Breaking: Archer Athletics celebrates record-setting achievements, unveils CIF volleyball banner

By Cybele Zhang, Editor-in-Chief|February 8, 2018

Photo credit: Cybele Zhang

Dani Roberts ’18 and Macoy Ohlbaum ’18 smile before the hanging ceremony. Both girls were on the winning varsity volleyball team.

In the midst of construction, athletes, parents, teachers and students gathered in the courtyard to celebrate Archer Athletics history.

During lunch on Thursday, Feb. 8, the community honored Archer’s first CIF-SS title with the recognition of volleyball players and coaches, who hung the Panthers’ first championship banner above the southwest doorway.

The banner will be displayed there until the gym in the Archer Forward construction plan opens.

“The tradition behind when you win a championship is you get a banner that goes up in your gym,” Athletic Director Denny Lennon said. “It’s kind of fun that we don’t have a gym to work out in or play in yet, so we’re going to display it out in the courtyard.”

Archer is 23-years-old, but this fall was the first time any team had claimed a Southern Section title. On Nov. 10, the varsity volleyball team defeated Foothill Technology in the CIF-SS Divison 7 Final. The Panthers won 3-1.

“That is really fun,” Lennon said. “That’s the first CIF Championship the school [has won] since it opened.” 

The ceremony featured a simultaneous ringing of Archer’s bell and a reveal of the title banner by Rachael Boehm ’18.

Boehm, a senior co-captain, named the Division 7 Player of the Year on Dec. 11. This is the first time any Archer student has won this award. Head Coach Lainey Gera was also named Division 7 Coach of the Year. In addition, sophomores Andrea Campos and Cydney Johnson were selected to the All-CIF Team, joining 25 other Archer athletes that have been selected All-CIF since 2009.

Prior to the ceremony, seniors Locke Luhnow and Saskia Wong-Smith signed National Letters of Intent for volleyball and swimming, respectively.

The gallery below has images from the hanging.

  • Andrea Campos ’20, Alizeh Jarrahy ’20, Rachael Boehm ’18, Macoy Ohlbaum ’18, Cydney Johnson ’20, Alex Feldman ’18 and Cat Oriel ’18 stand on the Rose Room steps during the ceremony. Boehm also celebrated winning Divison 7 Player of the Year.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
    '

  • Rachael Boehm ’18 reveals the championship banner. Most schools display banners in their gym, but Archer’s is currently being constructed.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
    '

  • Players and Christine Jinbo cheer on Lainey Gera during the ceremony. Gera was named Division 7 Coach of the Year.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
    '

  • The team’s seniors pose following the hanging. Locke Luhnow, far right, will play Division 3 NCAA volleyball next year.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
    '

  • The varsity volleyball team gathers after the ceremony. The team’s theme last season was family.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
    '

  • Seniors Alex Feldman, Saskia Wong-Smith, and Cat Oriel celebrate the hanging. Wong-Smith signed her National Letter of Intent to swim at Bates College prior to the festivities.

    Photo credit: Cybele Zhang
    '
Navigate Left
Navigate Right