BEVERLY HILLS HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS · VOLUME II, ISSUE FIVE · DECEMBER 2, 2011thesportseditionSoccer teams kick off season with new goals

Captain Elijah Lichtenberg dribbles the ball during a game against Saint Monica. OLIVER GALLOP

Arman Zadeh

This season’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams tell a tale of two squads. The boys’ team remains relatively experienced and enjoys familiarity with their head coach, Jarvis Turner, who is entering his second season at the helm. By contrast, the girls’ squad has few returning players and is working to establish team chemistry.

The boys (1-0) rolled past Ayala to open the season with a 69-57 home victory on Nov. 22. Led by 22 points from Austin Mills, the team was able to win without its two starting guards, Brodric Smith and Mike Lanier. The team also received a much-needed boost from Ben Cohen, who scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to help the team clinch the win.

In the team’s second game, though, the squad was unable to emerge

victorious in a 63-58 loss to South Torrance on Tuesday.

For Mills, this season is his fourth and final on the squad. In comparison to previous teams, Mills revealed that the current roster has higher expectations to aim for, among other differences. The team aspires to become the Ocean League champions and win a CIF title.

“This team is very different,” Mills said. “We all have a close bond, share a strong chemistry. Our team is extremely organized and well-coached. This year we have higher expectations.”

Smith believes the difficult goals that lie ahead are attainable. The boys’ increased familiarity with Turner allow them to better understand his methods.

“He kind of joined us late last year and this year we had him for the whole summer, so now we’re used to him and we play very hard for him,” Smith said. “We have bought into his coaching and we believe he could lead us to be league champs and even lead us to state.”

The boys’ team can next be seen in a home tournament from Dec. 5-9, beginning with a game against Shalhevet on Dec. 5.

On the other hand, the girls’ team struggled to close out their opener in a 57-47 loss at Santa Monica. Although the game was tied at 45 with five minutes remaining, the Normans were unable to find their rhythm in the clutch.

“We really wanted to start off giving

it our all but [we] lacked in areas of scoring,” Dorsa Mehrannia said. “We played good defense yet failed to transition into offense.”

After losing seven players from last season, the girls’ squad only features two returning starters. As a result, the expectations have been altered. While the girls do have their sights set on qualifying for CIF playoffs, their primary focus is to simply win games and improve with experience.

“The varsity team is fairly new and it’s difficult at times for all of us to come together,” Debbie Reyhan said. “A lot of the new kids are not used to the intensity of a varsity game, thus they get a little lost, and everything does not go as planned.”

The team’s struggles continued with a 51-46 loss on Monday to Venice and a 52-41 loss on Tuesday against Bell. Although the squad trailed 10-1 in the opening minutes of the Venice game, both teams were tied with four minutes remaining. However, a costly turnover and 17 missed free throws led to a disappointing outcome. By contrast, the Normans began the Bell game aggressively, but lost momentum during a third quarter in which they had trouble scoring.

Results for the girls’ game on Thursday against Cleveland were not available as of press time.

Benjamin Hannani

Basketball teams hone skills for new season

Sophomore Ben Cohen shoots a layup against Ayala. OLIVER GALLOP

Soccer seasons started successfully for both the boys’ and girls’ teams, each win-ning their first games of the year. The boys began with a victorious perfor-mance against Santa Monica, beating the Vikings 3-2 in a scrimmage on Nov. 22. Captain Elijah Lichtenberg leads the team. Darren Davis and Steve Rappaport coach the team again this year, with Rap-paport as head coach. The team’s second game of the season was on Tuesday, Nov. 29, against Saint Monica, not to be confused with rival Santa Monica. From the start, midfielder Phinneas Bauer knew the team was pre-pared to face the Mariners. “I feel that we are ready for the game and we know we have to work hard and give [Saint Monica] everything we have if we want to win,” Bauer said. The Normans were triumphant, beating Saint Monica 7-0. They now hold a record of 2-0. Lichtenberg believed the team played excellently, executing all the tactics impec-cably. Lichtenberg was also pleased that the team was able to play some of their newer members, giving the team more of an opportunity to learn each other’s styles of play in real game situations. Striker Nick Marmureanu, midfielder Alvaro Guerrero, striker Gefen Laredo, midfielder Joshua Horowitz and Lichten-berg all scored for Beverly. Marmureanu contributed a hat trick. Midfielder Roman Zaragoza believes that the team’s tighter chemistry will allow the squad to have a more successful season. “On last year’s team, we had a lot of strong individual players, but this year, we work as a team and I feel like this years [team] is better…We work as a team...rather than just individual players doing whatever they want,” Zaragoza said.

The team’s main goal is to win league and ultimately move on to CIF playoffs, after losing last year in the first round of playoffs. “Considering we beat Samo in our latest scrimmage, we think that this is something very achievable,” Lichtenberg said. Players know they are capable of reach-ing this goal, but they are aware it will be a difficult process. “I think we’re starting off really strong and I think we’re only going to get better from here… I think it’s going to be a really great season for us,” Bauer said. The team’s next game took place on Thursday, Dec. 1 against Windward. The results were not available as of press time. The girls begin their season with a 2-0 record, leaving them in first place in the Ocean League. With high expectations, captains Tiffany Moore and Monica Salandra plan on keep-ing their team on top of the league for the entire season. Midfielder Kaela Reisfelt believes that due to injuries, this year’s team is in need of rebuilding. “The team’s chemistry is alright off the field, but [we] need to work on [our] chem-istry and playing like a team on the field,” Reisfelt said. The team played their first home game on Monday, Nov. 28, against Lawndale. The team was victorious, beating Lawndale 2-0. Scoring for the team was striker Sarah Patterson and striker Ashley Aviram. The girls played Leuzinger on Wednes-day, Nov. 30. The team was victorious, beating the Olympians 7-1. Moore and striker Leila Sadeghi con-tributed one goal each; Patterson had two goals and Aviram scored three goals. The team’s next game is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 5, against Mira Costa.

thesportsedition HIGHLIGHTS · VOLUME II, ISSUE FIVE · DECEMBER 2, 2011

thesportsedition staff

Chanan Batra, Ryan Feinberg, Benjamin Hannani,Danny Licht, Mallika Sen and Arman Zadeh

advisersGaby Herbst and Katie Murray

beverly hills high school241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Send letters to the editorsto beverlyhighlights@gmail.com

Follow us on Twitter@bhhighlights

The girls’ water polo team began their season with one win and one loss at the Santa Ana Valley Tournament.

Seniors Emily Grubman and Tammy Katz are leading this year’s team as co-captains.

“I think the biggest challenge is going to be getting through games… it’s really tiring swimming back and forth non-stop on limited subs,” Grubman said.

On Monday, Nov. 28, the team played their first tournament winning one out of two games. The team beat Saddleback 13-

7, but lost to Sonora 7-5.Grubman believes that this year’s

smaller team may be a problem, as fewer substitutions are avaiable. Grubman knows the team is going to need to practice harder in order to form a stronger squad.

The team continued their success on Tuesday, Nov. 29 when they played Marymount at home. The team beat the Sailors 8-6, starting the Normans season with a 1-0 record.

Sophomore Allie Kahn, senior Celeste Bean and Grubman each contributed one

goal and Katz scored five.Junior Emma Gregory led the team with

three assists; while Grubman and Katz led the team in steals, with three each.

Head Coach Robert Bowie believed that the team’s endurance on offense and communication on defense made for a successful game.

“After the first quarter, we settled in on offense and we did a good job of just being patient… we didn’t run a lot of [plays], but with [the team’s] patience, they kept [the game] balanced out,” Bowie said.

With high expectations, Bowie believes the team is headed for a successful season; however, he is aware there is room for improvement.

“I’m pleasantly surprised with the season so far…but there is still a lot of work to do,” Bowie said.

The team played in a Santa Ana tournament on Friday, Dec. 2, but results were not available in time for the press.

The team’s next game is set for Wednesday, Dec. 7, against Redondo.

Arman Zadeh

Girls’ water polo succeeds with small squad

Senior Celeste Bean sprints towards the goal in the Swim Gym during a game againts Marymount High School. Photo courtesy of TAMMY KATZ

Last Saturday, Nov. 26, junior Sydney Segal and senior Brianna Simmons traveled to Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif. to participate in the CIF Cross Country State Meet.

The State Meet, established in 1987, features the top schools and individuals the state has to offer. Segal and Simmons qualified as individuals for Beverly after putting up strong performances at the CIF Division III Southern Section Finals at the famed Mt. SAC course. At that meet, Segal finished second overall, five seconds behind one of the top-ranked runners in the state, senior Rebecca Mehra of Palos Verdes High School, with a time of 17:28.

Simmons was not far behind and finished fourth overall with a time of 17:58. For Simmons, qualifying for State was especially sweet, as she missed qualifying by one second last year.

“When I found out I had qualified, I was ecstatic,” Simmons said. “Finally, I accomplished something I had wanted to do since freshman year.”

At the State Meet, the top ten finishers in each division receive CIF State medals and All-CIF honors. In the Division III

girls’ race, Segal and Simmons stuck with the lead group the entire race, and the two finished in the top ten out of a field of over 200 runners. Segal ran the 3.2 mile course in a time of 17:53, and finished in sixth.

Simmons finished in eighth place with a time of 18:14. Carrie Verdon of Campolinda High School won the Division III Girls’ race in a time of 17:19.

“There was a girl right behind me the entire race, and in the last 150 meters I had to go into an all-out sprint to secure my sixth place finish,” Segal said.

This year was the first in Beverly’s history to have athletes medal at the State Meet. Team Historian Simon Langer was not surprised.

“[Segal and Simmons] have throughout the season consistently run with the best, so it is only fitting that they finished with the best,” Langer said.

Segal and Simmons now have the number one and number two Beverly times for every course they have run this year. They credit these accomplishments to the hard work of head coach Jeffrey Fisher.

“Coach Fisher inspired us and believed in us,” Simmons said. “He pushed me when I thought I had reached my limit,

and he motivated the entire team to meet our potential.”

The achievements of the two girls did not come easily, though. Countless hours of practice and conditioning were a necessary part of the girls’ road to the State Meet.

“The training was grueling,” Segal said. “But the competitor in me knew I had to do a little more than everybody else if I wanted to be at the top of the state.”

This was Segal’s first year running cross-country, and she looks forward to competing at the State Meet again next year.

As for Simmons, the State Meet was

her last cross-country race of her high school career.

“Historically, seniors have left behind impressive legacies, and I wanted to leave my own,” Simmons said. “At State, I knew this was my last chance to make my own legacy in cross-country.”

Simmons finishes her cross-country high school career as an All-CIF State selection, a four-time All-Ocean League athlete, and the Beverly girls’ record holder on four different courses.

Both Segal and Simmons have transitioned into track conditioning, and look forward to having successful track seasons in the spring.

Cross-country runners place top ten in stateChanan Batra