Page 49 - Menlo Magazine Summer 2019

M E MN E L NO L MO A GM A A ZG I A N Z E I N E
Andrei Volgin ’19 finished the season with a remarkable 20-3 record and guided the Knights to their 11th consecutive CCS and NorCal appearances
BOYS’ TENNIS
NorCal finalist, CCS finalist, WBAL champion
The Knights capped a perfect 12-0 West Bay Athletic League season with a return to the CCS and NorCal Championships. Menlo reached its 11th consecutive section and regional finals, sailing through the semifinals of both before being edged by Bellarmine. League MVP Andrei Volgin ’19 and classmate Kevin Kafayi ’19 teamed up for CCS, advancing to the semifinals. Volgin and John Kim ’19, both four-year starters, paved the way for the Knights, who have not
lost a league match in 23 seasons. They led a young crew which featured six freshmen, who consistently started for the Knights at singles and doubles. Early in the season, Menlo went 4-1 in the prestigious National Invitational for third place.
SWIMMING
Boys and girls: WBAL third place, state individual qualifier
Both the boys’ and girls’ teams finished third at the WBAL Championships, and throughout the season, swimmers recorded CCS qualifying times. Sixteen Knights qualified
for CCS. After receiving section scholastic top 5 awards,
the Knights, represented by Sophie Reynolds ’20, Matthew Lim ’20, and Joshua Lim ’20, took on the CCS Championships. In her rookie season, Emory Tudor ’22 advanced from CCS to state and raced in the 200 freestyle at the trials, improving her California rank seven places to 27th. At CCS, Alec Vercruysse ’19 placed 13th in the boys’ 100 breaststroke final among 27, and the girls’ 200 medley relay of Tudor, Ashley Scafetta ’21, Carly McAdam ’21, and Sophie Golub ’20 dropped 2.5 seconds from their season best. Tudor placed 13th in the 200 among 46 qualifiers and 16th in the 500 free in a field of 48.
Alec Vercruysse ’19 and Emory Tudor ’22 (above), a state qualifier, led a strong crew to the CCS Championship
Jorge Chen Named National Double-Goal Coach
Jorge Chen, Menlo’s longtime cross country and track & field coach and assistant soccer coach, won Positive Coaching Alliance’s National Double-Goal Coach Award for his positive impact on youth sports. Chen was among 50 coaches nationally who were named Double-Goal Coach for striving to win while also pursuing the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) is a national nonprofit developing “Better Athletes, Better People” through youth and high school sports. Chen was recognized, along with three others, by PCA at the 18th Annual National Youth Sports Awards Dinner and Benefit and participated in a panel discussion with emcee Mike Tirico of NBC Sports Broadcasting.
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