After a summer of conditioning, the wrestling team tackles a new year with new goals.

Head Coach Chris Horpel expects the wrestlers to perform well this season. “We’re both better as a team and individually,” Horpel said. “This is the first year we have two returning CCS placeholders since 1974.” Other members of the team agree with his sentiment and add that their summer training foreshadows a great year. “Almost our entire lineup [has] been working out together this summer,” senior Jay Villafana said. “We should be top three [in our league] and top five CCS.”

Recently graduated seniors will not impede the team’s progress. “We have enough members on the team who can fill their spots,” senior Lawrence Park said.

Horpel sets high expectations for the team. “I always hope for the best and plan for the worst,” Horpel said. “We’ve been better each year, and I hope to bring Gunn’s wrestling program up to the level it was in 1973 or 1974, which was third or fourth in CCS.”

In the upcoming season, boys’ basketball plan to have an even more successful season than last year’s 20-8 record. Though some key players graduated last year, the core of the team remains, and new additions will strengthen it further.

According to Head Coach Chris Redfield, players to watch are seniors Peter Jordan and David Riley, who both made first team all-league last year, and look to lead a strong Gunn team to a successful season. Other key players include senior guards Michael Riley and Bernard Anthony. “We have seven seniors and three starters returning from last year which is important,” Redfield said. “We hope to build on what we did last year.” Though last year’s team lost to Palo Alto High School, this year’s team has a higher chance of winning. “Our chances of winning are realistic, to say the least,” junior Richard Wiley said. “They really don’t have any superstars this year, and our team has gotten better.” Gunn will start the season Nov. 21 against Menlo School in a home game.

This winter, girls’ soccer kicks off on Nov. 16 with a home game against Pinewood. The team wants to improve over last year’s lackluster season, and with many of last years promising players returning to the squad, Gunn’s future seems poised for a turnaround.

The game against Palo Alto High School, who Gunn defeated last year, is set as the team’s second game on Nov. 20 and should be a test of the team’s strength. “I’m excited for this year, and I definitely think there will be an improvement with regards to the record,” junior Victoria van Duyne said.

With an optimistic outlook, the Titans are set to start the new season off with a bang.

The boys’ soccer team kicks off its season with a new coach and fresh roster of players.

Tom Brough replaced David Burgee as Head Coach this year and has high hopes for the team. “There’s a lot of talent and promise, and if they want to achieve, they can,” Brough said.

Team members realize they need to work hard to succeed and fill gaps left by the departure of last year’s seniors. “ There was a core of seniors who really knew how each other played, and they were basically the defense,” junior Philippe deCorwin-Martin said.

Co-captain senior Ian Powell agreed that losing seniors would affect the team, but believes they can overcome these obstacles. “Our goal for this year is to split with Paly or beat them twice and win our league, get a CCS spot and just do as well as possible,” Powell said.

Girls’ basketball starts the season with a clean record and a new coach.

Former college basketball player and current physical education teacher Sarah Stapp will coach the girls. She planned summer events for the team such as a tournament in San Diego. “[Stapp] is incredible,” junior Neva Hauser said. “I can already see the improvement in our team.”

Stapp looks forward to a strong team. “We have a lot of balance and versatility,” Stapp said. “The players are really athletic, and I can put [the players] in different positions.”

The team also anticipates a victorious season. “We have great cohesion and chemistry, and I think we’re going to do better than the last four seasons,” senior Jenica Law said.