Fall Girls Sports Create Connections Across Poly

In late July, before the school year begins, Poly’s fall athletes are already getting to know one another. For a ninth grader arriving on campus for the first time, those early practices can make the first day of school feel a little less daunting.

“Students have been practicing with a bunch of girls, upperclassmen, some girls who are in the same situation as you are,” said Katrina Damasco, assistant athletic director and girls volleyball coach. “And you build those relationships and bonds so that the first day of school is super comfortable.”

The friendships formed in those weeks can last well beyond a season. This fall, Poly’s girls flag football team completed its inaugural season as co-league champions, and the dance team grew to 10 members, up from three last year. Girls cross country also had a standout performance from junior Kylie C. ’28, who won the first Prep League cluster meet and first place in the Bell Garden Invitational.

In volleyball, Katrina works to establish that sense of connection early. The team holds a retreat where players discuss the social dynamics that can shape their experience together. The goal is to create an environment in which athletes can depend on one another, even when a season becomes difficult.

“We are sisters,” Katrina said. “At the end of the day, we have your back.”

On the cross-country course, Head Coach Farid Hernandez has emphasized an 80/20 training method, focusing on the harder portion of the program early in the season. Hill workouts have been a particular priority, and the results have shown up in personal records and race finishes.

For Kylie, the season’s biggest breakthrough came at a challenging meet at Chadwick, where she earned first place. Farid credited the work she put in during training, especially the demanding hill workouts at Nike Hill. The progress, he said, reflected a season of sustained effort. Kylie also improved her personal record by more than two minutes.

“I think that consistency and being part of such a great team contributed most to any success that I have had,” she said. “We have a really supportive and fun team, which makes me look forward to going to practice and meets.”

Girls tennis has relied on that same commitment. The team locked in second place in the Prep League, and Dora C. ’27 will advance to CIF for singles. For seniors Malia M. and Dora C., the program’s value extends beyond individual results.

“I have been a doubles player for nearly my entire high school career, and my partners have been so crucial to each season,” Malia said. “I am so grateful to consistently have amazing partners I can rely on and trust, and having that person to lean on is amazing.”

Dora has found a similar sense of belonging across the team. She credits her progress to consistent practice and teammates who encourage one another to improve.

“Even though tennis is often seen as an individual sport, being on this team has shown me how much of a team sport it really is,” she said.

As the two seniors look toward graduation, they hope younger players will preserve the culture they have helped build. Malia hopes the team holds on to its camaraderie and fighting spirit. Dora wants future players to keep improving while making the friendships that have defined her own experience.

The dance team has undergone its own transformation. Under new Head Coach Danielle Celestino, the roster has grown tremendously. Nearly half the team is new, and several incoming ninth graders have joined the program. Danielle attributes that growth in part to a welcoming environment that accommodates dancers with different levels of experience. Upperclassmen have helped new members learn choreography and build confidence, while the team has worked to make practices a place where everyone feels supported.

The team’s captains, Jujube H. ’27 and Lucy C. ’27, have taken particular care in welcoming freshmen. For Jujube, the responsibility has brought her experience as a new dancer full circle. When she joined the team during the winter of her freshman year, she had already spent the fall playing volleyball. The option to participate in either season separately made it possible for her to pursue both sports.

“Everyone was so welcoming to me when I came for the second season, helping me learn choreo and fitting me into dances,” Jujube said. “I felt like I had been there all year.”

Now, she and Lucy are the ones helping younger dancers find their footing. Jujube said the new coaches have also made a difference, creating practices she looks forward to attending. “Dance team has been an integral part of my experience at Poly,” she said. “It’s one of the most positive and uplifting spaces I’ve been a part of.”

At a two-day USA Spirit Camp hosted at Poly this summer, dancers learned six routines while refining their technique. Three members, Jujube, Kalia W. ’28, and Caralee W. ’28, earned the All American Award, an individual honor recognizing skill, technique and leadership.

That same spirit of support carries across Poly’s fall girls sports. Despite overlapping schedules, athletes have made an effort to attend one another’s games and matches. Their support offers a reminder that while each team has its own goals, the experience of playing at Poly extends beyond any one roster.

“There’s something special at Poly, when our athletes are supporting each other and cheering one another on,” Katrina said. “You can’t win together if you can’t even move together as a unit. We will only find success as a team.”