![Walking through the tunnel created by the cheerleaders and Celebrities, senior Frances Tran smiles as the soccer team is sent off during DEN for their playoff game against Rouse tonight. Tran said the wins against Smithson Valley and Alamo Heights gave the team a morale boost to take on the Raiders tonight. “I know we were not 100% confident in those games,” Tran said. “But, Rouse is a big opponent for sure. We’re definitely going into tonight with a lot of morale [because of the previous wins].”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/frances-tran.jpg)
![Holding a bucket of materials in one hand and a roll of tape in another, anatomy and biology teacher Tyler Terry prepares for a lab. Terry said his proudest moments are when his students are happy to see him. “When I take my wife to a football game or something and a bunch of students want to say hi to me or they like to smile and wave and it just makes me feel good that the students are really kind and supportive of me,” Terry said. “[I’m also] proud when I see students perform really well in their extracurriculars because I can see how hard they’re working in my classes, [so] when I see that they’re also working so hard in other things. Like they’re winning band competitions or they’re getting awards for their theater productions, or I see them put on their choir shows, that’s like, wow, you guys are incredible.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rags-6.png)
![Catching a ball, junior Alivia Robinson plays at the Cedar Park vs Glenn game. Having played since she was 5 years old, she is dedicated to softball and has committed to UTPB for softball. “When I got my offer it took me a very long time to decide where,” Robinson said. “Softball has always been my dream for college, and UTPB is my fit. When [I committed] I knew I was going to be loved and supported.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lilly-Adams-3.13aliviaedit-901.jpg)
Freshmen Takeover
Tyler Kukla, Kei Tsujii Both Make the Varsity Soccer Team During First Year in High School
Freshman Striker/Midfielder Kei Tsujii dribbles the ball around Leander defenders on Jan. 7. Tsujii and Freshman Tyler Kukla both made varsity boys soccer this season. “I have to make sure that I’m never content with what I’m doing and do my best to keep improving,” Tsujii said.
January 30, 2020
The varsity soccer team will look a bit different this season, as two freshmen made the team and both will see significant playing time. As of right now, Striker/Midfielder Kei Tsujii is s starter, while striker Tyler Kukla comes off the bench.
Tyler Kukla is currently on three separate teams that require practices everyday and games once a week. He’s played competitively for 10 straight years. Kukla said it felt really good to make the school varsity squad and said it means a lot to him.
“I have a lot of respect for everyone on the team, so it’s really cool to get to play with them,” Kukla said.
Striker/Midfielder Kei Tsujii has been playing soccer for over 10 years. He said making varsity means his hard work has paid off.
“I got to this point by trying my best to fit myself into the team and committing a lot of time and effort into soccer,” Tsujii said.
Kukla stays busy with soccer, which is a sport that takes a lot of athletic ability and energy to play at a high level.
“In all my practices and games, I work hard and give all of my effort,” Kukla said. “My competitive attitude pushes me through the season.”
In order to stay on the varsity squad throughout his high school tenure, Tsujii said he should avoid complacency and always work hard.
“I have to make sure that I’m never content with what I’m doing and do my best to keep improving,” Tsujii said.
Making the varsity squad as a freshman is an accomplishment in and of itself, but Kukla wants to maintain success and help the team win in any way he can.
“I need to show up to every practice, film [study], weight room and game and give it 110 percent,” Kukla said. “Everyday I’m going to need to work to get better, faster, and stronger. I’m going to need to keep a positive attitude through the season.”
Tsujii said that a big reason for his accomplishments is doing his best and learning what is best for the team.
“I hope to score as many goals as I can to help the team and to win as many games as we can this year,” Tsujii said.
Kukla strives to get faster, play more, and score more goals this upcoming season.
“Our team goal is to grow as a team and win a state championship,” Kukla said. “We will need to stay positive, work hard, listen to the coach, and give a big team effort.”
![Holding her dog, Nova, senior Ariana Balakrishnan poses for her senior pictures while Nova wears a bandana with her college decision. Balakrishnan applied to 18 colleges in total, but she decided on Columbia in the end. “Right before I clicked the button to open Columbia’s letter, I literally looked at the camera and go ‘This is just gonna really suck because I wanted it so bad,’ and I clicked it and all of a sudden you hear trumpets,” Balakrishnan said. “There’s a video that plays when you open it and I actually didn’t watch the video, I just watched the screen go black, because every day of December before ED [Early Decision] I would go on YouTube and watch the acceptance video to manifest it, so immediately when the screen went black, I started screaming and jumping up and down. And my parents in the video are like ‘What are you doing, where’s the letter,’ and I was just screaming ‘I got in, I got in.” I just started crying, and it just felt like everything in the world came together.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ariana-2-300x217.jpg)
![Catching a ball, junior Alivia Robinson plays at the Cedar Park vs Glenn game. Having played since she was 5 years old, she is dedicated to softball and has committed to UTPB for softball. “When I got my offer it took me a very long time to decide where,” Robinson said. “Softball has always been my dream for college, and UTPB is my fit. When [I committed] I knew I was going to be loved and supported.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lilly-Adams-3.13aliviaedit-901-600x400.jpg)
