Menlo-Atherton High School BearNotes 

 

 

Weekly Sports Wrap-Up

 

 GIRLS GOLF - The Bears played 2 matches last week at Poplar Creek's front 9 holes (par 35). M-A defeated San Mateo, 213-223. Individual scorers were Naomi Lee (35 - even par, low score medalist), Abigail Pederson (39), Ashley Utz (44), Angie Yang (44), Christiana Park (51), and Cassidy Barman (53). Next, M-A defeated Mills, 257-290. Individual scorers were Pederson (40 - low score medalist), Margaret Sten (49 - her personal best),

Yang (50), Barman (51 - her personal best), Taylor Waddell (67), Park (41 - her personal best). 

 

 GIRLS VARSITY TENNIS - The Bears moved to 9-0 in PAL play with 2 easy wins last week, 6-1 over Hillsdale and 7-0 over Aragon. In the 6 wins agains Hillsdale, M-A gave up fewer than 2 games (on average) per individual match. In singles against Aragon, the Bears gave up only 1 game per individual match. Recording wins during the week were Lanie Van Linge, Sami Andrew, Laila Volpe, Caroline Kelly, Sally Carlson, Amelia Tiemann, Amanda Scandalios, Erin Perrine, Julia Chang, Taylor Noble, Beata Brenner, Natalie Baker, and Sarah Tiemann. M-A visits San Mateo on Tuesday, October 14 at 4 p.m. and hosts Sequoia on Thursday, October 16 at 4 p.m.

 

In the prior week, the Bears took a huge step toward the league title with a tough and contentious win at Carlmont (5-2). Both teams were undefeated in PAL play coming into the match, and the winner would take a one-game lead in the race for the automatic berth into the CCS playoffs. Van Linge at #1 singles, Kelly and S. Tiemann at #3 doubles, and A. Tiemann at #4 singles were the first matches to finish, and each won in straight sets to give the Bears a 3-0 lead. At that point, however, Carlmont had taken the first set of 2 matches, and the other 2 matches were locked at 5-5. The next 10 minutes were critical to the outcome of the match. Fortunately, both 5-5 first sets ended 7-5 in favor of M-A, with Andrew at #2 singles clinching the match with a 7-5, 6-2 win. Two days later, the Bears completed the first half of their season undefeated with a 7-0 shutout of Woodside, led by Perrine and Baker winning in straight sets at #1 doubles. On Friday and Saturday, M-A competed in the inaugural Battle of the Bay, a competition of 39 schools from all around the Bay Area, plus Iolani School from Honolulu. The Bears split its 4 matches, beating Northgate-Walnut Creek (7-0) and College Prep-Oakland (5-2), while falling to Albany (4-3) and Alameda (6-1). The highlight of the weekend was the Varsity debut of freshman Erin Cole and Kate Perri, who gave the Bears its only point versus Alameda with a 7-6 (3), 3-6, 1-0 (4) win at #3 doubles.

 

CROSS COUNTRY - The second PAL race of the season took place last week at Half Moon Bay with 15 schools in attendance. The Bears had another outstanding performance winning 3 of the 5 races and placing 2nd in another. The Varsity boys took 1st place by a narrow 3-point margin with Adam Scandlyn (2), Kevin Conrad (9), Nicolas Plume (10), Rohan DePuy (14), and Steven McColloch (17) scoring for the Bears. The Varsity girls placed 2nd in their race behind a strong Half Moon Bay squad. The Varsity girls were led by Madeleine Baier (3), Cat DePuy (4), Katie Beebe (6), Kelly Woods (16), and Olivia Tai (21). The Frosh/Soph boys had another dominant performance placing 5 runners in the top 12 positions (out of a field of 139 boys) led by Nick Worden (1), Eric Szymkowski (2), Lukas Rash (6), Tommy Bohoc (11), and Michale Stark (12). The JV girls won their race for the second PAL meet in a row with strong performances by Olivia Shane (3), Cricket Gorey (4), Kalina Zanelli (11), Maggie Collins (13), and Healey Montague-Alami (15).  The JV boys had another solid showing with 3 runners scoring in the top 15 positions including Jackson Fuson (8), Matt Kenney (11), and Evan Reed (14).

 

On Friday, October 17 the Bears compete against over 50 teams from across Northern California at the highly competitive Monterey Bay Invitational at Toro Park in Salinas.  

 

 GIRLS FRESHMAN VOLLEYBALL - Last Monday the Bears battled it out in a non-league match with Notre Dame, playing hard but eventually falling short in the third set (21-25, 25-17, 10-15). Aces were served up by Cameron Lindsey (5), Gabby Rubio and Nicole Kang (2 each), and Camille Rowe (1). Leading with digs on defense against strong serving were Lindsey, Emily Young, and Hannah Roitman. Rowe and Roitman each put down memorable kills (3) along with Greer Hoyem (2), and Shea Kearns, Rubio, and Young (1 each).    

GIRLS JV VOLLEYBALL - On Tuesday the Bears took on South San Francisco, winning 2-0 (25-7, 25-4). Courtney Foliaki made her debut as a Bear with 3 kills. Kelsey Tonsfeldt, Cameron Montalvo, Claire Baszucki, Carly McClanahan, and Makenzie Hazard each added 2 kills off assists by Casey Olsen (8) and Shauna Sabet (6). The offense was bolstered with aces by Fiona Lokey (5) and Tonsfeldt (4). Lokey also led the defense with 8 digs.

Thursday the Bears suffered a 2-1 loss to Sequoia (21-25, 25-16, 15-17). The team played tough with kills by Montalvo (8), Foliaki (5), Tonsfeldt (3), and Baszucki (3) off assists by Sabet (15) and Olsen (10). The defense also stayed strong led by Tonsfeldt and Montalvo with 6 digs each. Foliaki put up 2 beautiful blocks. In the end, the effort fell just short against the very scrappy Sequoia team.

 

GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL - Last week the team posted wins against Terra Nova (25-16, 25-21, 25-15) and the previously undefeated Carlmont (25-10, 25-21, 25-23). This week the Bears put forth an all-team effort this week to move to 6-0 in PAL and 15-1 overall. The straight-set victory over South San Francisco (25-14, 25-16, 25-12) had every girl on the court, including Alexa Roumeliotis making her first competitive appearance for M-A since transferring from St. Francis. Roumeliotis put in 15 digs, joining fellow defensive leaders Kaitlin Tavarez and Devin Joos with 11 digs each, and complemented by blocks from Eliza Grover, Leanna Collins, Rachel Gerber, and Katie Wilcox. Collins headed up the offense with 11 kills, followed by Joos (7), Ally Ostrow (5), Lauren Heller (4), Grover (3), and Jacqueline DiSanto (2). Chloe Johnson, Ostrow, and Roumeliotis delivered 2 aces each, Kirby Knapp added an ace to her 12 assists, and Kiana Sales and DiSanto both contributed aces and numerous digs. 

 

Sequoia gave the Bears a tougher match, dishing up the first set loss in league play this season. But that was all they got, as the Bears rallied and came back to win in 4 sets (21-25, 25-12, 25-16, 25-15). Collins and Joos put down 20 kills each, Ostrow came in with 11, and Grover with 5, each aided by one of Knapp's stunning 67 assists. Joos led on defense with 27 digs, followed by Roumeliotis (17), Ostrow (15), Knapp (12), and DiSanto (8). Ostrow and Grover headed up the blocking effort, and the team's 9 aces were served by Roumeliotis (2), Ostrow (2), Joos (2), Tavarez, DiSanto, and Sales.

 

This week the team plays at Woodside on Tuesday, October 14 and hosts Burlingame on Thursday, October 16.

  

 JV FOOTBALL - A total team effort best describes the Bears performance in their 26-13 victory over Burlingame. The team could have easily let down with several contributors out of the game, but many stepped up in their absence. M-A controlled the line of scrimmage on offense gaining over 150 yards on 32 carries. Marquise Reid was the leading rusher with 74 yards on 15 carries and 1 touchdown. Josh Lepulu had another strong game with 42 yards and 1 touchdown. Jhavante Hill had a touchdown and 36 yards on 9 carries. Aajon Johnson flung a 20-yard touchdown strike to tight end Devon Dundas. On defense, the Bears created 3 turnovers (2 fumbles and an interception) which kept the Panthers in check all night. Leaders on defense included Dimitri Sakalia (8 tackles and 3 quarterback pressures), Mareon Ojeda (8 tackles), Nicholas Ozden (7 tackles and a forced fumble), D'Arius Gipson (7 tackles and a 35-yard interception return), and Tate Tussing (5 tackles and a forced fumble). Spencer Corona and Jesse Donnellan each had a point after touchdown. Gipson had 60 yards on returns with a long run of 53 yards. The Bears will take on Sequoia Friday, October 17 at 4 p.m. at Coach Parks Field.
 

 VARSITY FOOTBALL - M-A lost a hard fought game against Burlingame on Friday, 35-14. The Bears, behind a strong performance by the offensive line, gained a total of 205 yards rushing. Stavro Papadakis led the rushing attack with 158 yards on 28 carries and scored 1 touchdown. Robby Beardsley scored the other touchdown on a one-yard run which capped off a long drive made possible by several long runs by Papadakis. Midway through the third quarter, with Burlingame leading 21-14 and the Bears driving down the field, it appeared that the Bears were in command. However, a few costly errors put the game out of reach. Other than a couple of long runs by Burlingame, the Bears defense also played hard and was led by Christian Wiseman with 7 tackles. Five other Bears, Laki Fonua, Justin Freidsam, Tyrique Johnson, Bryce Rodgers, and Jack Gray contributed 5 tackles each. Next Friday, October 17 is our Homecoming game when the Bears will face Sequoia at 7 p.m. under the lights at Coach Parks Field. Come out and cheer the team on!

 

GIRLS JV WATER POLO - The Bears played a great game against the Woodside Wildcats last week beating them 9-4. Scoring goals were Faith Dunn (2), Ayla Huhn (2), Maddie Maxwell (2), Marissa Shepard (2) and Allie Feeley (1). Lauren McGinnis held back the Wildcats with many saves in the goal. 

 

The prior week the Bears played well against the Burlingame Panthers achieving a win, with the final score 8-4. Goals were scored by Brynn Williams (2), Dunn (2), Grace Dowley (2), Julia Sherman (1), and Shepard (1), with assists by Maxwell (2), Dowley (2), Williams (1), Huhn (1), and Sarah Reichow (1). McGinnis played a strong game in goal with 9 saves. M-A plays next on Tuesday, October 14 at 4 p.m. at home against Leland. 

 

GIRLS VARSITY WATER POLO - M-A beat Woodside 6-3 in PAL action on Wednesday. The Bears played tough defense throughout, anchored by Francesca Gilles with 7 saves in the goal. Kyra Sheeper (3 steals), Nadia Paquin (2 steals), and Marie Claverie (2 steals) made things difficult for Woodside. Kiera Shepard, Annabelle Paris, and Paquin each scored 2 goals to lead the offense.

 

M-A played one of its strongest games of the year in losing 11-6 to powerful St. Francis on Friday. The Bears overcame a 3-0 first quarter deficit on the strength of Fiona Jackson's 3 power play goals rifled in from the outside to tie the game momentarily. In the second half, St. Francis wore down M-A with a relentless counter attack and an efficient power play. Kiki Canny, Nadia Paquin, and Sofia Bergmann each tallied a goal. Francesca Gilles turned away 7 shots and Paquin had 3 steals to lead the defense.
  

BOYS FRESHMAN WATER POLO - The Bears pulled away from St. Ignatius after a first quarter tie to record an 8-4 victory on Wednesday. Goalie Noah Smith was spectacular, with 9 blocked shots, 2 heady steals, and 5 assists on counter-attack goals. Andy Maxwell fired in 6 goals and had another assist, while Jackson Raff and Chris Lobdell each had a goal apiece. Lobdell was pesky on defense with 7 steals.
  

BOYS JV WATER POLO - The Bears finished 3rd out of 8 teams in its bracket at the St. Francis tournament last weekend, beating Leland in the 3rd place game in a double overtime, sudden death thriller 5-4 on Hugo McMillan's game-winning power play goal. Reed Williams led the team with 3 goals, and Alec Berquist scored once and assisted on 2 goals, including the game winner. Cameron Raff was stout in the goal with 8 saves. M-A opened play with an 8-2 thrashing of Los Gatos and lost to a very strong Valley Christian squad 11-7 in the second game. The day's standouts included Berquist (7 goals, 6 assists, 2 steals), Williams (6 goals, 5 steals), Andy Maxwell (4 goals, 3 assists, 10 steals), McMillan (1 goal, 3 assists, 6 steals), Henry Marks (2 goals, 5 steals), and Davos Paquin (1 assist, 7 steals).

 

The Bears lost a defensive battle 5-3 to St. Francis on Friday. M-A peppered the St. Francis goal with 24 shot attempts, but only Reed Williams, Andy Maxwell, and Henry Marks were able to find the back of the net, with Davos Paquin and Alec Berquist contributing an assist each. Goalie Jordan Payne blocked 7 shots, and Berquist and Maxwell (3 steals each), and Paquin (2 steals) anchored the defense.
 

BOYS VARSITY WATER POLO - The Bears visited St. Francis Friday afternoon and the Lancers were looking for revenge after losing to M-A last fall at CCS. The game was a tense battle. The Bears scored first, and the score was even or had the Bears down by several points throughout the game. M-A ultimately lost 8-10. On offense, John Knox, Matheus Santos, Mostyn Fero, and Jorge Pont each scored 2 goals. Knox, Mikhail Fedorchenko, Santos, and Alex Hakanson had 1 assist each. Pont, Jack Beasley, and Nik Caryotakis led the defense with steals. Jackson Goudey had a great day in goal with 7 saves. On Wednesday, October 15 the Bears travel to Carlmont and then participate in the Rio Americano Tournament in Sacramento over the weekend.

 

  

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. ~Mark Twain