Junior shooting guard Tyler Yoshihara grunts as he squats with the 295-pound weight. His brain coaxes him to drop the metal bar, but he ignores the nagging and perseveres through the pain.
With the boys’ basketball season quickly approaching, players have already started rigorous training to prepare for the season. Although the likely starting five has already been established, the rest of the roster is still being figured out. This starting five consists of senior point guard Michael Cole, junior shooting guard Joe Eschen, senior small forward Gino Caloiaro, senior power forward Kevin Lee and junior center Jatin Mohanty.
Before tryouts, which started on Nov. 3, they had been attending open gyms and weight lifting sessions four times a week to get in the best possible shape.
“I’ve been taking a lot practice shots, and I’ve been running,” Cole said. “For the open gyms, I’m trying to push the pace I normally work at and get in shape for the season.”
In addition to the school’s training, many players are working on their individual skills.
Yoshihara said he has been going to the outdoor courts on the weekends and is lifting weights often.
Along with preparing physically for the season, players are also preparing for the mental aspect of the sport. Veterans are faced with the task of guiding the younger players to make it easier for them.
“I always try to lead by example,” Caloiaro said. “Whenever something isn’t going well, I try to keep everyone optimistic and let them know we’re all here to win as a team.”
Additionally, the return of former coach Trevor Naas after a year away has further boosted the team’s confidence.
“It’s really good [to have Naas back],” Caloiaro said. “[He] has been around for a while and he knows what he’s doing as a coach, and all the players respect him and believe in him.”
Players think they have a good shot at winning a lot of games with talented scorers like Cole and four players over six foot who can score and rebound.
In the offensively oriented El Camino basketball league, the team will have to score a lot to stay in games. They have implemented the San Antonio Spurs’s offense, one with lots of unselfish ball movement, to do so.
Aside from the team’s goal to remain undefeated throughout the season, most players have set personal goals.
Cole, the team’s star player, said he is aiming for scoring 18 points a game and dishing out four assists a game.
Despite having many difficult opponents like Gunn, Cupertino, the Falcons think they are more than capable of winning all their games.
“As a team, we want a league championship and to make a really deep run in CCS,” Caloiaro said. “I think we have the talent, and we can definitely [go far in CCS]. We [have] the team to make a run.”