![“[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)
Varsity girls golf triumphed 197-246-271 in a three-way match against Menlo and Sacred Heart Preparatory, earning two wins at Moffett Golf Club on Oct. 14.
Although all 12 members of the team competed, the total score consisted of the top five scores summed together. Senior Kimaya Mehta, junior Joyce He and frosh Hailey Li earned co-medalist honors shooting 39, which was two over par: 37 strokes. Senior Ashley Mo and sophomore Sai Kaneshiro also contributed to the final score, both shooting 40.
Hailey reflected on her performance and the team’s chemistry, which made the match an exciting experience.
“My putting was pretty good, and I made a couple big putts,” Hailey said. “My irons were going pretty straight. It was a fun round in general because I got to play with Abby [Wang (11)], and the team had really good vibes.”
The team began from the gold tees on the first nine holes of the course. Hailey and Abby started first, and the rest of the Eagles followed in pairings of two, alternating between hitting with golfers from Menlo and Sacred Heart Prep.
“I thought they played really well together as a team and lifted each other up when they needed to,” assistant coach Sean Tamashiro said. “Their connection together is really developing, and that’s why they’ve been successful this year — because they work well as a team.”
The junior varsity team did not participate in the match but collaborated in a “best-ball” game, where each person hits their own ball but the combined lowest score is recorded for each hole. Although the rainy climate made the day colder and windier, senior Leana Zhou enjoyed participating in best-ball with other teammates due to the camaraderie formed between players.
“Despite the weather, it was a nice bonding experience for everyone,” Leana said. “I was having so much fun the entire time, and everyone was laughing and talking. I hit pretty well today, but I need to focus on improving my short chips near the green.”
The victory marked another strong performance for the Eagles, who continue to build consistency with their undefeated 11-0 record. The girls compete in a tri-match against Mercy High School Burlingame and Notre Dame San Jose next at Boulder Ridge Golf Club tomorrow.
