New faces in the athletic department aim high

The buzzer-beating, game-winning shots, the breathtaking hail marys and the penalty to determine it all are but mere glimpses of that which we see at our sporting events. However, these exhilarating events would not be possible without the help of the staff that encompasses the Athletic Department.Samo athletics has incorporated two new faces into that staff this year: athletic director (AD) Timothy Ballaret and head football coach Ramsey Lambert. Both men came to Samo in order to fill vacant positions within the Athletic Department. Ballaret stepped in for former AD Al Trundle, who is now an S-House Advisor, and Lambert will lead the football team after former coach Travis Clark (’86) departed for Lawndale High School at the end of last year.Adjusting to a new job is difficult for anybody, especially if you happen to be the new  football coach or AD at a school as large as Samo. According to Lambert and Ballaret, they are accepting of the transition, and they are looking forward to the challenges ahead.Tim Ballaret transferred to Samo this year after working as an eighth grade teacher and athletic coordinator for a few charter schools in the valley region of Los Angeles.Throughout his life, Ballaret has always had an interest in sports. He played basketball and volleyball at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks and intramurally at the University of Southern California (USC), where he earned his business degree. From there, he went on to earn his masters in education from Mount St. Mary’s University. He came to Samo because he was pursuing a full-time AD role.According to Ballaret, he wants to get to know the program while still keeping it functioning at a high level. “I definitely want to make sure that I’m as organized as possible, and that the program itself is organized and running smoothly,” Ballaret said.According to Ballaret, if the athletic department stays on track, Samo should remain one of the top programs in the Los Angeles area. Furthermore, one of his main objectives this year is to elevate every sport to its highest potential.“I want Samo to be known for its athletic program in all different areas and to continue to grow the sports we have,” Ballaret said.Within the Athletic Department, Samo is primarily known for its basketball, track and field, softball and soccer programs, however, Ballaret intends to raise awareness for the smaller sports on campus that don’t receive the credit they deserve.“I want to make sure that our new programs, like lacrosse, start to grow and get bigger and more popular as well,” Ballaret said.Coach Ramsey Lambert, who also teaches freshman seminar, signed on to lead this year’s football team, after leaving his head coaching position at La Canada High School. According to Lambert, his time at La Canada helped him learn the managerial aspects of coaching a football team such as overseeing all levels (Varsity, JV and Freshmen) and fundraising.He started his professional career as a football coach at the age of 19, when he became a defensive coordinator for Silverado High School in 2002. From there, Lambert moved on to coach offense and defense at both the high school and college levels. He found success at schools such as Kalaheo High School in Hawaii while he attended the University of Hawaii. He then began working with Oak Hills High School where his team finished with a 10-2 record in back-to-back years. Before that, he was at the University of Mary in North Dakota (NCAA Division II college), a team that to this day continues to win in a difficult conference. According to Lambert, his extensive football background gives him a lot of experience with coaching, fundraising and connecting with the community.“I think I come in here with a lot of experience under my belt now, being able to do all those things to create an exceptional experience for our players,” Lambert said.Believing the team will be successful this season, Lambert has made it clear to his players that he expects a lot from them, both physically and mentally. “The first thing I want to see improved is work ethic on the field, not giving up,” Lambert said. “I want them to play from the first snap all the way to the whistle.”Last year, Samo made it to the first round of playoffs where they lost 34-18 to West Torrance ending their season with a 5-6 record. However, according to Lambert, he is looking to push the Vikings even further this year as he hopes to place first or second in league and make it past the second round of the California Interscholastic Federation playoffs.