The grand walls of the Grant High School gym are filled with banner after banner of the Grant Generals’ achievements, dating as far back as the 1930s. An average passerby might just see the traditional four sports we’ve surrounded ourselves with for decades: baseball, basketball, football and soccer. However, a closer look reveals so much more.
Far from the Friday night lights of Marshall High School Field, hundreds of Generals compete both inside and out of the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL). This upcoming fall season is no exception. Here’s a closer look at three interesting and dynamic teams to watch out for this fall.
Water Polo
Coming off of a fifth-place finish in the Oregon 6A State Championships last year, Grant Men’s Water Polo experienced a saddening loss all too familiar to high school sports teams – the graduation of key senior players. Seven graduates left many holes to fill on the young roster, but captains Max Earhart and Atticus Wahab-Holles are confident in the future of the program. “We lost a lot of seniors,” says Earhart. “That sucks, but at the same time our coaches keep us honest,” he says. “We’ll play the same type of water polo with or without those seniors.” The
Grant women’s team is expected to play well this fall, too. The team shattered records last season as it placed sixth in state in its postseason debut, with a roster containing 14 newcomers. “I think a top-three finish is in reach for us this year,” says captain Karis Malinosky. “We’re a lot more experienced now.”
Practices for the team begin over the summer, about three weeks before classes begin, but newcomers are welcome to join at nearly any point during the season. “It’d be great (for) a lot of people to come out and give it a try,” says Wahab-Holles. “It’s not something a lot of people know about. That can be kind of scary, but it really is a great sport.” Lots of support is available for newcomers as well. “We have great coaches who’ll walk you through the steps,” adds Earhart. “It really is a great community.”
Gendrills
If one were to prompt the student body of Grant to name all of the Generals’ sports teams, it would be unsurprising if dance was left off the list. The Grant Gendrills compete throughout the school year in city- and statewide competitions. “We’re pretty good,” says junior Olive Bancroft-Lucas, a two-year veteran of the program. “(Last year) we got second in one (of the PIL competitions).”
Bancroft-Lucas encourages anyone with an interest in the program to come and try it out. “It’s really fun and everyone on the team is really nice,” she says.
Cross Country
While we may not always notice it, running is the basis of almost every sport. Cross country zeroes in on the techniques of running and forces participants to pace themselves over long distances. The races typically stretch up to five kilometers (3.1 miles) in distance, and can take place in a variety of conditions, from 100-degree heat to ice and snow. “It’s exhausting at the start,” says sophomore runner Zane DuLong, “but (when) you get to a point where you’re able to talk while running, then it’s really fun.”
As one of the largest teams at Grant, cross country makes meeting new people and making new friends as easy as showing up to practice. DuLong applauds the abilities of senior leadership and coaches to ensure that everyone feels welcomed and ready to compete. “The community is what makes it really fun,” says DuLong. “Newcomers are encouraged and welcomed,” he says, quickly adding that they “must be ready to work hard.”
