Q&A with 2017-2018 varsity basketball captains: Caitlin Chen, Cydney Davis

By Maya Wernick, Voices Editor|December 9, 2017

Photo credit: Amy Chen

Archer’s varsity basketball team. Captains Cydney Davis ’18 (bottom middle) and Caitlin Chen ’19 (bottom right) have led their team so far to a 3-4 overall record.

As days get shorter and colder, signaling the start of winter, the varsity basketball team has been doing everything but curling up with some hot chocolate. The winter sports season is beginning and competition is well underway.

With a 3-4 overall record thus far, the team has been practicing daily to turn things around.

The Oracle sat down with captain Cydney Davis ’18 and interviewed captain Caitlin Chen ’19 over email to learn more about the past, present and future of their season.

How is the season going so far?

Caitlin Chen [CC]: We’re doing really well this season. We have been playing with a lot of energy and effort in our first few games. Half of the team is made up of freshmen, and they are adjusting well to varsity-level basketball. The upperclassmen also bring in their experience from the past few years, [so] we have a really unique bond on this team.

Cydney Davis [CD]: It is really nice because we have a lot of freshman on the team, and they are really playing a big role in our success so far. They are really eager to learn, and they come out ready to receive feedback. I can tell this year is looking pretty good. We have a lot of new [players], which is really helping.

Why do you enjoy basketball?

[CC]: I’ve been playing basketball since kindergarten, and it is one of the most influential aspects of my life. I love playing in the intense atmosphere and being able to contribute to your team in various ways. Magic Johnson once said, ” There’s winning and there’s losing, and in life, you have to know they both will happen. But what’s never been acceptable to me is quitting.” Basketball has become a part of my work ethic and taught me to always persist through hard times.

[CD]: I like playing basketball because I like being on a team. Basketball is a big team sport, which is a little bit different than the other sports I played. It’s a lot more physical, which I kind of like. You really have to work together as a unit to get things done. It still requires the same amount of communication and effort as other sports, but there is a lot more skill involved.

What are you most excited about for the season? 

[CC]: I am most excited to see the team grow throughout the season. Also, the group of seniors on the basketball team mean a lot to me, and I am excited to play with them for their last season.

[CD]: I think I am just really excited to keep learning with everyone. I like that our team is really young; there are only 5 of us [seniors]. Since the team is so big there is a lot of underclassmen as well, and I think it gives me a lot of hope for the future of the team.  We have so many people who are willing to learn and are naturally just really good so far. I think this is the first year that I can really see the growth that is going to happen this season. This is our second year with Coach J, [Jelani Bandele], and he has been really instrumental in our success and our understanding of the sport — so I think it’s going pretty well. The veterans are doing a good job this year too.

What do you hope to accomplish as a team this season?

[CC]: I hope we can win league this year and go as far as possible in the CIF Finals.

[CD]: Our goal is to come in first in CIF and to advance to the CIF finals. That is definitely a big goal. I take it step by step, and I am [working] on placing first in Liberty League. But after that, advancing to the CIF finals and possibly bringing home another championship, [like volleyball], would be really cool.