For four years, these athletes have dedicated their time as Apaches. Now, with the conclusion of their final seasons, they reflect on their experiences and the paths they took to get to where they are now.

Boys Varsity Soccer: Alex Yen

Reflecting on his entire high school career, he said, “Throughout these four years, I’m very glad that I was able to call all my teammates my friends. Even my friendships today are almost all through my soccer teammates.” He added, “The most memorable part about playing high school soccer at Arcadia would have to be junior year in our first round of CIF and scoring the winning goal in overtime.” That season, Alex and his team beat the odds in a wildcard game and made it to the first round of CIF. With a large senior body of 12 players, the team is definitely close, “If I had to say something to my teammates, I would first like to thank them for the amazing four years but I would also wish them the best of luck in their futures because I know some of them have bright futures ahead in soccer.”

Girls Varsity Water Polo: Chloe O’ Connor

When asked about her experience as an Apache athlete, Chloe described, “It’s been a really beneficial experience for me. I know that I wouldn’t have been able to survive high school if it wasn’t for water polo. The pool deck has become my home, and all my teammates are my family, and I’m forever grateful for them.” She continued, “One of the most memorable moments in water polo was actually just a few weeks ago. We ended up beating Crescenta Valley for the first time [in] 27 years. Their girls polo team is three divisions higher than us, so we dreaded that game, since it’s usually a blowout. However, the first time we played them, we were only down by one point at half time. Even though we didn’t win that game, it prepared us for league finals, where we beat them 12-10. That game was crazy, and I know that at the beginning of the season I would have never expected that to happen.” For the team, the season has been phenomenal and definitely memorable, as the girls advanced to CIF Semi-Finals for the first time in school history. To her younger cohorts, she advised, “Put all you have into sports and extracurriculars. I know it’s really easy to just worry about your GPA and SAT/ACT score, especially at AHS, but places like the pool deck are where you make long-lasting memories. Sports are a great way to let out bad energy after a sucky day, and even though it can be time-consuming and stressful at times, I believe that they’re completely worth it in the end, thanks to the bonds and memories made there.”

Boys Varsity Basketball: Wallace Fang

As for his four years here, Wallace said, “Playing at Arcadia gave me thick skin because the coaches are tough and I learned a lot of life lessons through my failures.” Reflecting on a memorable moment, he added, In “my first game in high school, I scored 25 points in a half and it felt great because everyone was so hyped for me.” Continuing on about the team’s chemistry, he revealed, “I would tell my teammates that we’re brothers no matter what and some advice [to younger athletes] would be to not quit just because it gets hard. The four years fly by and high school might be the last chance you get to play basketball for a team that really means something.”

Photo by LISZA LO