Clemente has it’s fair share of student-athletes, and the Boys Volleyball team carries out the roles of both student and athlete very well. Of the 14 students on the varsity roster, 5 are currently maintaining a mix of A’s and B’s. Sophomore and team captain Archie Cunningham, and fellow teammate Gio Giles are among that list, to name a few. The varsity volleyball team has consistently demonstrated leadership and perseverance in their academics, and these same qualities have translated seamlessly to their performance on the court, especially in their most recent game against Prosser Career Academy.
Clemente faced a tough opponent in Prosser on May 1st. Coming into the game, Prosser’s record spoke for itself, but Clemente, like always, was determined to give it their best. As seen pictured, Sophomore Gio Giles (#11), jumps—or maybe flies—up to the ball to administer a power hit, scoring another point for the Wildcats. Also in the shot are sophomores, Archie Cunningham (#8), Sal Camacho (#7), Josh Reyes (#10), Nykeon Riley (#3), and Wilson Marrero (#15) who can be seen observing Gio’s hit, and ready to spring into action. However, despite their best efforts, the Wildcats lost both sets 10-25. Prosser, whose team is comprised mostly of seniors, was too strong to overcome. Although our team lost the game, the boys learned that communicating, digging, and hustle plays are the key to a winning formula.
Assistant Coach Dryjanski (Coach D) has played a pivotal role this season, teaching specific skill drills in order to give the team a more competitive edge. Coach D is an active coach, setting the players during practice and giving technical feedback on their hits as they execute repetitions. Coach Tolene says about the team, “I always knew I had a great team, [even] when I first saw them, and we’re a little late in the season but I’m really now seeing the team I [knew] I had. We are [all] excited to see what we can do next year.” Students are already talking about preparing in the off-season with summer camps, and conditioning on the 606 trail.
Kudos to this team for remarkable sportsmanship and camaraderie. We are proud to provide great athletic programming for our Wildcats. Overall, Clemente Community Academy has a lot to offer; come check us out or explore the rest of the website!
Good Luck to the all the Clemente sports teams in the playoffs! Go Wildcats!