As the fall sports season closes, winter sports are shaking off the frost and coming out in full force. 

 After great seasons last year, athletes look to improve and dig further into this upcoming season.

Boys’ Basketball

“Last years success was not a fluke,” Brian Edelman, the Varsity basketball coach said. “We have a program ready to be on top again, we will play hard and be fun to watch.” 

The boys team moved up three divisions, stiffening the competition greatly. Despite new challenges, the team is stepping up to see what they can do.

“This team will be very different from last year, based on the kids we have and their abilities, I feel we will have a much better team defensively,” Edelman said. 

 Last year, the boys reached playoffs and achieved a league title. The team is looking to repeat both this coming season.

 They started off the season strong Tuesday, November 19, with a final score of 91-37 against Chadwick.

“This is a good group of guys, we all love each other and are all playing hard for our coach,” Varsity captain Dane Dawson (12) said.

Girls’ Soccer

The team started off their season strong with 2-1 win against Culver City at home. The varsity team consists of 29 girls, increasing competition within the team itself. 

“We have been preparing by training more intensely and pushing each other to work hard,” captain Mackenzie Shannon (11) said.

The girls have big goals for this year, “We want to win CIF this year as well as beat Redondo and Mira Costa,” Shannon said.

Surf

The surf program at PVHS has been growing rapidly throughout the past few years and hold a bright future in the athletic department of the school.

“This season I want to surf well but the only way to do that is just to go out and have fun with it,” Tor Gasteiger (11) said.

Boys’ Soccer

The boys soccer team, coming off some great playing by a young team last year, looks to push farther into the playoffs and put their increased team chemistry to use.

“Last year we got off to a bad start because we had never played together before, we had some good performances in bay league and then in the playoffs we were playing our best soccer,” Captain Dylan Bartlett (12) said. 

 The boys learned that team chemistry is crucial to performance and have that aspect in the bag this year due to the upcoming varsity team playing together for three years.

‘We are ready to put the final pieces together to make a long run in the playoffs and possibly a shot at a Division 1 title,” Bartlett said.

The boys have been preparing by emphasizing the weight room and being “pushed by coaches to be one of the strongest teams in D-1,” Bartlett said.

“We’re just lions in a field of lions, the only way to win is to be first, to do everything we can, whether that’s in the weight room or working on mental skills,” Head coach Derek Larkins said.

“The increased team cohesion that the boys have with each other this year will be a big help going into this season,” Larkins said.

Girls’ Basketball

The team had an extraordinary season last year but unfortunately lost two starters and are currently experiencing a coaching change.

These challenges have not disrupted the girls as they maintain  high expectations for themselves this coming season.

“I think the coach change will be a positive thing for our team, we all know the coach personally and work well with him. The communication is a lot better which will improve our playing overall,” Captain Mari Shigekawa (12) said.

Girls’ Water polo

Girls water polo has a strong team of returners this year and looks to push far into CIF to take a win this year.

“We are definitely prepared, we have been practicing everyday for four hours a day but I’d say the main thing we need to work on is playing as a team to hopefully make CIF and win it,” Junior Sam Laurin (11) said.

The best of luck to PVHS’ winter sports as they turn on the heat this season.