Marley Shumaker (‘26) Varsity Girls Volleyball
“There are times when we aren’t playing our best or start getting in our own heads, which makes it difficult to perform at a high level,” Shumaker said.
During high-pressure stretches, Marley sees her leadership role as an anchor for her teammates. She focuses on staying composed, maintaining a positive tone and providing energy her team needs to redirect their mindset to persevere in stressful moments.
“My job as captain is to stay calm and keep focus. In those moments, my role is to pump up the team, stay positive and do my best to help others out of that distracted, negative mindset,” Shumaker said.
As of October 30th, Shumaker’s influence has shown to have a positive impact with the team’s overall record being 21-8. When the team started to win games and find their groove, Shumaker noticed people around her had higher amounts of excitement and praise, leading teammates to feel her leadership more strongly. Shumaker’s ability to command her team propels them into becoming a more upgraded and balanced team.
“It’s rewarding to see my encouragement help them improve because it reassures me that my support is making an impact,” Shumaker said. “It shows that I’m doing my job as captain and contributing to the success of my team.”
Jake Wang (‘26) – Football
Senior Jake Wang is a co-captain of Paly varsity boys football. Wang has played football for Paly since his freshman year and this is his second year as co-captain of varsity.
This year has challenged Wang more than any previous season. The roster changed heavily after multiple seniors graduated, several starters were injured and the team struggled to put together complete games. He described the season as one where leadership required steadiness.
“We’ve had a lot of unlucky breaks,” Wang said. “We haven’t been able to string a bunch of good plays together, but we’re still building every game.”
Wang focused on keeping the team unified during a difficult stretch.
“We’re all one family working toward the same goal,” Wang said. “We just have to come together.”
He sees the challenge as part of the responsibility that comes with the role. Holding morale together, preventing finger-pointing and keeping standards high became essential parts of his job. Wang said the relationships he has built make the work meaningful.
“We’re all one family working toward the same goal,” Wang said. “We just have to come together.”
In a challenging year, Wang has stayed focused on effort, respect and team bonding. He sees relationships within the team as a key part of his leadership.
“The most rewarding part of being a captain is having all those guys choose you as one of their leaders,” Wang said. “Twenty years from now, it won’t be the scores that we remember; it will be the relationships we made.”
Veronica Qiu (‘26) – Girls Tennis
Senior and girls tennis captain Veronica Qiu has found leadership to be about making adjustments. With a new coach this year, her role has been different than previous captains.
“It was a little bit of a rough start, but we got on board,” Qiu said. “I learned a lot from the old captains, but this year I had to figure things out in a new system.”
With different leadership circumstances, Qiu has had to navigate on her own more than previous captains did. Previous captains were able to look at their predecessors for guidance when it came to coach-captain dynamics.
“I can’t draw inspiration from past captains the same way, since their leadership experience was shaped by a different coaching style,” Qiu said. “There has been a lot more one-on-one communication with my coach than in previous years.” Qiu stepped into a large communicator role, acting as a gateway between the coach and her teammates. “If my coach has questions or needs availability, I communicate and get back to him,” Qiu said.
Her team has been undefeated this season and Qiu credits that to strong team spirit.
“I just try to stay positive and light,” Qiu said. “Joking around helps everyone feel confident and play better.” For Qiu, the best part of being captain is watching her teammates grow. “Watching the girls go from their first day at practice to cheering each other on during matches is what I appreciate most,” Qiu said.
Felix Ryans (‘26) Boys Water Polo
Senior Felix Ryans is a co-captain of boys water polo. This is his first year as a team captain. Despite being a seasoned player, the step up to a leadership position was substantial. At the start of the season, Ryans faced issues with self-doubt, setting a high bar for himself.
“My leadership was challenged most at the beginning of the season when I wasn’t confident in my ability to lead successfully,” Ryans said.
Over time, he learned to earn his teammates’ trust by demonstrating consistency and building confidence within the squad.
“Once I got the hang of it and started seeing results, I began noticing less pushback and more trust from my teammates,” Ryans said.
Ryans’ perspective highlights the pressure that comes with stepping into a leadership role for the first time. As a first-year captain, his confidence and ability to inspire his teammates have helped him rise to the challenge. Ryans credits his team’s high standards for keeping him motivated and accountable.
“That environment motivated me to stick with it and help make the teams I play for the best they can be,” Ryans said. “I never really envisioned becoming a captain of the Paly team, but after seeing how much I’ve put into the sport through both club and varsity competition, I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Looking Forward: Up and Coming
In comparison, sophomore Alma Michlin, a captain of the JV girls volleyball team, faces different challenges.
“I would say that JV has a bit more of a wider range of skill set and you have to know how to balance it,” Michlin said.
Michlin has been playing volleyball since 2019, so her experience has been warranted with longevity. During the season, Michlin was able to rally the team to an 8-7 record when it was in jeopardy.
“On JV, I saw myself as a teammate, but as a captain, I have to be a little louder and more positive,” Michlin said.
Michlin’s perseverance proves that she can advance her skills to a higher level. At the same time, her chemistry off the court allows her to further develop her relationships with her coaches and teammates. Looking forward, Michlin hopes to transfer these abilities as she progresses towards varsity volleyball.
