ATHLETE PROFILE: SAMANTHA SHETTY’S LOVE FOR THE ICE
(BEST OF SNO WINNER)
December 2022
As my first published athlete profile, incorporating a storytelling aspect to sports coverage was a new experience that was very fulfilling. Getting to know Samantha and watching her perform as part of a holiday show was very enjoyable and I am now looking forward to creating more athlete profiles in the future.
ROID RAGE: FIGHTING AGAINST HIGH SCHOOL STEROIDS
May 2022
This feature on the issue of non-prescribed steroids being used in high schools was by far my toughest article to research and write for, as the sensitivity of the topic required the utmost attention to detail in both research and writing. Gathering sources was a challenge for this feature, but after time the right sources were identified.
THE CHANGING TIDE OF MASCOTS
(BEST OF SNO WINNER)
April 2022
This was my first taste at feature writing, and while there was a major setback leading to the abandonment of a previous feature idea, this piece beautifully introduces society's changing mindset around mascots. At the same time, this feature also introduces more local examples of this changing tide, such as at Sequoia High School. As a closing question, I bring up the mascot of Carlmont, Monty the Scot and how he plays into this changing tide.
SAVANNAH BANANAS: REIMAGINING BASEBALL
November 2022
An ambitious passion project of sorts, I wrote this profile on the Savannah Bananas, a unique baseball team which emphasizes fan entertainment. Some major challenges I faced were getting sources, as the team is based in Georgia. However, I was successfully able to contact their starting third basemen and umpire, which is one of the coolest moments as a journalist.
UNMASKING THE FACE OF VIGILANTE FILM
October 2022
This was a research heavy feature article, with several expert sources required for me to get a complex understanding of this topic, something I've been wondering about for a while. As with all features, finding sources was a challenge but I managed to contact the professor of film studies at the College of San Mateo as well as a former litigator in the area.
SCOTS OPEN THE SEASON IN A DRAW WITH SPARTANS
November 2022
My second sports coverage article of junior year, I put an emphasis on story flow and photography into this beat, with a highlight being the photo featured on the left. In this photo, I was able to capture Carlmont celebrating after a goal while a Mountain View player watches on. In a cool twist, the very same Mountain View player scores the tying goal a few minutes later.
SCOTS CLIP THE RAVENS’ WINGS IN RIVALRY WIN
September 2022
My first sports coverage event of junior year, this was also my first time covering volleyball. Some initial struggles I encountered in terms of photography was being able to focus on a subject when volleyball has so many moving parts and other players constantly stepping in front of my shot. However, after changing my focus mode, this became easier.
THE CATS LOSE THEIR BATS IN DOMINANT SCOTS WIN
March 2022
This was my final sports beat of sophomore year, and I was able to use all the skills I learned along the way to complete this piece, including the best angles for photography, conducting interviews, and utilizing all the resources I have at my grasp, such as scorebooks and stat sheets. As a result, this may be my best overall sports beat due to it's extensive research when it comes to stats and numbers.
FAN-FUELED SCOTS DISMANTLE VIKINGS IN SENIOR NIGHT VICTORY
February 2022
This beat focused on three main storylines in this packed day, as one single event was a senior night, a blowout, and the return of basketball fans for the first time since pre-pandemic times. Balancing all three narratives was definitely a challenge, but I managed to cover them all with proper sources for every aspect of the event.
CARLMONT COMES UP ON TOP AGAINST VALLEY CHRISTIAN
March 2022
This was my first softball beat, a sport that I can understand to a higher standard then others because of my personal experience of playing baseball, and I put that knowledge into use, citing stats and more advanced vocabulary than I had previously used in other sports beats,
JV GIRLS BASKETBALL SETTLES IN WITH NEW HEAD COACH
November 2021
My first non-game covered, I was forced to tackle this beat in a different way than other sports pieces, as there was no final score or highlight plays to report. I instead focused on the new coaching staff that the girls basketball program had and using quotes from an assortment of the coaching staff and players, I was able to get a feel for what kind of direction the JV girls basketball team was heading.
VIKINGS PELT THE SCOTS IN RAINY DAY LOSS
October 2021
This was my first published work for Scot Scoop, and almost immediately I was hit by obstacles and that was the weather that this game was played under. I had to navigate the growing pains of sports journalism while trying to keep my equipment and notes as dry as possible from the rain.
TENSIONS RUN HIGH IN THRILLING SCOTS VICTORY AGAINST BEARS
January 2022
This beat was the first of many learning experiences for me as a sports writer, as this was my first game covered with a major controversy surrounding important calls, which meant I had to pay special attention to wording in my interviews and in my beat avoid any bias. I also had technological difficulties involving the battery of my camera, causing me to have to choose from a limited supply of photos, but this was an error on my part so it was a learning experience as a photographer.