Sports
Washington Soccer Teams Prepare for Another Championship Run
By: Annie Sablosky
Tens of people will line up on the backfield for the next two weeks in hopes of joining the competitive Washington soccer program. Last year, the boys' team took home gold in the state championship, while the girls' team placed second in the city championship after a hard-fought loss against Lowell.
Boys' soccer tryouts started Wednesday after school on the back field. With 45 boys showing up, there will have to be multiple rounds of cuts.
The boys were considered an underdog last year, barely scraping their way into the playoffs. The ball started rolling after the boys, against all odds, won their first playoff game against the previous year's champions. After that, they never lost a game—beating Lowell in the city championship and then going all the way to win the state championship. The stakes will be even higher this year, with those trying out being expected to continue the winning streak.
Girls' soccer tryouts will start the week of Nov. 4. For the past four years, Washington and Lowell have been in a heated battle for the city championship title. Back in 2022, the girls' team took away Lowell's 27-year victory streak and brought home the golden trophy. This year, the rivalry is bound to be even more competitive.
The soccer program is one of Washington's most popular sports, with crowds filling the stands, teammates with elaborate handshakes, and loud cheers that reverberate off the bleacher walls. The tryouts are just kicking off and it's anyone's bet how the season will go, but it's clear the Eagles will put up a tough fight!
Rough Start to Varsity Football's Opening Season
By: Nicole Claudio
October 12th, 2024, marked George Washington High School football team's opening home game. The anticipation was electric as people gathered to experience the first triple header in front of the prominent Golden Gate Bridge. That excitement soon faded as the Eagles fell to Balboa, 34-14.
The football team invested significant time and energy in practice, starting last spring. During preseason, Eagles players built excitement among students with highlight reels, game shots, and countdown posts to their next game. Students' expectations soared after witnessing the team's determination and effort this fall. Unfortunately, the team's performance fell short in the opener.
The game wasn't a complete blowout, with the Eagles trailing by only 20 points. Juniors Sammy and Henry each scored touchdowns, narrowing the gap after being down 14-0 early. "Started off sluggish because the team was not ready to play," said a spectator. "Balboa has a very dynamic running back, #4, that we just had a hard time stopping all game," they added. Despite the tough loss, the band and cheer squad kept spirits high with astonishing performances throughout the game.
It's only the first game, and as Principal Schlauraff likes to say, "Soar high, Eagles." The football team hopes to regain confidence in future games, aiming to clinch a playoff spot—or at least their first win.
Buster Posey leads SF Giants as new president of baseball operations.
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.
The Athletics have officially left Oakland; How are the fans doing?
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.
Special Olympics Soccer Event to Take Place at Washington
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.
Sports For All!
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!”
Fueling for success! How sports nutrition can affect a student athlete's performance!
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 at Washington upset by lack of football culture in SF
As the high school football season starts up, students continue to be underwhelmed by the San Francisco football experience
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.