Race Against a Storm

By Zeke Croft

Recently, the waves have been very rough. Storms have come at unexpected times, dousing the campus and sea with thick drops and crackling lightning. The storms seem to die down, so one weekend, several students decided to go out kayaking. 

Out of the five students who decided to embark on this adventure, four lived in the dorm. We asked our dorm parents permission to use the kayaks before heading down to the new boathouse. The storage for the equipment is quite nice now, and our group took two paddle boards, one double kayak, and one single kayak. 

Out on the water, the person in the single kayak, Caleb Evens, headed way out to sea before turning towards Rat Island. I was on a paddle board, and stayed with the rest of the group. As we approached Rat Island, the wind and waves started to pick up. We debated whether to go back, but when the sky thundered, our decision was made. We were quite close to Rat Island, but we turned around and started to head back.

Caleb did not seem to care we were heading back and kept going the short distance toward the island. I decided to stay with him, because you should always have someone else with you in the water, and the others headed back. Caleb arrived at the island and got out. When I arrived, I asked him why he went to the island instead of turning back. He said, “I think I have water in my kayak.”

We turned over his kayak to dump out the water before turning back to Dalat. The storm approached fast as we paddled furiously. I think we beat the storm only by a few minutes. When we rejoined our group on land, Caleb explained his opinion. We cleaned off the kayak then headed inside just as the storm hit.

Sniff the Fresh Math Air

By Sophia Teoh

It was 8:20 in the morning as I entered the sea of bright-minded individuals in Mrs. Sara Kearney’s AP Calculus BC classroom. Waves of chatter greeted me about what my peers were engaged in, today's goals, whether they were nervous about any upcoming assessments, and all kinds of things - with over twenty of us in that single science room, anyone could talk about anything. With my posture straight as a line and my black eyes sparkling with the brightness of a thousand stars as I imagined the activities we would engage in, I looked at the giant TV projector screen which stated something out of the ordinary - function analysis yoga.  

Function analysis yoga? Normally, I don’t think of the juxtaposition of mathematics and exercise. But still, being an enthusiastic math-loving student, I started to talk to the teacher about what “function analysis yoga” could be.  

“Are we gonna bend our bodies to match the shapes of different functions?” I asked.

The teacher gave me a friendly wink and a fist-bump. “That’s exactly right,” she reverted warmly.  

As we were sorted into groups of three or four, I could not help but think this was one of the best school days of Grade 12. An opportunity to be hands-on, spend time with our friends, stretch from our sitting positions, and smell the fresh Dalat air. Each group could feel the gears of their brains twist and turn as they thought about possible functions that matched the detailed criteria on our worksheets.  

In our group which consisted of me, Onyou Kim (12), and Ryan Khaw (12), we modeled piecewise functions that required us to lie on the ground, polynomial functions where we made our hands curve like a roller coaster, and so much more. At the end of all this fun, we compiled our photographs of our function models into a Google Slides presentation. And we had to do this quick - no time to waste. It was due at the end of the block, by hook or by crook. Despite this pressure, I pushed through and helped my team as best as I could. 

This timed assignment gave me a view of college life - a step higher from high school, where collaboration and timeliness were paramount. This is what I love about high school life - you are not alone in this journey, but rather, you have family, friends, and experienced teachers who will guide you in your transition from Dalat to wherever you may go.  

Zero to Hero

By Micah Pickett

With a rough start to the season, the Dalat boys’ soccer team was heading into the tournament with doubts. But the team knew they had to hold their ground and show up ready to fight despite the low morale. On Friday, September 27th, 2024, at exactly 1:58 p.m., the majestic boys’ soccer team walked wholeheartedly onto the field… Let the games begin! 

The whistle blew, and the ball was pinged around. Bodies were flying around the field here and there, fighting their hardest not to lose track of the ball. The game was tight, but it wasn’t until Darnell Dwumfour (12) played an exceptional ball to Adriaan Hueting (11) that a win was secured for Dalat on the first day. The player who ensured the win said, “My brilliant back heel was cold. It ignited excitement among the fans and my teammates” (Dwumfour). And that wrapped up the first day of intense labour out on the fields of battle.

The team awoke early the next morning. The players were sore from the war that tore them straight to the floor after a long previous day. One by one, all the teams started warming up their fit bods. As the teams swarmed the field, ready to fight, the referees started the game. Players poured their hearts out, aiming for the top spot. Fans were screaming, crying, and gasping as the intensity arose. 

The sun was sky-high and blazing hot. The tournament was coming to an end. All the teams played, but in the end, it was the Dalat Soccer team that came back victorious. After blood, sweat, tears, and a few sessions of mandatory bonding, the Eagles got what they deserved. Romeo Kontsas (12) held up the trophy and the whole team shrieked with joy. What a finish to the weekend! The team left feeling proud and fulfilled, especially the one and only G.O.A.T—Mr. Van.

Eagles at the Jungle

By Peter Hsu

“1, 2, 3, KAW KAW!” shouted Captain Aaron Andrews (11) with the whole team as Sam Yeoh (10) the setter, aced his serve against KCHS. 

On September 28, the volleyball-loving Eagles left for KL to play in the Twin Tower Tournament hosted by ISKL. The Twin Tower Tournament started with a round-robin, in which all teams played against each other once before playing the playoffs. During the round-robin, the guys played against KCHS, JJHS, AVA, YIS and ISKL while the girls played against YIS, Horizon, ISKL, KCHS, and JJHS.

With a 3:2 record, the boys were seeded third and faced KCHS for the third-place match. After a hard-fought battle, they emerged victorious in three sets, securing third place overall. Meanwhile, the girls, with a 1:4 record, competed for fifth place. Despite their determined efforts, they fell short and finished in sixth place.

“Although I didn't get a ton of playing time, I hope to come back stronger next year and do even better with my team,”  said Zong Jue Tan (9), middle blocker. “It was a fun first experience for me as I enjoyed bonding with my team over the course of the whole trip.”

Lee Yan Tan, the captain of the girls’ varsity volleyball team, remarked, “This trip was a big learning experience for us. We got to see a lot of what we lack and identify what we can work on. Aside from that, our team also got a lot closer and bonded well.”

With ACSC just two weeks away, the Twin Tower Tournament served as valuable preparation for playing multiple games in a day. The experience gained and lessons learned will undoubtedly help both teams as they gear up for the upcoming challenges. 

Best of luck to both teams as they work hard and prepare to compete again during ACSC.

Go Eagles! 

Boys finishing third 

Photo credit: Andrew (12)

 

Girls celebrating after a no touch ace by Kyra (12)

Photo credit: Lee Yan

The Current State of Dalat’s Boys Varsity Volleyball Team?

Juan Moon

The Dalat Boys Varsity volleyball team finished 3rd at the ISKL Invitationals last weekend, a result that left the team with mixed feelings about their performance and future prospects.

The Dalat Boys Varsity volleyball team showed both promise and room for improvement at the ISKL Invitationals held on September 27th and 28th. They competed against the top school, ISKL, and many other promising teams. The team's 3rd place finish was a respectable achievement, but it also highlighted areas needing improvement.

The tournament provided an opportunity for the team to gauge their skills against solid opponents. Unfortunately, the team fell short of their own high expectations, leading to some disappointment among players and coaches alike. “We know we can do better,” remarked one of the players.

This mixed outcome has set a reflective tone for the season ahead, especially with the ACSC tournament approaching. Although 3rd place is respectable, the team remains disappointed at their performance because 1st place was definitely in reach, but inconsistencies riddled them with unnecessary losses of points. While some worry about the inconsistencies, others are hopeful that the lessons learned will translate into stronger future performances.

Coach Trevor Riffey remains optimistic about the team despite the setback. He expressed, “Out of all the years, I believe this year we have the highest chance to win ACSC.” However, he also acknowledges the need for improvement, particularly in maintaining consistent performance throughout matches.

The team’s experience at the ISKL Invitationals is a testament to their hard work and determination, serving as both a motivator and a wake-up call. As they continue to prepare for ACSC, the Dalat Boys Varsity volleyball team is determined to work hard to not disappoint.

While there are still some doubts brewing in the team, the Dalat Boys Varsity volleyball team’s recent experiences have laid a strong foundation for a promising season. With Coach Riffey’s guidance and the team’s commitment to improvement, hopes are optimistic for Dalat’s first volleyball gold medal in ACSC.