M Stentorian
vol. XXVII, Issue 3
the north Carolina school of science and mathematia
december 2006
stentorian@ncssm.edu
Midfielder Steven Schlaefer leaps to win a header in the Regional Sem^nals against the Manteo Redskins. The Unicorns
defeated Manteo 5-1 on Nov. S to advance to the State Semifinals where they lost 3-2 in overtime to Dixon High School.
Photo by Daryl Law
Unicorns snag 2 titles, dominate 1A competition
By Nancy Yang
Athletes topped off a successfiil fall season with
history-making runs in this year’s 1A state playoffs.
“This is the best group that I have ever coached,”
said Richard Gallagher, men’s soccer coach.
Such ambition was the key to victory this year
in the state playoffs. The men’s cross coimtry team
snatched the first NCHSAA title in 17 years, running
one of the fastest cumulative times in the 1A division
ever recorded, with four runners placing in the top
eight. Juniors Liana Roux and Amy Bahr took home
the NCHSAA lA Women’s Tennis Doubles State
Championship.
From the get-go, the athletes and coaches dreamed
of the state title.
“We were aiming for [the title] all season,” said
senior Ishita Gandhi, co-captain of the women’s
volleyball team, which advanced to the third round
for the first time in 10 years, “We had a very focused
vision for the state playoffs, [but] we took it step by
step.”
At each step, athletes trained harder, focused more
and competed relentlessly through overtimes, five set
games, the final 100-yard dash and any and all other
obstacles that presented themselves along the way.
“The team buckled down and was serious about
working hard and making sure [the team] pushed itself
to perform its best,” said Davene Mainwaring, women’s
volleyball coach. “Being in the state tournament was
an honor not every team gets to experience, [so] we
realized what was at stake with every game and made
sure each game would not be our last. The [team]
showed a lot of heart and never gave up.”
Every soccer player “put [his] heart and soul into the
team,” according to co-captain, senior Steven Schlaefer.
The men’s soccer team barely rhissed the championship
game, losing in overtime in the semifinals.
In the fifth game of the “nail-biting” second round
volleyball match against Mount Airy High “everyone
[on the team] was exhausted and it just seemed that we
were scared,” Gandhi said.
In the final serves, the team was down 14-12, but
dug deep and won, 16-14.
“It was one of the biggest rushes I’ve ever felt in my
life,” Gandhi said. “I remember crying after that game,
but I wouldn’t trade any of it.”
Teamwork and unity, on top of everything else,
led to a successful state playoffs, with some state
championship titles and newfound reputations as
competitors.
“[NCSSM athletes] are not just a bunch of nerds,”
Schlaefer said. “They are athletes who can and will
compete on a statewide level.”
Don’t
miss;
Rule 4:
Deadline: seniors focus on
No pelvic thrusting
submitting college apps
page 2
page 4
Deck the halls
page 5