![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Before the match against Cupertino High School, the wrestling team honored Daniel Wang (12) as the only senior in the program.
Daniel was pinned by his opponent in the third period, thereby losing his match.
“I feel partially sad that my season is so close to the end and that I lost on one of my biggest nights, but also reminiscent on all that I have done with Harker wrestling,” he said.
Affectionately nicknamed Boaz, his middle name, by his teammates, friends, and coaches, Daniel has wrestled for the past seven years. He has been a member of the high school team for all four years and previously the middle school team as well.
During senior night, Daniel’s teammates and friends created a poster for him that read “Boaz May the force be with you.” They also made smaller posters to wave from the stands during the match with the same phrase.
“I believe that having supporters there to cheer him on changed his mind-set to be positive,” Ashley Del Alto (12) said. “This was a good way to end Danny’s high school career. Even though he did not end up victorious, he fought throughout the whole match.”
Despite losing his match, Daniel thinks that “wrestling has taught [him] things that are integral both on and off the mat: the will to fight, the discipline to do what is needed, and the desire to succeed.”
“I think wrestling made me a unique person that finds strength not only from the support of others but also strength from deep within that most people don’t tap into,” he said.
Daniel will wrestle to qualify for Central Coast Section (CCS) on February 16. If he qualifies, his final tournament will take place on March 2.
