With the addition of new players, the boys’ varsity lacrosse team is gearing up for a successful season.
Sophomore defenseman Derek Yun, who is returning for his second year, believes that the team will benefit in general from the new players because of the boost in skill level.
New additions this year include freshman Ryan Caviani, sophomores Kian Ghelichkhani, Nolan Chao, Daelan Denenberg, Kerem Celik, Derek Yun, Aiden Peck and junior Omar Ajanee.
As an individual, Yun hopes to become a better player on the defensive side and play better in the midfield because he is also a long stick midfielder.
“Defense in lacrosse can’t be strong unless everyone knows what they are doing, so I hope our entire defense will learn to communicate and grow with more chemistry,” Yun said.
Yun also follows a fitness regimen on his own time to further improve. He understands the necessity of staying in shape and working on one’s game in order to benefit the whole team.
Yun said that if everyone takes care of their conditioning on their own, the team will not have to worry about it. Specifically, Yun said he has been running and working on his lacrosse skills. He hopes that the team is able to beat Los Gatos and other tough opponents with his hard work.
Beating Los Gatos is not the only goal that the boys’ lacrosse team has in mind this season.
“I think we can win our league this season, which is what we are all trying to do,” Yun said. “Hopefully, we can win CCS as well. I know we have the talent to make a deep playoff run.”
Although building on the previous season is always a goal for sports teams, this team actually has the talent that makes it possible to do so.
“The new athletes are very athletic,” new addition sophomore midfielder Aiden Peck said. “It’s always helpful to have new players that have a team first attitude and are focused on winning.”
The team went 2-0 in a tournament and lost in their first preseason game against Scotts Valley High School and have played two games since. The team’s next game is on March 13 against Mountain View.