Boys Table Tennis:
On home ground, after seemingly faltering in their latter games, the boys Table Tennis squad facilitated a momentous comeback to clinch the title of APAC Champions. The significance of this win is amplified by the team’s status as an underdog. Being bereft of many of their top players from last year, considered to be an ace team that fell just short of an APAC title, prospects were not so resplendent, even for the players. Chris Shih, a junior on the team who nabbed fourth-place in doubles with his partner Jason Zou, predicted a “third-place finish” in the days before the event. However, on the first day of APAC, Chris and his team would rally an intrepid rush of dynamism and author a series of spectacular victories that precipitated their triumph as a team. “I am really proud of my boys,” commented coach Terry Lu, “the fact that we were able to defy expectations and persevere shows how strong this group really is.” Ultimately, the boys Table Tennis team demonstrated that raw skill is not the only important aspect in sports; spirit and fortitude are just as vital, perhaps even more, in achieving success. Other significant results include a third place finish in doubles by Bo Qian Han and Justin Yun, and a fourth place finish in singles by Justin Yun.
Girls Table Tennis:
In a valiant effort, girls Table Tennis managed to earn second place at APAC, faltering just barely to HKIS. While remorseful that the team could not win APAC, Chu Chuan Wu, a junior, seemed unperturbed by this narrow defeat. “We gave it our best,” she said of her team, “and ultimately, we all demonstrated great sportsmanship and that is what is most important.” Coach Jeff Thompson was pleased with the performance of his team, noting that “every player adapted her play and almost beat HKIS in the Championship.” The three strenuous days of competition that led to this second place achievement were filled with victories and the occasional loss. Airi Nishiyoka and Cat Wu reached the finals of their doubles matches, placing second, and many of the freshmen reached the quarter-finals of their individual matches. In hindsight, the players and the coaches would consider this APAC a success, for it not only reinforced the aptitude of SAS Table Tennis, it also fomented a newfound drive to return a year later and seize the trophy for themselves.
Leonard Lee
Boys Basketball:
It was a fourth consecutive APAC Championship title for the SAS Puxi Varsity Basketball team. It was the third proof that the team has what it takes to defend their well-deserved championship. It was their second chance to redeem themselves after China Cup. And it was the first 4peat at APAC in the history of SAS Puxi. Of course, it wasn’t a flawless season; there was a myriad of ups and downs throughout. According Lucas Meyring, a player on the team, the beginning of the season was especially tough, “because more than half the players as well as coaches were new and it took time for the chemistry to build”. In fact, their 18-point loss against HKIS at the China Cup championship game highlighted the need for better cohesion and communication between teammates. At APAC, the Puxi Boys were a manifestation of grit. Despite losing in their second game against Brent, the Puxi boys proceeded to dominate their following three matches, beating ISB with a score of 66-50, SASPD with a score of 76-46, and CA with a score of 71-38. Marching on to the finals, SAS Puxi secured their APAC championship with a score of 61-54 against ISB. The SAS Boys Varsity Basketball Team has had unparalleled success in SAS history, one that could not have transpired without the dedication and passion displayed by each member of the team.
Girls Basketball:
Tears were shed as the final buzzer rang to signal the end of a hard fought game. Julia Markmann, a player on the SAS Puxi Varsity Girls Basketball Team, recalls their final instants on the ISB basketball court. “The moment we lost the APAC finals, we were all crying, partly because we lost and partly because it was the last time we would play together in this team,” she said. It wasn’t the first time the Puxi girls had faced SAS Pudong; a day prior, the Puxi girls had lost against Pudong by 20 points, with a score of 29-49. But Pudong was never meant to be an easy team to beat; at least among the girls, SAS Pudong maintained a formidable reputation. Determined to fight back, the Puxi girls defeated the remaining teams standing between them and the championship game. Though they did lose by 41-54, the SAS Puxi Girls team was not ashamed of their score or their effort. Together, the team shed tears of joy, as they never thought they “would make Pudong sweat as much as they did”. In a moment of transcendence, the team looked beyond the results from the final to remember their teamwork, spirit, and perseverance they displayed during the days of APAC and throughout the season. “This year I feel like the team was the closest,” says Julia, “I’ve enjoyed every moment with the team.” The team should be proud of their accomplishments at APAC.
Luca Lee
Forensics:
“Dominating” would likely be the word that comes to mind when this year’s SASPX APAC forensics team is mentioned. Although SASPX’s APAC forensics team has historically been strong, this year’s APAC, held at Concordia International School Shanghai, brought about unprecedented results. During the event, SASPX found themselves in a fierce battle for points against Concordia as they passionately debated topics such as the extent foreign military aid is justified, gave speeches on Korean unity as a result of the Olympics, and produced impromptu speeches on prompts like “clash” in the span of a minute. As a result of the passion and commitment of every team member, SASPX was able to come out of the event as the overall APAC champions. This was in no doubt due to the impressive individual placings in events, with SAS managing to place in the top three for every single event but one. Highlights include Ryane Liao taking 1st place for impromptu speaking, and Matt Song receiving 1st place for debate speaker award. However, to the team, this event was so much more than winning. Junior Matt Song remarks, “the highlights were moments where the team came together in support of an amazing performance”, adding on that the team would make sure to support every event, despite having their own events to prepare for. This encouragement lasted throughout the event, and “the team got to share in some spectacular performances and conversations throughout APAC” as a result, according to Matt Song. Through this sense of comradery and steadfast trust in each other, the APAC forensics team demonstrates that even in competitive events like this, the heart of a sport does not lie in the victory itself. Instead, it lies in the experiences gained and the bonds formed, the lessons learned and the smiles shared. That in itself makes a team successful, champions or not.
Evian Chai
Swimming:
Across the river, the swim team stepped foot on the Pudong grounds to compete for 3 days straight. After various ups and downs, the boys placed second and the girls placed fourth. With many outstanding relays and individual events, the team came back home with many proud achievements. As predicted, Minjun Hong, Jun Sung Tak, William Huang, and Nolan Liu performed exceptionally well in the 200 medley relay event, victoriously coming in first. While Annie Chen, Jacqueline Chen, Yuxi Lee, Kailee Mott, and Meilee Sharan swam remarkably, placing third in the 200 freestyle relay. Some significant results in the individual events, the girl finalists (top 8), included; Roseanne Chao, Yuxi Lee, Renee Pearce, Annica Wang, and Annalie Yu who not only came first in the 50 backstroke but broke the APAC record as well. For the boys, the finalists included; Jun Sung Tak, Jonathan Ding, Ricky Zhong, Eric Liu, Kyle Liang, Nolan Liu, and Barron Han. After all the early morning and late night practices, the swim team had demonstrated that hard work certainly pays off.
Renee Pearce
APAC Band:
In a thrilling performance by a talented ensemble, APAC band captivated the minds of an entire audience this weekend at SAS’s Pudong Campus. The event, lasting from March 1-3, consisted of six schools and eight pieces. The band, although from diverse backgrounds, conjoined smoothly, and each member was apt in playing their different parts. The band performed a diverse range of songs, ranging from classical to more modern and exciting tunes.
Charlie Nishimura, a trombonist, thought that “the fast music was played the best, especially for the piece Spring Festival, which had a lot of energy and was really fun to play.” The pristine product, however, stemmed from weeks upon weeks of hard work. “We prepared on our own for four weeks,” says Nishimura, “then we had more than 10 mass rehearsals with the rest of the schools in three days!” In those three days, the band worked tirelessly to prepare for their performance last Saturday, which turned out to be a huge success.
Apart from the music itself, APAC Band was an opportunity for musicians from different schools to get to know each other. “It took a day or two for us to become acquainted with each other,” remarked Nishimura, “but after the four days we spent practicing together, I can say that I’ve made some new friends.” It also helped that those who went on APAC Band were skilled musicians. According to Nishimura, “there were few difficulties [they] encountered, as everybody knew what to do.” With its mystifying melodies and demanding program, Band is truly an embodiment of APAC Fine Arts. When asked whether he is eager to perform again next year, Nishimura unhesitatingly said that he would, “without a doubt.”
Leonard Lee
APAC Theatre:
What do you get when you combine theatre and athletics? APAC Theatre 2018.
This year’s APAC Theatre was held at WAB, and featured the theme “Terrified and Fearless”. In response to this, SASPX’s APAC Theatre ensemble created a piece that featured an elderly couple whose fate intertwined throughout their lives (with different actors playing them at different ages) but did not actually meet until they aged. Henry Zhu, junior, remarked that it was “quite a dialogue-heavy piece, but that “[they] did want to have levity in an otherwise dramatic and serious piece, so there were quite a few comedic moments”. Coach Debbie Taylor is incredibly proud of the team’s execution of the piece, commenting that “the students' public performance was flawless”. Aside from the team performance, the ensemble was also separated into groups lead by members of Frantic Assembly, a theatre company focused on incorporating physical movements into theatre. “The workshop leaders led exercises that were vigorous and dynamic, and those exercises would eventually be incorporated into our final showcase performances”, said Zhu. These exercises included spins, lifts, leaps, hugs, and lunges, and contributed to a performance that Taylor stated was “truly spectacular”.
A particular highlight from this trip stemmed from the trust required to perform these movements. According to Taylor, “The theatre experience builds relationships that require trust and vulnerability, so actors become fast friends”, with Zhu adding on that their movements “gradually improved as we began trusting one another over time”. Though tiring, this unique aspect of APAC Theatre 2018 created a sense of community within the participants. According to Zhu, one of the highlights was the morning warmup, which consisted of exercise for 10 minutes. When this was announced, groans commenced and “that was when we knew we were all in this together. That was when we knew we were in APAC Athletics” (Zhu).
Evian Chai
On home ground, after seemingly faltering in their latter games, the boys Table Tennis squad facilitated a momentous comeback to clinch the title of APAC Champions. The significance of this win is amplified by the team’s status as an underdog. Being bereft of many of their top players from last year, considered to be an ace team that fell just short of an APAC title, prospects were not so resplendent, even for the players. Chris Shih, a junior on the team who nabbed fourth-place in doubles with his partner Jason Zou, predicted a “third-place finish” in the days before the event. However, on the first day of APAC, Chris and his team would rally an intrepid rush of dynamism and author a series of spectacular victories that precipitated their triumph as a team. “I am really proud of my boys,” commented coach Terry Lu, “the fact that we were able to defy expectations and persevere shows how strong this group really is.” Ultimately, the boys Table Tennis team demonstrated that raw skill is not the only important aspect in sports; spirit and fortitude are just as vital, perhaps even more, in achieving success. Other significant results include a third place finish in doubles by Bo Qian Han and Justin Yun, and a fourth place finish in singles by Justin Yun.
 |
| (courtesy of Activities Council) |
Girls Table Tennis:
In a valiant effort, girls Table Tennis managed to earn second place at APAC, faltering just barely to HKIS. While remorseful that the team could not win APAC, Chu Chuan Wu, a junior, seemed unperturbed by this narrow defeat. “We gave it our best,” she said of her team, “and ultimately, we all demonstrated great sportsmanship and that is what is most important.” Coach Jeff Thompson was pleased with the performance of his team, noting that “every player adapted her play and almost beat HKIS in the Championship.” The three strenuous days of competition that led to this second place achievement were filled with victories and the occasional loss. Airi Nishiyoka and Cat Wu reached the finals of their doubles matches, placing second, and many of the freshmen reached the quarter-finals of their individual matches. In hindsight, the players and the coaches would consider this APAC a success, for it not only reinforced the aptitude of SAS Table Tennis, it also fomented a newfound drive to return a year later and seize the trophy for themselves.
Leonard Lee
Boys Basketball:
It was a fourth consecutive APAC Championship title for the SAS Puxi Varsity Basketball team. It was the third proof that the team has what it takes to defend their well-deserved championship. It was their second chance to redeem themselves after China Cup. And it was the first 4peat at APAC in the history of SAS Puxi. Of course, it wasn’t a flawless season; there was a myriad of ups and downs throughout. According Lucas Meyring, a player on the team, the beginning of the season was especially tough, “because more than half the players as well as coaches were new and it took time for the chemistry to build”. In fact, their 18-point loss against HKIS at the China Cup championship game highlighted the need for better cohesion and communication between teammates. At APAC, the Puxi Boys were a manifestation of grit. Despite losing in their second game against Brent, the Puxi boys proceeded to dominate their following three matches, beating ISB with a score of 66-50, SASPD with a score of 76-46, and CA with a score of 71-38. Marching on to the finals, SAS Puxi secured their APAC championship with a score of 61-54 against ISB. The SAS Boys Varsity Basketball Team has had unparalleled success in SAS history, one that could not have transpired without the dedication and passion displayed by each member of the team.
 |
| (courtesy of Activities Council) |
Girls Basketball:
Tears were shed as the final buzzer rang to signal the end of a hard fought game. Julia Markmann, a player on the SAS Puxi Varsity Girls Basketball Team, recalls their final instants on the ISB basketball court. “The moment we lost the APAC finals, we were all crying, partly because we lost and partly because it was the last time we would play together in this team,” she said. It wasn’t the first time the Puxi girls had faced SAS Pudong; a day prior, the Puxi girls had lost against Pudong by 20 points, with a score of 29-49. But Pudong was never meant to be an easy team to beat; at least among the girls, SAS Pudong maintained a formidable reputation. Determined to fight back, the Puxi girls defeated the remaining teams standing between them and the championship game. Though they did lose by 41-54, the SAS Puxi Girls team was not ashamed of their score or their effort. Together, the team shed tears of joy, as they never thought they “would make Pudong sweat as much as they did”. In a moment of transcendence, the team looked beyond the results from the final to remember their teamwork, spirit, and perseverance they displayed during the days of APAC and throughout the season. “This year I feel like the team was the closest,” says Julia, “I’ve enjoyed every moment with the team.” The team should be proud of their accomplishments at APAC.
 |
| (courtesy of Activities Council) |
Luca Lee
Forensics:
“Dominating” would likely be the word that comes to mind when this year’s SASPX APAC forensics team is mentioned. Although SASPX’s APAC forensics team has historically been strong, this year’s APAC, held at Concordia International School Shanghai, brought about unprecedented results. During the event, SASPX found themselves in a fierce battle for points against Concordia as they passionately debated topics such as the extent foreign military aid is justified, gave speeches on Korean unity as a result of the Olympics, and produced impromptu speeches on prompts like “clash” in the span of a minute. As a result of the passion and commitment of every team member, SASPX was able to come out of the event as the overall APAC champions. This was in no doubt due to the impressive individual placings in events, with SAS managing to place in the top three for every single event but one. Highlights include Ryane Liao taking 1st place for impromptu speaking, and Matt Song receiving 1st place for debate speaker award. However, to the team, this event was so much more than winning. Junior Matt Song remarks, “the highlights were moments where the team came together in support of an amazing performance”, adding on that the team would make sure to support every event, despite having their own events to prepare for. This encouragement lasted throughout the event, and “the team got to share in some spectacular performances and conversations throughout APAC” as a result, according to Matt Song. Through this sense of comradery and steadfast trust in each other, the APAC forensics team demonstrates that even in competitive events like this, the heart of a sport does not lie in the victory itself. Instead, it lies in the experiences gained and the bonds formed, the lessons learned and the smiles shared. That in itself makes a team successful, champions or not.
Evian Chai
Swimming:
Across the river, the swim team stepped foot on the Pudong grounds to compete for 3 days straight. After various ups and downs, the boys placed second and the girls placed fourth. With many outstanding relays and individual events, the team came back home with many proud achievements. As predicted, Minjun Hong, Jun Sung Tak, William Huang, and Nolan Liu performed exceptionally well in the 200 medley relay event, victoriously coming in first. While Annie Chen, Jacqueline Chen, Yuxi Lee, Kailee Mott, and Meilee Sharan swam remarkably, placing third in the 200 freestyle relay. Some significant results in the individual events, the girl finalists (top 8), included; Roseanne Chao, Yuxi Lee, Renee Pearce, Annica Wang, and Annalie Yu who not only came first in the 50 backstroke but broke the APAC record as well. For the boys, the finalists included; Jun Sung Tak, Jonathan Ding, Ricky Zhong, Eric Liu, Kyle Liang, Nolan Liu, and Barron Han. After all the early morning and late night practices, the swim team had demonstrated that hard work certainly pays off.
Renee Pearce
APAC Band:
In a thrilling performance by a talented ensemble, APAC band captivated the minds of an entire audience this weekend at SAS’s Pudong Campus. The event, lasting from March 1-3, consisted of six schools and eight pieces. The band, although from diverse backgrounds, conjoined smoothly, and each member was apt in playing their different parts. The band performed a diverse range of songs, ranging from classical to more modern and exciting tunes.
Charlie Nishimura, a trombonist, thought that “the fast music was played the best, especially for the piece Spring Festival, which had a lot of energy and was really fun to play.” The pristine product, however, stemmed from weeks upon weeks of hard work. “We prepared on our own for four weeks,” says Nishimura, “then we had more than 10 mass rehearsals with the rest of the schools in three days!” In those three days, the band worked tirelessly to prepare for their performance last Saturday, which turned out to be a huge success.
Apart from the music itself, APAC Band was an opportunity for musicians from different schools to get to know each other. “It took a day or two for us to become acquainted with each other,” remarked Nishimura, “but after the four days we spent practicing together, I can say that I’ve made some new friends.” It also helped that those who went on APAC Band were skilled musicians. According to Nishimura, “there were few difficulties [they] encountered, as everybody knew what to do.” With its mystifying melodies and demanding program, Band is truly an embodiment of APAC Fine Arts. When asked whether he is eager to perform again next year, Nishimura unhesitatingly said that he would, “without a doubt.”
Leonard Lee
APAC Theatre:
What do you get when you combine theatre and athletics? APAC Theatre 2018.
This year’s APAC Theatre was held at WAB, and featured the theme “Terrified and Fearless”. In response to this, SASPX’s APAC Theatre ensemble created a piece that featured an elderly couple whose fate intertwined throughout their lives (with different actors playing them at different ages) but did not actually meet until they aged. Henry Zhu, junior, remarked that it was “quite a dialogue-heavy piece, but that “[they] did want to have levity in an otherwise dramatic and serious piece, so there were quite a few comedic moments”. Coach Debbie Taylor is incredibly proud of the team’s execution of the piece, commenting that “the students' public performance was flawless”. Aside from the team performance, the ensemble was also separated into groups lead by members of Frantic Assembly, a theatre company focused on incorporating physical movements into theatre. “The workshop leaders led exercises that were vigorous and dynamic, and those exercises would eventually be incorporated into our final showcase performances”, said Zhu. These exercises included spins, lifts, leaps, hugs, and lunges, and contributed to a performance that Taylor stated was “truly spectacular”.
A particular highlight from this trip stemmed from the trust required to perform these movements. According to Taylor, “The theatre experience builds relationships that require trust and vulnerability, so actors become fast friends”, with Zhu adding on that their movements “gradually improved as we began trusting one another over time”. Though tiring, this unique aspect of APAC Theatre 2018 created a sense of community within the participants. According to Zhu, one of the highlights was the morning warmup, which consisted of exercise for 10 minutes. When this was announced, groans commenced and “that was when we knew we were all in this together. That was when we knew we were in APAC Athletics” (Zhu).
Evian Chai
