![“[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)
From basketball hoops to baseball bases, the spotlight across sports often falls onto the starting players on the team. They begin the game, dominate the stat sheet and get featured on highlight reels. Yet behind them, the bench players’ work is just as essential. Whether they’re keeping the energy high, pushing teammates in practice or hitting decisive shots, their contributions can make the difference between winning and losing.
For varsity boys basketball head coach Alfredo Alves, the bench players’ readiness is essential to the team’s success. In last year’s first-round Central Coast Section playoff matchup against Marina High School, sophomore guard Lucas Huang came off the bench and scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, powering Harker to victory in a close win-or-go-home game.
“The starters know they’re going to play,” Alves said. “With the bench players, it’s a little different: a bench player may not know when their time is called. They may go in in the first quarter or the fourth quarter, but they’re going to be ready if their name is called.”
A bench player’s job can be just as mentally and physically demanding as the starters on the team. They don’t have the luxury of easing into the game. Instead, they have to step into a game at full speed.
“As a bench player, you have to be ready to deliver your role,” an anonymous varsity boys basketball player said. “It’s very important, especially with our current offense. Since there’s so many substitutions, we sub people in and out very fast. Our bench players always have to be ready to go, and they’re going to play an important role in the success of our team.”
Bench players contribute not only through their playing ability but also their roles in keeping the energy high and pushing starters to play hard during practice. Midfielder Kaitlyn Nelson (11) has felt this impact firsthand, noting that energy from the bench helps fuel the team’s momentum.
“The bench is really good for team spirit because they cheer us on the whole game, and spirit is a huge part of soccer,” Kaitlyn said. “If we’re losing and our mood is down, and we make a good play or we score a goal and the bench gets super hype, that can completely turn the game around. When everybody’s super amped up, we have that energy to keep going and push back.”
While not every player will get equal minutes in the game, Alves makes sure everyone on the team understands their contributions matter. Games aren’t won by starters alone: they’re won by the entire roster.
“Everyone’s preparing together, everyone’s putting in the same work in the summer and the spring,” Alves said. “Everyone is trying to get better and trying to get the team better.”
