Electrifying Atmospheres
May 24, 2023
Paly Sports has been home to many intense season-highs and heart-wrenching moments this year. From buzzer beaters to breaking records, here are some of our favorite and most memorable games from the 2022-23 season.
Paly Basketball v.s Gunn
On this day, Paly traveled to Gunn, where the two rivals matched up for the second time this year. In their first matchup, Paly defeated Gunn by 10 points, but this game wasn’t as easy for the Vikings. Heading into the fourth quarter, the score was 43-28; Paly trailed by a whopping 15 points with only eight minutes left in the game. But despite this large deficit, the Vikings used the energy from the overflowing student section to defy the heavy odds against them. The team managed to outscore Gunn 23-4 in the final quarter to give them the astonishing 51-47 win, stunning Gunn fans, and players alike.
Arcadia Invitational – Girls Track and Field
With over 690 schools from 36 states, the Arcadia Invitational is one of the most competitive track meets in the country for high schoolers. In the distance medley relay (DMR), a relay where a four-runner team runs 4000 meters, the Paly girls track and field team got a time of 11:58.8, giving them second place at the invitational behind Jserra High School and breaking the previous DMR record. The Paly team consisted of senior Elizabeth Fetter, sophomore Kinga Czajkowska, senior Hillary Studdert, and freshman Amaya Bharadwaj.
Football v.s Mountain View
Paly walked into Mountain View with a chip on their shoulder. Coming off of four straight losses, the football team found themselves needing to win two straight games to clinch a spot in the CCS playoffs. The game initially went back and forth until senior Franklin Tutor got a “pick six” which propelled the Vikings to victory 48-35. Paly went on to win the next six games and continue their journey to Division 5 CCS Championship. This game united the team and started their great run to a successful season.
Boys Golf v.s Monta Vista
On this special occasion, the boys golf took a close win against Monta Vista 196 – 216 at the Baylands golf course. Sophomore Josh Wang shot a shocking season-high five under par, though only nine holes, leading the Vikings to victory. For those unfamiliar with the golf world, shooting five under par is beyond an exceptional score.
Girls Basketball v.s Saint Ignatius
Paly girls basketball advanced to take on Saint Ignatius in the Open Division second round. Despite a great regular season for the team, the Vikings came into the match as a large underdog. To make matters worse, Paly’s high scorer, Vienn Sheng, got injured in the pregame warmups. But after a hard-fought battle, the Vikings came out on top, winning 47-33. Not only did this game give them a good seed for Norcals, but it also marked them as the first public school to win two open division games in the last decade.
Girls Water Polo v.s Los Altos
The Paly girls water polo team faced off against Los Altos at home. Both teams played buzzer to buzzer, and the score was tied even after the first overtime. Despite close calls during the second overtime, the teams’ remained tied up until the last seconds. After catching a pass from Fallon Porter (‘26), Grace Gormley (‘24) walked the ball in with fakes before scoring the game-winning point with 0.3 seconds left. The game brought the team together and remains a memorable moment for the athletes and fans alike.
Girls Cheer Wins CCS
The Paly cheer team competed at the CCS championship in San Jose. The cheer team had endured long and intense practices all week, including repeated performances of their full routine until it had reached perfection. Their hard work and dedication paid off as they placed first in the tournament and became CCS champions.
Photo Courtesy of: Caleb Wong (Boys Golf, Girls Water Polo, Football), Tyler Wong (Girls Cheer), Celeste Bates (Boys Basketball), Karen Hickey (Girls Basketball), and Hillary Studdert (Girls Track)
