Sports

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 By: Mykyta Sorochenko

On Monday, Sept. 30, the San Francisco Giants announced that their legendary player Buster Posey will lead the team as their new president of baseball operations following the firing of Farhan Zaidi. Three years after retiring as a player back in 2021, Posey is back to lead the team on a three-year deal in his new role on the team. Fans are thrilled for this deal to prevail and have high hopes for the next years of the team's performance. 

Back in Time

Posey, the 2012 National League MVP and a seven-time All-Star, helped the team win three World Series titles over the period of his 12-year run for the Giants. However, he announced his retirement from the sport at the end of the 2021 season, expressing his personal desire to spend more time with his family, his wife, and their four children. According to MLB.com, “The family briefly moved back to Posey's home state of Georgia, but they ended up returning to the Bay Area last year. That allowed Posey to become more involved with the Giants, who welcomed him into their ownership group in 2022.”. 

Posey Interview

The SF Giants held a press conference on Tuesday morning, Oct. 1. It was held at the Oracle Park in order to formally introduce the 37-year-old legend and fire up the fans after a recent disappointing season with the team missing the playoffs and a 80-82 record. “I’m just excited,” Posey said. “I’m excited to have an opportunity to be in this role. I’m excited to be part of the team again. The San Francisco Giants organization is all I’ve ever known.” (SFGiants). Posey stated how passionate he is about baseball and expressed his goals for the following years. “Sure, winning is great. Ultimately, that's our goal—to be a playoff team every year and compete for a championship” (Posey). 

Look into the Future

Posey began to express interest in taking on a more serious role a month ago. Even after retiring, his passion and his competitive character are still helping out the team. Posey’s role helped the Giants finalize a six-year, $151 million contract extension with third baseman Matt Chapman. The Giants plan to stick with Bob Melvin as their manager. However, Posey expressed a need for a new general manager to work under him and help with some of the day-to-day operations of the club. 

Buster Posey on the next few years

“I want a leader,” Posey said. “I want somebody that’s going to empower people that are working with him and for him. Ideally, somebody that does have somewhat of a scouting background. I think that will be important for me as well. Today’s game is so much about meshing what your eyes see and instincts are with what the data is telling you” (Posey). While the legendary player and now president of baseball operations lacks the front office experience, the board believes Posey has an unmatched understanding of the Giant’s rich history and possesses the vision needed to move the organization into a new era. 

Media and Fans Reaction

Media and Fans Reaction“Judging by the response on social media, virtually every Giants fan expects Posey to be successful in the role, and there’s empirical evidence to back those feelings. Posey has a reputation as one of the most cerebral players in Giants history, and it stands to reason that he’d bring those same skills to the personal side of things in the organization. He’s also expressed a desire to surround himself with the right people and delegate responsibilities, which is a good sign that he’s not above seeking out other opinions. Perhaps most importantly, Posey understands the culture of the ballclub better than almost anyone.” (SFGATE) Fans are truly excited for Posey’s new position at the club, and his reputation and commitment towards the club mean everything to the fans. 

Legacy as a Player and President 

Even with all of the praise and excitement from the fans and the board after Posey’s new role at the club, there is still criticism towards the franchise icon. The media questions if Posey will be able to deliver the results and keep his promise off the pitch to make the Giants a play-off and a title contender every season. While many criticize the goals of the baseball icon and claim that his goals are “out of his reach,” here is the opinion of the board and the fans. According to (SFGATE), “How can Posey lose? There’s nowhere for him to go but up. He’ll either be one of the greatest players in franchise history who happened to fail as an executive, or he’ll be one of the greatest players in franchise history who ushered in a new era of success from the front office. No matter what happens, his legacy with the Giants is carved in stone, and it can only get better.” The fans are thrilled, the board is satisfied, and the players are ready. We now await the start of the 2025 season under President Buster Posey! 

 By: Tessa Roznovsky

OAKLAND, Calif. On April 27, 2024, news about the Oakland Athletics shattered the hearts of thousands of die-hard fans. The team released a statement in which they announced their intention to play the next few seasons in Sacramento, marking the end of an incredible 57 years at the Oakland Coliseum. The final Oakland home game would take place on Sept. 26, 2024. A majority of fans did not take well to this news and spoke out about their strong dislike for the team’s owner, John Fisher.

The Athletics’ lease at the Coliseum was due to expire at the end of the 2024 MLB season, so Fisher had been discussing plans of a new ballpark with the city of Oakland for several years. They went back and forth on deals but ultimately could not finalize any of them. Instead, Fisher decided to relocate the team to Las Vegas. 

The 30 MLB team owners voted unanimously in favor of relocation, presumably so that they would receive the same grace if they decide to make a controversial decision, such as this one, in the future. The MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred, had the power to stop this move. He could have forced a sale to an investor, one who wanted to keep the team in Oakland under the “best interests in baseball” clause. However, he decided not to, thus keeping the move in motion. 

In order to convince his fans that the failure to stay was not for lack of trying, Fisher released a statement shortly before the final game, where he says, “When Lew Wolff and I bought the team in 2005, our dream was to win the world championships and build a new ballpark in Oakland. Over the next 18 years, we did our very best to make that happen.” He claims that they “proposed and pursued five different locations in the Bay Area.” Since they could not get this done, in 2021 they decided to relocate to Las Vegas.

The plans to move to Las Vegas have not gone as smoothly as Fisher had hoped. His lack of commitment is proving to be a problem, as he finds it difficult to provide the necessary funding for a new ballpark. He has the money; he just doesn’t want to spend it, a concept with which A’s fans are all too familiar, as they’ve watched him trade star players and keep the payroll as low as possible. Fisher is looking for investors in Las Vegas, supposedly so that he does not have to pay much, if anything. This uncertainty around funding has led residents of Sacramento to raise their hopes of a permanent team in their city, since many people do not think Fisher can manage to get the Athletics to Las Vegas.

Oakland fans, of course, are not happy with the situation. Many have spoken up about how John Fisher has mistreated and disrespected them, leaving them to feel abandoned. They are not ready to part ways with “baseball’s last dive bar,” a common nickname for the Coliseum, due to its lack of renovations when compared to other Major League ballparks. Melissa Lockard, a journalist for the New York Times and an Oakland Athletics fan, wrote that “It’s been 30 years since Oakland A’s fans were treated respectfully, but none of them appeared ready to say goodbye.” The past 30 years she’s referencing have been filled with disappointment across the fan base. The franchise’s unwillingness to develop and pay upcoming star players led to them being traded for nothing significant in return or them walking in free agency for a team that would actually pay them. The team has not been out of the bottom 10 in payroll across the league since 2007, when they were only 17th. 

Since the team was making no improvements while simultaneously increasing the price of tickets, the crowds began to shrink. Fans became increasingly furious while they had to watch their favorite franchise crumble to pieces. The lack of attendance, sometimes with games attracting as little as 2,900 people, according to ABC7 San Francisco, is what many people pin as the cause for the move to Las Vegas. Other fans around the league often accuse A’s fans of not caring about their team and claim that’s the reason for the relocation. However, Athletics fans argue that John Fisher is the one who does not care, not them. They sought to prove this point as they sold out the final game, with over 46,000 people in attendance, wishing their beloved A’s farewell.

There are no current plans to introduce a new MLB team to Oakland, though many baseball fans have made jokes about the Tampa Bay Rays moving for the 2025 MLB season. As a result of Hurricane Milton, the Rays’ ballpark, Tropicana Field, lost its roof and will most likely not be ready by the start of the season. While it is unlikely that the Rays will actually move to Oakland, even temporarily, some fans hold out hope anyway. 

Residents of Oakland and the general Bay Area mourn the loss of a historical franchise, which once used the slogan “rooted in Oakland.” Lifelong fans are unsettled by the sudden removal of their favorite team, which has been a source of community in the city for 57 years. After losing the Warriors to San Francisco and the Raiders to Las Vegas, all in the span of five years, Oakland sports fans are struggling to stay positive.

By: Elliot Sher

On the morning of Oct. 8, Washington will host a fun and inclusive event, the Special Olympics for soccer. 

Special needs students and volunteers from George Washington, as well as other schools, will come together to create a welcoming and enjoyable environment for this year’s Soccer Special Olympics.

The games will take place on the football field, from the second period, all the way until lunch, on the George Washington High School bell schedule. All athletes will have the chance to play their share and have their fun, participating in 5-minute games. The volunteers enjoy the experience as well, one Washington senior in AIMS says “It’s super fun hanging out with the buddies and we love getting out to play some soccer with them”.

Members of a Washington High School club, AIMS, or Athletes In Math, participate in the Beacon Buddies program. Through this program, these students participate in weekly club meetings, bi-weekly visits, and activities with special needs students in Washington. There has been a long-standing partnership between the Buddies and members of AIMS.

In the week and days before the Special Olympics take place, AIMS students are preparing to take on their different roles. Some will play soccer with the Buddies, others will referee the games, and more will watch and cheer on the players. At the Basketball Special Olympics, students also cheer for and participate in the games.

It has become a yearly tradition to host the soccer games at George Washington High School, and last year’s games were a success. Similarly, the Basketball Special Olympics takes place at Abraham Lincoln High School yearly.

Overall, the Special Olympics is a valuable and fun tradition for everyone involved, and Washington is honored to, once again, host the soccer games this October.

By: Annie Sablosky

Many students at GWHS don’t have the opportunity or confidence to participate in our school's sports. This past Wednesday a revolutionary athletic and social opportunity was discussed at a gathering in our school's gym. The meeting was headed up by Mr. Scobie and Ms.Chicas, who organized the gathering to establish Washington's very own intramural sports program. 

For sports teams at Wash there are requirements - you must have a GPA higher than a 2.0, a physical form signed by a healthcare professional, and you need some experience to make the team. Previously students with commitments outside of school or those that couldn't make grades were unable to participate in sports. Leaving the notorious high school sports scene, with crowds cheering, smiling teammates, and celebrating victories, a fantasy to many. Scobie and Ms. Chicas intramural sports program removes these requirements and opens up sports to a plethora of students who otherwise would not be able to join. 

Even though they started at the end of last school year with volleyball, intramural sports are already growing in popularity. So far this school year, spots are filling up fast. Sixty two students have already signed up, with five teams having been created for three on three basketball and more are on their way. New students can still join at any time and participate in the fun. 

One of the coaches, Mr. Scobie, joined the PE department here at Wash two years ago after working as a health teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School. Although his time here has been brief, all students that have been in PE know him as a funny and chill guy. He understands the difficulty of being new to a school and is always willing to listen to anyone who may need to talk. 

One of Scobie’s past students recalled her time with him during his first year of teaching and shared that, “I noticed he was chill and laid back but also pushed you to try your hardest. He became a part of the community even though he hadn’t been here that long.” Scobie has adapted to Wash fast and is now trying to break down the boundaries in sports to help underclassmen and upperclassmen alike find their own place in our community through intramural sports. 

Mr. Scobie and Ms. Chicas will be in the gym every Wednesday and Thursday at lunch and are hoping to see some new faces. Three on three basketball is happening now, but if that’s not what you’re interested in, they will move on to futsal (indoor soccer), badminton, and volleyball by the end of the school year. 

Intramural sports opens up sports to the entire student body, something that is otherwise unheard of. It is all happening during school hours, so students can meet people, experience team spirit, and stay active, with very low commitment. “It doesn’t matter your skill level or if you’re shy or don’t have any experience in sports,” Mr. Scobie told me recently with a big smile on his face, “I just encourage you all to come out, tell a friend, support, cheer, whatever you can, because it's going to be a fun experience and the more people that are involved with it the better it'll be!”

By: Nicole Claudio

With the school year kicking off, student athletes are just now taking a dive into the fall season. Competitiveness and hopes for success are fueling their bodies and they want a win more than ever. However, achieving peak performance isn't just about hard work and competitiveness, it's about proper nutrition. Balancing schoolwork, practices, and games can lead many athletes to overlook the importance of fueling their bodies, yet healthy eating is crucial for maintaining energy, endurance, and overall well-being. 

Students are having to face the balance of school work along with the commitment to their sport. With all the distractions and challenges students are facing, properly fueling their bodies is not always the main focus and can sometimes brush past them when it comes to practice and games. With that, it still remains a crucial element to peak performance and overall well being. 

Fueling the body with healthy, balanced food has been proven to make or break a performance. For any sport, it is important that an athlete has enough energy to exert their bodies in such ways. Some athletes, especially those in high school, make unrealistic assumptions about how they get energy for their sport. Many presume energy appears naturally instead of based on what we put in our bodies. The body reacts to what you fuel it with, macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) are key to optimal energy levels. Annie Sablosky, who plays on the girls soccer team at George Washington High School, stated that in her 14 years of playing the sport, it is a priority to fuel herself with proper fibers before any game. “I usually try to eat a banana or something with substance in order to have energy for a game,” Sablosky says. Her routine highlights that even a quick snack can provide the vital energy you need to perform well. Proper energy supports endurance and stamina. While a small snack might not have a long-term effect, it can still provide an extra push. Athletes should still eat sustainable meals throughout the day to consistently maintain energy for practices and games.

Strength and muscle endurance is key especially for young athletes where the muscles are still developing. Protein is an easy and essential component when it comes to healthy muscle growth for the sport. It will not necessarily affect the performance right beforehand, but it mainly affects the build of the muscles over a longer period of time. When you are using your body constantly and it is getting beat up day to day, your muscles and strength needed is crucial. In a Youtube  video by Uninterrupted, four time MVP winner Lebron James shared his routine when it comes to the playoffs every season. He stated the need for fast recovery of the muscles is key for the next game, he cuts out the sugars and ramps up the carbs and proteins in order to sustain the calories and energy he burns per game. Lebron is approaching the age of 40, maintaining such a high level of play requires that certain attention to diet and work ethic that student athletes should take away. 

Proper nutrition is essential for student athletes to perform at their best. At Washington, it is known to have motivated and committed athletes. Maintaining a balanced diet will enhance the success of your performance and will also be crucial come gametime. With the right nutrition, we will see that difference and hopefully you will feel it too!

 As the high school football season starts up, students continue to be underwhelmed by the San Francisco football experience

By: Tessa Roznovsky

Heading into the 2024 season, some students at Washington High School believe their school district lacks football culture. They notice other districts with filled out stadiums, loud chants, and impressive amounts of school spirit, while football teams in San Francisco struggle to attract an audience. Many students at Washington are upset by this, and wish the city made high school football games into bigger events. They want to make a change by introducing more school spirit.

According to a 2023 San Francisco Chronicle report, most counties in California claim football as their most popular boys’ sport. San Francisco is an outlier and leans towards soccer. This absence of football superiority leaves some students feeling like they’re missing out on a major part of high school in the United States.

The lack of stadium lights may be partially responsible for the scarcity of interest in football. Many schools around the United States have Friday Night Lights, big football games with loud student sections on Friday nights. Since San Francisco public schools do not have field lights, all of their games have to be played in the daytime. This means that often games happen during school hours, or they’re on the weekend. This year, all of Washington’s games are on Saturdays during the day. Many students are busy, or simply are not willing to spend their weekend supporting their school. This might be part of the reason why Washington football games are so barren.

A couple of students were interviewed on the subject, offering their perspectives on how it feels, why it’s happening, and how it can be changed.

Cate Smith, a junior at Washington, is disappointed by the lack of excitement surrounding football at her school. She wishes San Francisco offered a more classic American high school experience, with big games and engaged fans. Instead, she reports the reality as “very empty,” along with feeling “very anticlimactic.”

However, she claims private schools do it better, stating that the annual Bruce Mahoney Game, between Sacred Heart and Saint Ignatius, is a “bigger deal.” She believes this collective enthusiasm is due to the big rivalry, which brings out the competitive side of the audience. 

In order to build more hype around public school teams, she suggests “making more competition between the schools.” Smith thinks that if you create competition, people will become more invested. “Make people proud of their school,” she says “rather than ashamed to admit that they like it.”

Sophia Manuel, a senior at Washington, feels largely the same. She is also saddened by the shortage of excitement around the sport, stating “we don’t have much school spirit. We’re not Texas, they’re a big football state.”  

When asked why football is less popular in San Francisco, she replied “we spend more time on soccer.” During the 2023-2024 school year, Washington held a parade for the boys soccer team after they won the state championship. Students filled the esplanade and watched as trucks full of players drove by, followed by the iconic Eagle mascot. Manuel elaborated, claiming “there’s a lot of spirit around those games.”

Overall, she described the high school football scene in San Francisco as “kind of depressing,” and thinks it can be improved if students are given a reason to go, like turning games into fundraisers or giving out free shirts. She also suggested games at night, rather than “in the middle of the day.” She thinks the atmosphere would be better, and students would be more willing to attend.

The lack of football dominance in San Francisco is a sharp contrast to a majority of the United States, where high school football teams rule entire towns. Washington students are hoping to see changes implemented, and a new era full of fun football games soon.