also to create a strong sense of community. Under the leadership of Coach Brianna Evers, this team is determined to work hard and create an incredible atmosphere of joy and support at their games.
The Chaminade Eagles first game was against the Bonita Bearcats on September 17th, and despite their best efforts, Chaminade unfortunately lost the game 0-4. However this team has other goals in mind besides winning. Led by captains Megan MacMiller ’25 and Cate Johnson ’25, both beginning their journeys in field hockey in 6th/5th grade, said that “Our goal is to further the sense of community and sisterhood that we have, we are all really tight. To all of us, laughter is the most important thing”.
The starting lineup for the game consists of Kristen Cantalejo ‘26, Kaitlyn Aaronson ’27, Alyson Goldstein ’27, Elizabeth Suarez ’27, Madeline Phillips ’27, Sophie Lahoud ’27, Cate Johnson ’25, Laila Kim ’27, Charlie Fontana-Perez ’27, Ava Sotelo ’27, and Megan MacMiller ‘25. They started the game strong and worked together as a team to try and defeat the Bearcats. As the season continues, they will grow more united – hopefully finishing the season strong.
When talking to midfielder Sophie Lahoud ’27 and defender Laila Kim ’27 they mentioned that “Our goal for the year is to form better team unity, connect more as a team, and enjoy the time that we have together during our short season.” The bond between the members on the team radiates positive energy throughout the stands, uniting the crowd, as we cheer on the girls’ field hockey team.
The next home game occurs on October 1st, 2024, at 3:30pm. Be sure to attend to experience the amazing energy of the crowd and to cheer on the team to victory this season. Win or lose, the girls’ field hockey games are so fun to watch and are must-attend events.
Golf Team Interview
Interviewer: Sebastian Scholte '25
Interviewee: Ashley Decker '25
Edited by Jane Staley '25
Golf is a common sport for those who enjoy the leisure, relaxation and low impact sporting experiences. However, the Chaminade Girls Golf Team wants nothing to do with leisure and relaxation; they mean nothing but business. To fully understand what this sport means to these girls, we are given a first-hand experience from one of the Senior members, Ashley Decker.
How long have you been playing golf for?
I have been playing on and off for 7 years, but I’ve been playing on a team for 4 years.
Were you always a part of a team, if not then when did you decide to make the transition from golf as a hobby to golf as a sport commitment?
My friend wanted to join the golf and wanted me to join with her. So I decided to learn how to play golf, so I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and convinced my mom to get me an instructor.
What attracts you to the sport of golf?
The fact that it is consistently reliable, nothing changes about the sport as you get older. Even as an old person I can still play golf.
What is your favorite part about playing on the Chaminade golf team?
The other people, I have genuinely made so many friends through golf. I also like hanging out with people who enjoy the same sport as me.
Which school are you most excited to play this season?
I am most excited to play Louisville, the girls are so sweet, and they create an exciting environment with friendly competition.
Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions that you have in order to ensure that you have a good match?
Every single girl on the golf team picks a song prior to each match that determines how they want the match to go. We then sing the song while we're hitting as well to get our mind out of the game, and put our bodies into the game.
Even though golf is considered to be an individual sport, do you feel like your efforts on the golf course go towards an effort bigger than yourself?
I mean yeah, it's not about individual versus individual on the same team. It's about team versus team and so my individual effort contributes to the overall score of the team.
Tell me about how you see golf affecting the trajectory of your life in the future.
I think it's good social outlet and you can play golf all the way until you’re old. It has taught me to go with my gut, overthinking isn’t going to get me very far.
How do you think golf has shaped you as a person, what lesson have you learned?
I did a lot of sports before I did golf, none of them met all my criteria for the things I wanted. Golf has everything that I want in a sport and offers all the opportunities I could ever want.
When you are having a bad day on the golf course, what methods do you use to help get over the frustration that comes with that?
I usually throw my clubs or take my anger out on my ball. Sometimes I will cry.
Do you view golf more as a method to take your frustration out or as a method to let peace of mind in and relax?
Both, I think that I always enter the golf course feeling stressed, but I always leave feeling better about what is going on in the outside world.
It appears we have quite the passionate and dedicated girls’ golf team this year. It will be really exciting to see all the amazing hard work and dedication the girls’ golf teams put in this season.
Good luck to all the members, hopefully your season is up to par!
Interviewer: Sebastian Scholte '25
Interviewee: Ashley Decker '25
Edited by Jane Staley '25
Golf is a common sport for those who enjoy the leisure, relaxation and low impact sporting experiences. However, the Chaminade Girls Golf Team wants nothing to do with leisure and relaxation; they mean nothing but business. To fully understand what this sport means to these girls, we are given a first-hand experience from one of the Senior members, Ashley Decker.
How long have you been playing golf for?
I have been playing on and off for 7 years, but I’ve been playing on a team for 4 years.
Were you always a part of a team, if not then when did you decide to make the transition from golf as a hobby to golf as a sport commitment?
My friend wanted to join the golf and wanted me to join with her. So I decided to learn how to play golf, so I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and convinced my mom to get me an instructor.
What attracts you to the sport of golf?
The fact that it is consistently reliable, nothing changes about the sport as you get older. Even as an old person I can still play golf.
What is your favorite part about playing on the Chaminade golf team?
The other people, I have genuinely made so many friends through golf. I also like hanging out with people who enjoy the same sport as me.
Which school are you most excited to play this season?
I am most excited to play Louisville, the girls are so sweet, and they create an exciting environment with friendly competition.
Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions that you have in order to ensure that you have a good match?
Every single girl on the golf team picks a song prior to each match that determines how they want the match to go. We then sing the song while we're hitting as well to get our mind out of the game, and put our bodies into the game.
Even though golf is considered to be an individual sport, do you feel like your efforts on the golf course go towards an effort bigger than yourself?
I mean yeah, it's not about individual versus individual on the same team. It's about team versus team and so my individual effort contributes to the overall score of the team.
Tell me about how you see golf affecting the trajectory of your life in the future.
I think it's good social outlet and you can play golf all the way until you’re old. It has taught me to go with my gut, overthinking isn’t going to get me very far.
How do you think golf has shaped you as a person, what lesson have you learned?
I did a lot of sports before I did golf, none of them met all my criteria for the things I wanted. Golf has everything that I want in a sport and offers all the opportunities I could ever want.
When you are having a bad day on the golf course, what methods do you use to help get over the frustration that comes with that?
I usually throw my clubs or take my anger out on my ball. Sometimes I will cry.
Do you view golf more as a method to take your frustration out or as a method to let peace of mind in and relax?
Both, I think that I always enter the golf course feeling stressed, but I always leave feeling better about what is going on in the outside world.
It appears we have quite the passionate and dedicated girls’ golf team this year. It will be really exciting to see all the amazing hard work and dedication the girls’ golf teams put in this season.
Good luck to all the members, hopefully your season is up to par!
