Rams Volley for Title

BY DAN POWELL
Staff Writer

Despite an explosive serve, Annika Viragh loses to Manela Tatlic of De Anza in straight sets. PHOTO BY ELI MILCHMAN / GUARDSMAN

At the Coast Conference Tournament, the Rams powered their way to a second place finish, emerging relatively unscathed and eager for the NorCal Conference in late April.

“I think they’re just starting to peak,” said head coach Cassandra Cunningham. “They’re stronger than they were two months ago, and they’re playing better.”

The Rams have had a great season under the tutelage of Cunningham. Their regular season record of 8-2 had them ranked second in the conference going into the Coast Tournament.

Despite losing 7-2 to first-ranked De Anza in the April 5 tournament, the Rams managed to take a few points, with Jennifer Wong and Lauren Wong (no relation) winning their singles matches.

Annika Viragh, 6 and 1 in regular season play and the Rams’ top player, lost to De Anza’s Manila Tatlic in straight sets, 6-1 and 6-2. Viragh almost had her revenge last Friday as she went up against Tatlic again, this time for the Coast Conference title.

“I was hoping I’d get another shot at it because I missed my first chance,” she said. Shin splints kept her out of the first match of the season that saw De Anza beating the Rams.

She put up a better fight at Friday’s match, barely losing the first set 7-6 to Tatlic, but also dropping the second set 6-3, giving Tatlic the Coast Conference singles title.

The Rams may face more of De Anza’s players in the upcoming NorCal Tournament. “It seems we end up meeting them wherever we go,” Viragh said.

City College will have four strong players at NorCal, with Viragh and Wong competing individually and as a doubles team, along with doubles partners Lauren Wong and Gloria Yim. “The big issue with our team is support. We’re always cheering each other on even if we’re doing bad,” said Jennifer Wong.

For Cunningham, success at NorCal depends on experience. To this end, she relies on Viragh. “She has a little bit more maturity, which is a good center point for a young team.”

It was announced on April 9 that Cunningham would receive the “Coach of the Year” award. The recipient is voted on by all the tennis coaches in the Coast Conference.

“It’s an honor. It was a new challenge and it wasn’t easy, but it’s really rewarding," said Cunningham, who has coached rowing for the past 15 years and tennis for two years.

The team has already begun to show its strength and Cunningham expects the rewards to continue next year. “This is the first huge step,” Cunningham said. “Everyone’s going to be a bit stronger and wiser and ready to step up and compete.”

e-mail: dpowell@theguardsman.com

SCOREBOARD

Baseball

The Rams lost to San Mateo in the bottom of the ninth on a two-run walk-off homer by San Mateo. It was the Rams’ seventh loss in eight games. Tyler Axelrod pitched six innings, allowing only two runs on five hits. Freshman Addis O’Conner pitched a masterful 2 2/3 innings of relief, but it was not enough. O’Conner was the team’s last pitcher to earn a victory against Ohlone College in a 7-3 victory. Freshman Anthony Portillo went 3-4 with three RBIs, while sophomore Evan Kruger went 2-4 with two RBIs. The team’s current record is 6-17. – Jon Gunton



Track and Field

It was a solid day for freshman Ameer Tillman and sophomore Hollywood Radford at the Brutus Invitational April 9. Tillman finished first in the men’s 400-meter run with a stellar time of 47.71, and not far behind him was Radford coming in third place with a time of 48.66. Both runners finished third in the men’s 4x100-meter relay and the 4x400-meter relay. City College competed against runners from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Cal, Colorado State and other major schools. – Jon Gunton

Softball

The Rams continue to lose in an already disappointing season. As of April 15, the Rams lost 17 games and won only two. Many games have been canceled, including the Western Valley Tournament scheduled for the weekend of April 2. San Mateo embarrassed the Rams with a 19-0 shellacking in which the Rams gave up 18 hits. The pitching staff fared poorly, recording no strik-outs. – Jon Gunton

Rams Weather a Rebuilding Year: Optimistic Team Hopes to improve

BY MILES HARWELL
Staff Writer

Freshman redshirt Jenny Troung takes batting practice for the Rams, who have struggled through an injury-plagued season. PHOTOS BY CHARLES CASELA / GUARDSMAN

Despite a rough start, the softball team is im-proving and through the dedication of the players and coaching staff the Rams look to finish the season on a strong note.  

“It’s gone pretty bad, but there’s plenty of room for improvement,” said head coach Frank Sinkovich, whose team currently holds a 2-17 record. The team took a blow early in the season, losing two of its starters, Katie Di Stefano and Thavana Solofa, to injury.

This year’s team is comprised of mostly new players, some of whom are coming over from volleyball and basketball. According to the coaches, some of these players are still learning the terminology of softball, but have made advances in recent weeks. 

“It was kind of slow starting off, but we’re getting more players,” said assistant coach Lilly Hernandez, a former All-Conference Rams shortstop. Hernandez said the Rams need to make a greater commitment to showing up for practice every day.  

“The team is trying hard to improve, but lacks the attitude of last year’s team,” Sinkovich said. He pointed out the team’s strength was their ability to run drills as a unit, which Hernandez noted as well.  

“They work well as a team, which is key,” Hernandez said. “They just need to be more aggressive on the field and at bat.” 

One of the star players for the Rams is pitcher Sydney McIver, who has started every game this season. McIver shined for the Rams in their summer league, pitching all summer as the team finished ninth out of 36 teams from across the nation. “She’s made good strides from being a teenager to being an adult,” said assistant coach Jack Wolf. 

“It’s been very fun and a new experience,” McIver said. “But it’s been difficult because no one’s played together before.” 

McIver, who plans to pursue softball upon leaving City College, described the coaching staff as being very tolerant. “They put up with a lot, and they’ve taught us a lot,” she said.

“The losing has been hard, but we try to keep unity and hopefully we can finish the season strong,” said Mai Kawashima, a first-season outfielder for the Rams. “It’s been a positive experience overall.” 

Hernandez is optimistic about the future of softball at City College: “I’m looking forward to them growing as a team mentally and physically.”

e-mail: mharwell@theguardsman.com

FENCERS: Sharper Image

BY ALEX K. FONG
Editor

Garbed in white knickers, knee-high socks and masks, they lunge, engage in swordplay and exchange partners in the North Gym at City College.

“You get to whack each other,” willing participant Ricky Lo said. “It’s a good way to relieve stress.”

But no, they’re not sociopaths waiting to be arrested by police. They fence — like they do in classic Errol Flynn films featuring duels that begin with a slap in the face.
“I watched the movie ‘Braveheart’ too many times,” said Kirk Janes, president of the fencing club at City College. “I’m into the medieval violence … the notion of chivalry and swordplay.”

Every Tuesday night, over 24 students gather in the North Gym where coach Joe Manzano conducts a beginning fencing class.

“It’s something other schools don’t offer,” said Brad Duggan, physical education department chair. “We’re really proud to offer something that isn’t mainstream.”

Manzano teaches two of the three fencing weapons: foil in fall and saber in spring. There is no epee class.

Saber fencers get to slash and hack. They hit the upper body to score points or touches. Anywhere else is off target, or invalid.

Foil and epee fencers thrust — they may only use the tips of their blades to hit. The torso, minus the arms, is the target area in foil. Epee allows touches across the whole body, even the feet.

“It’s a workout. It’s not a garden-variety game where you go back and forth for 10 minutes and call it quits,” Manzano said. “Fencing is like moving chess. You have to understand what’s going on and physically put out.

“I’ve had a whole spectrum of people take this class,” he said. “It’s an equalizing factor when you put a foil in someone’s hand … they may be a doctor, but can they parry?”

About 14 people stay after class to participate in the fencing club. They set up electric strips or courts that use special equipment to determine valid hits.

“The fencing club is more of a recreational environment for those kids who want to come after the class and fence,” Manzano said.

But a few club participants competed in an intercollegiate competition at UC Davis on April 9.

“It was very educational,” said Marcelo Aranda, whose foil team finished in eighth place. “I learned a lot about how tournaments are run and, at the same time, I found out that I still have a lot to improve in my fencing.”

Even so, the sport has made Aranda more confident. “It’s made me a little more aggressive and daring,” he said. “You learn to make a calculated risk.”

e-mail: afong@theguardsman.com