Boys tennis aces Monarch
By Marc Weber, Staff Intern

The Pompano Beach High School boy’s tennis team beat Monarch High School 4-3 away on Feb. 16.

The number one seed, senior Brandon Sloan (8-3), number three seed, sophomore Jeronimo Grassi (8-2), and number five seed, senior Luis Wick (8-2), won their matches by a large margin.
Grassi replaced Martin Parra because of a knee injury. The number two seed, senior Sergio Garcia, and number four seed, senior Gerardo Contreras, lost their matches. Garcia lost his match with a small margin of 6-8. Contreras, who is replacing Jeronimo as number four, had an intense loss with a score of 8-0.

The number one seed doubles team, Sloan and Garica, won their match 8-4. It was redemption for Garcia because this win clinched the match for the team. The number two seed doubles, which consisted of Marc Weber and Andrew Fragale, lost their match 8-1. This was the first game the duo played together. The two freshmen said that they need more practice together.

Victor Laurent profile
By Emily Solley, Graphic Design Editor

Many people have failed to realize the transformation that has been going on in the sporting world. Surfing has increased in popularity as a sporting event in the US with interest spanning from coast to coast.

Student surfer Victor Laurent, originally from France, joined in on the action long ago. He is one of the surfers for Island Water Sports.

“ I started surfing when I was seven. I was in France and there’s really nothing to do but surf,” said Laurent. Located in Deerfield Beach, Island Water Sports represents a number of surfers who participate in surfing competitions. “Island Water Sports is a really good company. They sponsor surf trips for us all throughout the year,” said Laurent.

Both the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) and the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) hold competitions for amateur surfers all over the country.

The NSSA requires its participants to hold academic standards as well as surfing standards in order to compete. The ESA works to preserve shorelines and ocean environments through partnerships with the Clean Water Network and the American Oceans Campaign.

“ I’ve gone to the finals in a lot of ESA and NSSA competitions,” said Laurent. “I’ve won a couple of first place awards. My next competition is an NSSA competition in one week in Sebastian.”

The explosion of surfing on both coasts of the US has led to many of the best surfers being recognized for their talents.

“ My idol is Dane Reynolds,” said Laurent.

Dane Reynolds, a professional surfer with Quicksilver, had the highest single wave score during the ESPN X-Games in both 2003 and 2004, according to his Quicksilver profile.

“Other than the US, I’ve surfed in El Salvador and France,” said Laurent.

Having seen waves all over the world, Laurent is a water sports enthusiast. His profile on Island Water Sports lists his interests as surfing, skimming, stand up paddle surfing and skating.

“ I enjoy being out on the water patiently waiting to catch the perfect wave. It builds my adrenaline immensely,” stated Laurent. “If I had to use one word to describe surfing, it’d be gnarly.”

Ilaria Berni: The girl behind the goals
By Amy Goldman, Staff Intern

Dribbling down the field through arch rival Key West Conchs entire defense, with five minutes remaining in a 2-1 game, sophomore Ilaria “Yaya” Berni suddenly has a one-on-one with the defending goalie. The center midfielder takes a shot, and the ball sails into the upper left corner, tying the game up at 2-2. The Tornadoes come home with a well earned tie.

The sophomore team captain has been playing the sport since she was five years old. But, her playing was put on hold two summers ago when she broke her wrist playing Port St. Lucie in a tournament for her travel team (Boca United) and was out for the rest of the season. “It was really hard to get back into playing,” Berni said nervously, “I was afraid I was going to break it again.”

Before every game, Ilaria enjoys listening to music that “gets her into the zone” and she takes warm-ups very seriously. Berni has been contacted by University of Notre Dame, University of Southern Florida, University of Central Florida and Pope St. Leo’s College, but her dream has always been to be the starting center midfielder for the Florida State Seminoles.

This past season the Tornadoes were 12-5-4, and Ilaria scored 18 goals and eight assists, proving to everyone she deserved the title as captain. Berni and fellow captains Alissa McShane and Gina Daigle led the team to the first round of playoffs, where they were defeated by the Conchs 3-1.

“ We had a lot of new players, but we all worked really hard to get to where we were and we never gave up no matter what the score was.” Berni proudly states. “We all improved, and became a family over the course of the three and a half months together.”

Tennis Swings into Season
By Ilaria Berni and Michaela Garretson, Staff Interns

The boys and girls tennis season will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 7 against Taravella High School. Girls coach Mr. Bankowski advises his team, “to focus because there’s going to be lots of challenging teams.” These teams include Stoneman Douglas, Pines Charter and Cardinal Gibbons.

The lineup for Tuesday had not been decided at press time. The lineup, or ladder, consists of each player participating in a single match to see who will win. Mr. Bankowski has confirmed that there will be seven to eight girls on the team who range from ninth grade to 12th grade.

Mr. Bankowski determines the ladder though a small tournament during practice. Each person who wins one single match will advance to the next level, until there is one winner. This winner is announced as the number one player of the team. According to Mr. Bankowski there are three contenders in line to be the number one spot on the ladder: freshman Kinga Gartner, sophomore Shreya Aggrawal and sophomore Emily Tran.

Although confident and experienced, senior Stephanie Ezell admits she is “still nervous because we do not know yet who is at the top of the ladder.”

“ The girls team is expecting a great season because of the improved team,” said senior Johanna Grassi.

Gartner already has proved her tennis skills and experience. This will be her first year on the PBHS team.

“ I play tournaments with 18 year olds,” replied Gartner, “so I am not nervous about our first game on (Tuesday). In fact, I’m excited.”

Aggarwal, although injured, has a fighting spirit and is going to try to play her first game. Tran is “expecting many wins this season.”

Mr. Mumtaz, head coach for the boys tennis team said, “Unfortunately, we lost a lot of good players from last year. However, we are promising to work hard and strive for many wins.” The team will consist of nine boys.

Currently holding the number one spot in the ladder is senior Brandon Sloan. Following straight behind Sloan is Sergio Garcia, also a senior. Sloan has been playing for only three years but has worked his way to the coveted number one spot.

“ I cannot wait for the season to begin, and since I have practiced often, I am ready for our first game against Taravella,” Sloan said.

The full tennis schedule for the boys team and the girls team will be announced soon.

Kareem Katia powers basketball team to its best
by Diamond Barber, Staff Intern

Kareem Katia, senior, gives his 100 percent best when on the basketball court. Displaying the attributes of leadership, Kareem plans to assist in leading the varsity basketball team to the district championships.

“ Well currently, our record is like 12-6, which is like the best record that we’ve had in years,” Katia said. “I’m looking forward to going to championships.”

Katia keeps his GPA as a 3.0 or higher. Coach Yesner’s rules states that players must have a 3.0 or higher to be able to play.

“ I really had to buckle down in my classes and push for those grades,” said Katia.

Although Kareem plays a prominent role on the team, basketball is not his direct plan for the future. He plans to go to college and earn a career as pundit, using his experience as a newscaster at school.

As a forward for the varsity basketball team, Kareem works hard when on the court and pushes his teammates to release their best and be as one unit. After each basket, he encourages his teammates verbally, and his teammates return the favor.

“ On and off the court, we’re like a group of brothers, a family,” Katia said. “We have our ups and downs, but at the end of the day we still have our friendship and brotherhood. We speak our mind”

Katia, as a child, did not really have a fatherly figure. Therefore, he was steered by the guidance of his mother and grandparents. “It’s a long story, but I would say that I look up to my grandfather. He was the father figure in my life,” Katia said.

During off season Kareem plans to condition, toil on his skills and gain muscle stamina. “I’m hoping to play for college basketball when I’m there also,” said Kareem.