Winter sports heats up

Girls Water Polo Dives into Season Last year, the Samo girls water polo team had a phenomenal season with an overall record of 20-2-0. After winning CIFs in March and going undefeated in Ocean League, the Lady Greenies made history. This year, the team is facing the challenge of playing up to the expectations of last season. “[The toughest challenge the team has faced this year is] living up to the success of last year, by far,” coach Matthew Flanders said. The team is currently 3-4, after playing in non-conference games and tournaments to help prepare for the fast approaching season.“We will be working out for one of the weeks [during winter break], we have one game and a tournament on the last weekend,” Flanders said. The pool will be closed for repair during the first week of the break, hindering the practice time in the middle of the season for the girls. But nevertheless, the team will continue to make up for lost time and to work even harder the following week.Boys Soccer’s Goals Are Set High for the SeasonSince the end of their 2015-16 season in March, Samo’s boys soccer team has been preparing for their winter season (2016-17). Although they were unable to qualify for CIFs last year, they finished fourth place in League with a record of 5-4-1. This year with new coach Joe Doyle, the team hopes to have a fresh start and come back stronger than ever before.“Just in terms of the varsity team, our goal is to remain competitive in the league, as I personally feel we have a real shot at winning it this season, and seeing how we do in playoffs,” coach Joe Doyle said. As a recent alumnus, Doyle understands the program through and through and can relate to the players.“Last year, we had probably the three youngest teams at each level for quite some time,” Doyle said. “Last season was a learning curve for a lot of the players in the program, and I think that year, especially for the younger players, really showed what playing high school soccer is all about.”Doyle has seen the chemistry of the team grow each season and knows how to keep the positive vibes flowing among the boys. “I've seen what has and hasn't worked for this program in the time I've been here both as a player and a coach,” Doyle said.Overall, the boys soccer team has set out a handful of goals for their season and continue to work toward achieving them.Girls Basketball Shoots for the Stars Last season, the Samo girls basketball team finished with an overall record of 10-14-0 and 5-5 in Ocean League, finishing in fourth place and unable to qualify for CIFs. This year, Coach Doug Kim has replaced Marisa Silvestri as head coach and with the new year, new head and new atmosphere, many things have changed, but the heart and pride of Samo stays in the same gym. “[Our goal this year is to] win League,” Kim said. The team will continue to work hard over winter break, as their record currently stands at 3-2-0.“[To prepare over the break, we will be] practicing and playing. We’re in a ton of tournaments,” Kim said. “We play everyday through December. [Christmas] is the only day we have off.”It will be a challenge to overcome the many obstacles this community and team has faced so far, but with all that has happened, the girls are closer to each other than ever before.“[The toughest challenge we’ve faced so far would be] the loss of Vanai, for sure, but it’s also one of our strengths. It brought us together,” Kim said. It has been a tough year for the team, after losing a member of the Samo family, but the loss has united the girls to come back with strength and to fight with all they have, as Vanai would have.Girls Soccer Starts Season with One Goal in MindThe Samo girls soccer team is working hard to make 2017 the year that they finally bring home the long awaited for CIF Champion title. After finishing first with a record of 8-1-1 in Ocean League last year, Samo advanced to the playoffs. But a heartbreaking loss of 2-1 against La Mirada in the quarterfinals held the team back from their dream. “The goal this year is to continue to execute the tactical battle of play we've been implementing for the past year, two years,” coach Jimmy Chapman said. “And to defend our title as Ocean League Champions, and as every year to be the first team to win CIF.”With a three year streak of earning the Ocean League Champion title, the team seeks to go beyond last year’s record and dive further into the playoffs this season. By maintaining the same ethic that has been applied throughout the year, the team will continue to work hard through winter break.“The team has been preparing since last spring. We start in February [and work] over the summer, but as we head into the break, there are going to be expectations for them,” Chapman said.The toughest challenge for the team seems to be a steady and stable performance in games.“I think we have good team chemistry and there is a very big support network. [The challenge we face this year] is playing consistently,” Chapman said. “They can perform well, but it's tough to make sure you're playing at your best on a consistent level.”Despite this challenge, the team has high expectations for themselves this season and hope to outcompete their opponents in CIF.Boys Wrestling Pins Down Goal for the Season Last year, the Samo wrestling team had a victorious season, sending 12 boys and two girls to CIFs. Coach Mark Black, has been working hard to repeat the success of last season, but has found it hard to motivate the team.“[The toughest challenge the team has faced is that] they don’t work out hard enough… One kid is trying to get in State… He’s good enough, but like everybody else he needs to work a little harder,” Black said. “[We will work out over the break] if they show up to practice.”But the objective this season remains the same as Black attempts to inspire each player to perform with their full potential.“[The team’s goal is] to win matches. Try to strive to get each kid as far as possible in CIF,” Black said.Winter break will be a good chance to improve the ethic and energy of the upcoming season if the players are prepared to put in the work.“We try to do five or six workouts over the holiday, and not everybody shows up. So, we have to pick up the pieces when we come back,” Black said. “It’s like all Samohi athletes, they need to be pushed to work out hard in general. Whereas other programs, the kids work harder. There’s too many distractions here.”Boys Basketball Slams into SeasonThe Samo boys basketball team had a phenomenal season last year after winning the CIF Division 1A championship. The 2015-16 team held the title as undefeated Ocean League Champions and advanced to become CIF Champions. They dove deeper in playoffs than any other team before them, but the season came to an end in the first round of CIF Division II State Playoffs, after losing to George Washington Preparatory High School. Nevertheless, last year’s team built a strong reputation for Samo with an overall record of 24-3 and this winter the 2016-17 team will work hard to prepare for facing tough competition.“Our team goals are to win a CIF and State Championship, play together as a team, send our seniors out with a bang and most importantly represent the city of Santa Monica to the best of our ability,” Payton Moore (’17) said.After losing seven seniors, coach James Hecht needed to fill some holes in the lineup, and the team has meshed well to surround themselves with good chemistry and strong vibes.“Our toughest challenge so far was dealing with first loss of the season to a city rival in Crossroads in the championship game of the St. Monica tournament but we rebounded nicely and won the Beverly Hills tournament the next week,” Moore said.Their record currently stands at 7-1 and the team has one more game before winter break, then they plan to continue training over the holidays. “We’ll be playing in a tournament during winter break against some of the best teams in California,” Moore said.