Winter Sports Recap

2009 - 2010 Summary

For the very first time in SHS' history, both Boys and Girls soccer teams advanced to CCS Quarter-Finals in the same season. Adding Girls Basketball and five wrestlers to it, there was representation from every SHS winter sport at CCS. The boys soccer team was seeded #4 in the CCS Playoff, while the girls basketballers, seeded #9, reached the highest finish ever in the history of the school.

Girls Varsity Basketball - Head Coach: Mike Davey

The Lady Falcons proved just how much they improved during league in CCS. In the first round, the girls entered the game against Seaside determined to win, despite knowing very little about the other team. The next game, against Prospect, was a highly anticipated game, where the girls could prove they should have beaten Prospect during preseason. The upset over the higher-ranked Panthers was a moment to celebrate. Not only did the Falcons beat a higher-seeded team, the win would allow the girls to move onto the third round of CCS, something the seniors have never experienced in their four years here. Unfortunately, the roller coaster would end. While the girls played hard in their game against Valley Christian, the Warriors shot out to an early lead which the Falcons could not overcome despite a great second half. But hey, at least we all got T-shirts and we crushed Los Gatos at their place!!
Overall 12-14

League 2-10

CCS Quarterfinals (#9 seed)-highest finish in CCS in Saratoga History
Team MVP                                            Nicole Gragnola
Most Improved                                       Hannah Johnson
Most Inspiration/Scholar Athlete Anna Schroeder (1st in SCVAL De Anza in Assists)
Outstanding Defender                             Shriya Nagpal
Captains -                                             Emily Baba/Baylee Yates
2nd Team All League                              Baylee Yates
1st Team All League                              Nicole Gragnola (2nd in league and 9th in CCS in scoring) school record 42 points versus Pioneer

JV Girls Basketball - Head Coach: Aron Mitsunaga

Overall: 13-11

League: 4-8

Most Valuable:              Campbell Oreglia
Most Improved:              Michelle Won
Most Inspiration:            Raven Sisco
Hon Mention All League: Izzy Albert & Michelle Won
2nd Team All League:     Kimberly Chou
1st Team All League:     Campbell Oreglia

Boys Varsity Basketball - Head Coach: Trevor Naas

The 2009-2010 Saratoga varsity team showed tremendous growth and improvement and provided Falcons fans with plenty to cheer about along the way. The Saratoga High School gym was home to many of this year’s most exciting moments. The large home crowds made it a fun playing environment and the varsity team kept them entertained by playing some of their best basketball, posting a 6-2 overall record at home. This was highlighted by impressive El Camino League victories over the two teams that tied for 2nd place, Cupertino and Lynbrook.

This year’s team was definitely led by the seniors. With only the 4 seniors returning with varsity experience, the focus for this year’s team from day one was to work hard and to get better everyday. The seniors did a great job of stepping up their game on the court as well as stepping into their role as leaders. They were the glue that kept our team together, focused on getting better, and playing hard from start to finish this season. Following the seniors lead, our juniors and freshmen made significant contributions and gained invaluable on court varsity experience.

Record: League 5-7

Overall 9-15

Standing: 5th place in El Camino Division

All-League Selections:

1st Team: Daniel Chou

2nd Team: Andy Johnson

Honorable Mention: Vincent Carstens and Steven Berman

JV Boys Basketball - Head Coach: Miguel Alderete

The F/S Boys Basketball team had a challenging and educational season. Each game was tough and hard fought. The boys persevered and improved their skills throughout the season while become better and stronger people. They will be taking skills that extend beyond the basketball court with them after this season.

The non-league season was a series of challenges and opportunity for the FS team. With only five returning players, it was a time of team building and immersion into the Toga way. We highlighted the pre-league with a thrilling come from behind victory for third place in the Prospect Tourney with Dylan Jew garnering All-Tourney honors. We also placed fourth in the Mt. View Tourney highlighted by an overtime victory over Gunn and Brandon Pak earning All-Tourney honors.

The leagues season was an extremely challenging journey. The mighty Falcons were at a severe size disadvantage for the season. But, the boys played their hearts out in a series of very closes but ultimately unsatisfying finishes resulting in a sixth place finish in league. The difficulties in league only caused the team to bond every more tightly and grow are individuals and players. We may not have seen success on the basketball scoreboard, but we have seen the roots of success get even stronger for the players. They dealt with adversity and difficulty and continued to move forward. They will and shall continue to make Saratoga Proud.

Varsity Boys Soccer Team

Saratoga Boys Varsity Soccer - Head Coach: Adam Clarke

The 2009-2010 Saratoga Boys Soccer team was a very talented and very young soccer team. The starting lineup had Freshman First Team All League Goal Keeper Cameron Schmelzer and as many as 9 sophomores winning a spot in the starting lineup each and every game. Every field-player was capable of winning a spot in the starting lineup and every field-player did in fact win a starting spot at some point during the season. The Saratoga Boys Soccer team also had 4 back-up keepers who all mentored our Freshman goal keeper and enabled the Boys Varsity team to have incredible shooting practices which contributed to the Falcons scoring 49 goals this season. The Falcon’s league record was 8-3-1 and overall record was 13-6-1 which gave us the 4^th seed in the CCS Playoffs. Our season ended in the Quarter Finals of CCS against Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco who ended up losing 0:1 in the CCS Championship Game against a very strong Santa Cruz High School team.

The very young Falcons were led by Senior Captain Sean Ashe who was the El Camino League Offensive MVP. Sean led the league with 15 goals and 5 assists but Sean’s best trait was that he made all of his teammates play better. Sean’s composer on the ball and maturity on the field were the perfect ingredients for being an excellent captain to a very young Falcon team. Sophomore Captain Manish Raghavan anchored the Falcon defense and was the El Camino Division Defensive MVP. To Manish’s left and right were outside backs Ted Wang (Junior) and Stanton Ho (Sophomore) who were both 2^nd Team All League Award winners. The Falcons Most Inspirational Player Award went to Sophomore Captain Jon Junqua who was 1^st Team All League and scored 4 league goals and had 2 assists. Rajiv Ramakabir (sophomore) was one of the most technical field players in the league and also won 1^st Team All League honors. At Forward for the Falcons was Sophomore Troy Doles who scored 9 league goals, 4 league assists, and was 1^st Team All League.

This was my 12^th year coaching high school soccer but my first year at Saratoga High School. It is nice to experience success on the pitch but to do so with the group of young men that I had this year was incredible. The parents were very supportive and opened their homes to team dinners, brought hot chocolate to our games when it was cold and raining, helped with carpools, gave monetary donations for equipment, etc. This was my first year at Saratoga High but the first of many. We have been promoted from the El Camino B Division to the De Anza A Division for next season. With 16 Varsity Letterman returning I like our chance for next season in the very tough De Anza Division and so do the Falcons.

JV Boys Soccer Team

JV Boys Soccer - Head Coach: Butch McGrew

Assistant Coach: Steve Beverage

Record: Pre-season (0-0-2) Season (3-7-2)

Standing: 6th Place, El Camino Division

The Saratoga JV Boys soccer team had a lot of work to do to match last year’s 2^nd place finish. There were only three returning players from a strong 2009 team. Many of those 2009 players were now playing varsity. The 2010 version of players were a young team consisting of 13 freshman players. Despite this the team continued to work hard and played in many close losses in the first half of the season. Due to some strong player leadership with captains Chris Vu and Myron Zhang the team didn’t hang their heads. Different players rose to the challenges as the season progressed and many different players earned starting positions.

The second half of the season was entirely different as the team played more physical and many players developed skills that were not there 1 month earlier. It was a delight for the coaches to see how the players had learned from their first half mistakes. They also were challenged to play more physically and play with a purpose. Many parents and guests stated that they could see the improvement in toughness and strategy. The season ended on a very strong note as the team won 3 of its final 4 games. Many players learned many skills and game situations that will help the team build on next year.

Individual Awards:

Captains Awards
- Myron Zhang (Sophomore)
- Chris Vu (Sophmore)

Most Improved Offensive Player
- Pablo Parker (Freshman)

· Most Improved Defensive Player

o Sasan Sadaat (Freshman)

110% Award
- Tom Clark (Junior)
Coaches Award
- Freddie Feyzi (Freshman)
Golden Boot Award
- Erik Martin (Freshman)

Achievement Awards:

Letterman Awards
- Chris Vu (Sophomore)

Second Team Awards:

Second Team
- Doug Jones (Freshman)

First Team Awards:

First team
- Myron Zhang (Sophomore)

Varsity Girls Soccer Silly Day!

Varsity Girls Soccer - Head Coach: Kim Anzalone

Assistant Coach: Brandon Chow

The Toga Varsity Girls Soccer Team had an outstanding season, 2009-2010. Our preseason consisted of playing top level, Div 1 teams such as Los Gatos, Monte Vista, Presentation, and Leland High Schools. Although the team lost to each of these top teams, Toga players received invaluable experience in fast, thinking soccer play. We were more than ready for league play and finish the league season as the El Camino League Champions with a record of 7-1-4. For the entire league season, the Toga Varsity girls only allowed a total of 5 goals against, while scoring 23 goal offensively. Out of our 12 league games, 8 resulted in Toga shutouts. The 2009-2010 team was the first to make it to CCS Finals in over 6 years! The first CCS game against a team who had gone undefeated for 4 years, resulted in a 2-0 shutout victory for Toga. Advancing to the quarter-finals, the Toga girls seeded #9, went up against the number 1 team. The Toga girls played to a tie which resulted in double overtime and ended with penalty kicks, losing 4-5. It was an incredible season, filled with positive play and attitudes!

Girls JV Soccer - Head Coach: Staci Ljepava

Assistant Coach: Kristen Bright, Goalie Coach: Butch McGrew

Captains: Shivani Chadha, Jennifer Miller, Aanchal Mohan

Overall Record: 9-4-4
League Record: 7-2-3
League Finish: 2^nd place
Scoring: 27 goals for, 10 goals against.
Leading scorer: Courtney Schlossareck 7 goals 3 assists

1st team All-League: Courtney Schlossareck, Paige Kingston, Rachel Leonard, Sneha Shivkumar
2nd team All-League: Shivani Chadha, Jennifer Miller,

Team Most Valuable Offensive Player: Courtney Schlossareck
Team Most Valuable Defensive Player: Paige Kingston
Falcon Red Pride Award: Shivani Chadha
Team Most Improved Player: Joanne Sturge

Coach's Award: Courtney Ruppel, Stephanie Payne

Wrestling - Head Coach: Gabe Tseng

The Saratoga Wrestling Team was definitely in a year of transition as it graduated many of its top seniors from last year. With a season ravaged by injuries and growing pains, SHS wrestling showed still its perseverance, toughness, and moxy.

SHS placed 10^th at the SCVAL league tournament with 10 out of the 11 competitors being either freshmen or sophomores. It was a great learning experience but also a successful qualifying even for CCS.

SCVAL League finals Results:

103- Zach Hansen-2^nd

125- Alfred Murabito- 1^st

130- Nicholas Marshall- 4^th

140- Tyler Borch- 6^th

152- Spencer Perry- 8^th

160- Kyle Clark- 2^nd

171- Anthony Bilic- 4^th

JV league finals results:

125- Christopher Burse- 2^nd

152- Jon Olsen- 4^th

Varsity Qualifiers (Wrestling) that went to CCS:

The Central Coast Section tournament is a qualifier to the State tournament where only the toughest of each section in California compete. With so many young wrestlers having success so early on in their careers, it was exciting to see what they could do.

Zach Hansen went 2-2

Alfred Murabito went 3-2

Nick Marshall went 1-2

Kyle Clark went 1-2

Anthony Bilic went 2-2

It was a good tournament where we had success and continued to learn and improve. With so many young wrestlers and having success at such an early level, it is exciting to look toward next year, while still enjoying the success of this year.

We will be saying goodbye to our seniors Alan Yen and Christopher Hui. Although injured during the season, they continued to be actively involved in our program and served as assistant coaches during the season. It was truly a pleasure as we send them off to their respective colleges and futures.

Go Falcons!