14 Sports

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

TEAM PLAYER:
Student contributes to
teams through social media

Abbe Murphy I Editor-in-Chief do what he likes but its also promoting

amur1548@csd99.org
Under the lights of a varsity football
game, helmet-clad players sprawl across
the sideline. Running backs, linemen and
wide receivers all wait for their turn on
the field. While they work to score touch-
downs and halt the opposing teams of-
fense on the field, another member of
the team plays a different role from the
sideline. That player is junior Zain Ban-
do.
With his diagnosis of cerebral palsy,
a congenital disorder that affects move-
ment and muscle efficiency that left Ban-
do wheelchair bound, Bando found an
alternative way to express his die-hard
love of sports and play a role on school
sports teams: social media. In the past
two and a half years, Bando has worked
for a variety of teams from volleyball to
our program. The kids love it because
they see pictures of themselves and so
thats been great.
Varsity football player senior Jack Ca-
sey, a close friend of Bandos, recognizes
the importance of Bandos role on the
team.
He was the first one on the sideline
to pick us up when we were down and
the first one to celebrate with us after a
big play, Casey said. He was a team first
guy and would do whatever he could to
help us or any of the coaches out. All the
guys made sure that he was a part of the
team and that we embraced him into our
family as if he was suiting up with us ev-
ery day.
In the past, Bando attempted mod-
ified sports that he could play with his
disability, however, he soon realized that
he was more passionate about sports in

Photo used with permission of Varisty Views

baseball. He hopes that these experienc- a different way.
es and his passion for sports will lead Honestly, [with] everything that Ive
him into a similar career in the future. learned in the last two and a half years or
My first love of sports really was so, Im a little bit more passionate about
just watching a Bears game and I really reporting sports than actually playing
didnt know anything about football. I [sports]. Ive realized that my limitations
just thought it was one of the most excit- have gotten in the way of that and Ive
ing things Id ever seen and I just wanted kind of just set that aside and focused on
to learn more about it, Bando said. what I can do.
In middle school, Bando began his PART OF THE TEAM: Bando shakes hands with the rest of the varsity football team at the end of the game.
Bandos twitter for the football team
coverage of sports, when a teacher en- Trojans FB Live gained 250 followers by
couraged him to start his own channel mented each other and went on and on sports teams, Bando attended a number
the end of the season. Bando daily post-
for sports announcing. about hockey because we both love it, of events over the past two years that
ed a variety of content including recap
This year Bando was public address Brindl said. He was always so involved give him a glimpse into his possible fu-
videos, live updates, and photos.
announcer for volleyball and ran his with our team. From announcing the ture field of work. These include the Chi-
He brings a positive attitude every
own live update twitter account for the starting line up to his awesome match cago Cubs Gala during the World Series
day. He promotes our program in a great
varsity football team called Trojan FB point calls. and visiting the New York City office of
way and he is someone, as a coach, we
Live. Starting in November, Bando began Bleacher Report, a prominent sports
love to be around and the players do to.
What he has done with [twitter] similar social media work for the boys media organization.
Everyone has to fit a role and he fits a
has been phenomenal, varsity football varsity basketball team. Varsity basket- Its just given me a lot more inspira-
pretty darn good role, Lichtenberg said. ball coach Jim Thomas recognizes the tion to know that its very possible and
Along with reporting for the football benefits of added media coverage which Im hoping that one day I get to work in
He brings a positive team, Bando also worked as the varsi- results in exposure of players to college a field like that because its everything
ty volleyball teams public address an-
attitude every day. nouncer during games.
scouts. Ive enjoyed for a very long time. There
I just think that its great that he arent too many words to describe all of
- Football Coach Keith According to Bando, working with has kind of taken on that role through- these different things that I get to do. I
Lichtenberg this sport was a step out of his comfort out our school, Thomas said. Ive heard just think that theyre all really cool and
zone that he came to love. Girls volley- from many people just in the short time I hope it leads to something huge, Ban-
ball manager junior Evie Brindl recalls
coach Keith Lichtenberg said. Not only he has been on varsity how awesome do said.
the beginning of her friendship with
does he update games but he provides it is to have those score updates or pic- As players from both teams line up
Bando.
video of things and makes these great tures of practice and warmups so people at the end of the game to shake hands,
I met Zain freshman year in gym
video recaps of each game. Hes really are really taking to having him do that their work is done for the day. For Ban-
class. He was wearing a Hawks shirt and
just been talented. It has allowed him to for us. do, his work for the team and his career
I was wearing a jersey. We both compli- Along with his work with high school have just begun.

Tucker named to top 30 uncommitted athletes

Kileen Dietrich I Sports Editor
kdie1502@csd99.org
Senior Kendall Tucker is chosen to
play in the Senior Showcase hosted by
the Illinois Media School and Cyclones
volleyball at College of Dupage for being
one of the top 30 uncommitted volley-
ball players in the state.
The event consisted of a best of five
game match between the pink and white
teams, with Tucker being on white, de-
vised of the top 30 uncommitted ath-
letes in the state.
I did not know I was nominated to
be one of the top 30 players in the state
Photo by Kileen Dietrich
breast cancer, hence the pink jerseys
that were donated by Mizuno.
It was a great experience to combine
all our talent together for a fun game to
raise money for cancer research, Tuck-
er said. It was really cool to play with
other girls all over the state of Illinois
that I have never met or played against.
Tucker may have been the only se-
nior nominated from DGN, but confer-
ence rivals Hinsdale Central and OPRF
were also represented in the showcase.
I felt pretty accomplished in myself
to receive such a high rank of volleyball
players in the state, especially since the
class of 2017 is a very high competitive
fers to play D1 volleyball, I turned them
down to focus on my studies and due
to the intense credits I will have going
into Nutritional Science and Marketing,
Tucker said.
Tucker has been playing volleyball
for 12 years starting her career as young
as seven for teams such as IPV, Lions Jrs.
and 1st Alliance.
Tucker has played all positions, but
during high school she has mainly been
a libero: someone who can play at all
positions.
Making the transition to a life with-
out volleyball could prove difficult for
Tucker.

until I got an email saying I was select-
ed as one, Tucker said. I did know that
I was somewhere in the top 20 highest
dig count in the state though.
Proceeds from the event will benefit
MAKING THE PLAY: teammates watch in antici- the American Cancer Society, mainly for
pation as Kendall Tucker (12) bumps the ball.
group of girls, Tucker said.
Even though Tucker is currently un-
committed, she plans to stay that way
due to the rigorous course load she
plans to take in college.
Although I did receive a couple of-
Without volleyball, I dont think I
would be as outgoing and fun as I am to-
day, Tucker said. Its taught me how to
be a great leader and a great teammate
that I havent gotten from any other
sport Ive played.