By, Chloe Law
Staff Writer
Football
Hardworking. Determined. Passionate.
These are the words that football coach Harold Sanin used to describe senior Nyle Ussery-Brumfield’s charater. Ussery-Brumfield is currently in his third year on the varsity football team and his final season of playing football. This year, he is continuing to work his hardest during practices and play his best during games. In preparation for his last season at Gabrielino, Ussery-Brumfield has been taking on extra training in addition to the standard practices established by the team. Determined to be the best player that he can be, Ussery Brumfield is often the very last one leaving the field. Ussery-Brumfield is very passionate about the football team and everything the team embodies as a whole. He wants to share this passion with others and has even taken it upon himself to encourage others to join. This season, Ussery-Brumfield has refrained from setting specific goals for himself. Instead, he chooses to concentrate on performing his best during every practice and game, relying on the end result of his plays to
display effort. “I’m just trying to [do] well and have a good season,” stated Ussery-Brumfield.
Boy’s Cross Country
On any given day after school, senior Stephan Ng races through the streets of San Gabriel under the blazing sun and through unforgiving winds. Ng has been a member of the
cross country team since his sophomore year and holds multiple places on the team’s re-
cords. He is currently one of the fastest boys on the team. Last year, Ng encountered a
few obstacles with his practice habits. As a result, his overall performance differed significantly from his rather successful sophomore year. Despite these challenges, he continues to approach this coming season with nothing but ambition and determination. “I ran on my own before camp started in the summer in order to get ahead in training,” Ng explained. “I’m really motivated to do my best my senior year.” In addition to beginning his training early, Ng has also prepared himself relentlessly for his final season by participating in many activities over the summer, such as weight lifting, bik-
ing, and swimming. “He’s really committed time to getting better, and I think it’s really paying off for him right now,” commented Coach Ryan Kammerman. “I know that he’s going to have a really good season.” Along with planning to beat a few of his personal records this season, Ng is particularly hoping to do well at the Billy York Invitational today, where he had placed first overall in his sophomore year at the Riverside Cross Country Course.
Girl’s Volleyball
Junior Joy Hano’s liveliness and charisma are only two of the many characteristics her teammates attribute to her personality. Hano’s energy is always present on the volleyball court whether it be at practice at 7 a.m. or at a game at 5 p.m. Hano is a two-year varsity
player who has been involved in volleyball since she was ten. She remains passionate about the sport to this day, believing that volleyball has allowed her to grow both as a person and as an athlete. “Joy has a natural instinct to the game,” complimented Coach
Cuong Chau. “She knows what to do and when to do it.” Aside from earning a reputation
for herself on the court, Hano has also established a name for herself within the team.
“She’s definitely a leader on the court even if she’s not the captain,” expressed sophomore Daphne Mall. “She keeps the team in check, and she keeps
herself in check.” As she intends to be a four-year member of the team, Hano con-
tinues to work hard as the season plays out. When the season comes to a
close, she hopes for the team to move on to the California Interscholastic Federation Championships and win the tournament altogether. However, Hano has
stated that she will be satisfied as long as she and the team grows individually and as a collective whole. “I love this sport but, really, it’s the girls that I play with that re-
ally make it special,” confessed Hano.
Girls Cross Country
For most juniors, it will be their first year participating in a varsity sport. For Cassidy Liu,
however, it will be her third year obtaining a Gabrielino High School varsity letter. Last year, Liu proved to be the top runner amongst the girls cross country team with times both breaking and making records. Along with her contributions to the team’s all-time charts, Liu is determined to break her all time record of a 6:02 mile. “She’s a fierce competitor when it comes to racing, and she isn’t afraid to step out of her comfort zone,” stated Coach Horalia Gamboa. “She practices very much the same way she races.”
Liu’s record-breaking times and diligence in practice are not the only aspects that exhibit her character. In fact, her teammates often attribute her character to her colorful personality, recounting her contagious laughter and unyielding energy. “She’s always laughing, even during long runs when everyone should be out of breath,” shared
teammate Crystal Lok, junior. Liu is also often described as a natural leader by the cross country community. In her past two seasons, she would always be seen leading her teammates in both races and practices, encouraging them to keep going and push themselves beyond their limits. This coming season, Liu hopes to remain one of the scorers for the team during Mission Valley League meets and to break her personal records.
Girls Golf
Senior Jasmine Lam is be ginning her final year on the golf team and has already
kicked off her final season with a head start. This year, Lam was voted as the team captain and has wasted no time in demonstrating her nature as a leader. Only a few weeks into the season, Lam has already begun working on improvements for her teammates, provided moral support for her teammates, and organized team bonding events. “Jasmine truly cares about us and takes care of all of us,” explained sophomore
Casey Lee. “The golf team is really lucky to have Jasmine as captain.” Along with displaying commendable leadership skills, Lam has also exhibited a strong work ethic and willpower as an athlete. This season, Lam shot a par for a nine hole round of golf.
According to Coach Steve Swanson, she has become more focused on the sport and has readily driven herself towards improvement. “She really goes above and beyond,” praised Swanson. “If we’re working on one thing and her weakness is another, she’ll ask to work on that.” Lam hopes to continue to develop her leadership skills this season by creating a more inclusive environment for all the girls on the team. She is also working towards a Mission Valley League.
