Rubi Silva
Berkeley High School junior Rubi Silva has been playing volleyball for six years. With an older sister who played, Silva initially resisted following the same path, trying other sports ranging from soccer to karate. After attending a volleyball camp, she unexpectedly found her passion. “I realized that volleyball was actually a lot of fun, and tried out for a club team the next year,” she explained. Silva enjoys the strategy the sport requires and the close bonds it creates. “Playing with other girls in high school and club creates these eternal friendships and bonds that you can’t get anywhere else,” she said. Balancing volleyball and the academic demands of high school, especially during the college recruitment process, took adjustment. “I faced burnout with balancing school and volleyball,” Silva said. Developing strong time management skills allowed her to balance tournaments and late night practices with schoolwork. Silva is now committed to Claremont McKenna College and is excited to compete for a starting position as a freshman.
Luca Small
BHS junior Luca Small began cross country and track and field in eighth grade and quickly rose up to the challenges of cross country as a freshman. “I saw my upperclassmen and teammates during cross country perform well and make it to state, and that inspired me to work hard and get to that position too,” Small said. Small became captain of both the track and field and cross country teams this year. Throughout the season the duty of team captain has led Small to learn new skills. “Being team captain has really taught me how to lead, and my coaches have instilled it upon me that I’m supposed to be setting an example,” Small said. Looking ahead, Small hopes to lead BHS to a Western Alameda County Conference win, and next year make it to state as well as win the North Coast Section championship. On a more personal note, Small has his eyes set on getting a “cheeky little sub-16 minute 3-mile time.”
Tasya Xiao
BHS senior Tasya Xiao began playing lacrosse during her freshman year when she stopped doing gymnastics and decided to try a team sport. “You didn’t have to have played before high school to try out, and I had never played and wanted a team sport that I could try out for,” Xiao explained. This welcoming environment of the sport is what initially drew her to it, making stepping out of her comfort zone less intimidating. By her sophomore year, she had worked her way up to the varsity team. Xiao enjoys the fast game pace and teamwork involved in lacrosse, along with the mental challenge. “The feeling after a game when you do really well, versus when you play bad, is really motivating,” she said. For Xiao, lacrosse has not only served as a new athletic outlet, but also a way to find community. Even after high school, Xiao hopes to continue to play lacrosse after she graduates at the college club level.
Kenzo Egawa
“(Being a goalie) is fun, being able to see the whole field, you know, controlling the defense,” Kenzo Egawa, a BHS senior, and one of the captains of boys varsity lacrosse, said. Egawa started playing lacrosse in fourth grade, and stepped into the goalkeeper role in sixth grade. As one of the captains, Egawa hopes to lead his team to a third consecutive league championship win. In addition, Egawa has enjoyed overseeing his team and stepping up as a role model. “It’s nice being a good leader, especially to a lot of the younger kids on the team,” he said. Despite the countless hours put in as well as the camaraderie that came with it, Egawa does not plan on playing lacrosse after high school. “It’s been a really good experience. I had a really good time, and made a lot of great memories,” Egawa said.
Lincoln Seid
BHS senior Lincoln Seid first picked up a racket as a sophomore during badminton class at BHS. By his junior year, Seid joined the BHS badminton team after realizing how much he enjoyed it. “I like the sound of the shuttle, (badminton is) very satisfying, especially when you have your own rackets and the right shoes,” Seid said. Now, he competes in boys’ doubles. Outside of school, Seid and his doubles partner began spending considerable time at a local badminton center. “We started playing more and more every single week, we stayed sometimes for like three hours,” he said. During matches, Seid performs best under pressure, mentioning a recent victory against Piedmont as one of his biggest accomplishments. “It was a grueling match, but my partner and I eventually won, and it was a very hyped environment,” he said. Looking ahead, Seid hopes to continue playing badminton while studying at Northeastern University.