The Sporting Blue Blog

Spring Sports

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:46:03 EST

After a fantastic basketball season for both our girls and boys varsity teams, it's time to turn our full attention to Spring sports. The Blues are midway through the Spring season and several teams are off to great starts.

The Girls Varsity Soccer team is off to a 7-0-1 start with league wins over International, Covent, Lick and MA. As has become the standard with our girls soccer team, we play fantastic team defense and have been capitalizing on our scoring opportunities. We have players from every grade level on the varsity soccer team.
Not to be outdone, our JV Girls Soccer team is having a fantastic year as well. Their Team Defense is second to none and they are enjoying their time together and improving on a daily basis.
Urban has added a SWIM team this Spring and they recently completed their first ever meet. While we didn't "win" any races, we left the aquatic center with our heads held high. We're very proud of the athletes who comprise our first ever swim team and we look forward to additional opportunities to compete this Spring.
The Urban Track and Field team is off and running! With 2 league meets in the books, the Blues have an excellent chance to have several athletes advance to the Meet of Champions and potentially the CIF State Finals. Run Blues Run!
Our Softball and Baseball teams are in the middle of their league seasons battling for league wins and enjoying their time together. The Softball team is likely on a path to yet another BCL West Title game. The baseball team steps away from league play this week before finishing their season with 6 critical league games vs Lick, Stuart Hall and Marin Academy.
Our Fencing program is having a great year. The boys are undefeated heading into their big battle with Lowell on April 2nd. The Girls are also having success and we're hoping for a chance to send several fencers to the state tournament.
Lastly, our golf team anchored by Alex P and Reed B continue their quest to qualify for the BCL and NCS Tournaments. The golfers are working hard on a daily basis and battling their fellow BCL League schools in an effort to bring the BCL title back to Urban.

We're excited with our success on and off the field this Spring. Our athletes are working hard and doing a fantastic job representing the entire Urban community. We hope to see you at a game soon!

It's Basketball Season!

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 10:08:54 EST

It's December and that means it's HOOPS season @ The Urban School. All 4 of our teams have begun play and I'm thrilled with what I've seen in both practices and games from the Blues. Our teams and players have taken on the personality of our Varsity Head Coaches, and that is a GREAT thing! Joe and Hope are passionate about the game of basketball and they do things the right way. They are fantastic teachers and motivators and players LOVE playing for them. It's an exciting time to be an Urban Basketball player.

Our JV and Varsity coaching staffs are pushing our student athletes on a daily basis and our athletes are consistently rising to the occasion. Much like our incredible faculty, our basketball coaches are teaching on a daily basis and stressing improvement at this point of the season. Our JV Teams improve quarter to quarter -- possession to possession and that's a testament to how hard Henry, Serge and Dez are working. The combination of passionate coaches and intelligent, hard working student athletes is a magical one and I encourage all of you to come out to Kezar to watch the Blues battle this winter. I'm certain you will walk out of the gym impressed with the effort and attitude of the Blues.

Go BLUES!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

Class of 2013

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 13:03:40 EST

As the fall season comes to a close, I want to pause for a moment and say "THANKS" to the many members of the class of 2013 that are playing their final games for the Blues. I arrived at Urban with the Class of 2013 and we've had a wonderful 4 years of athletic highs and lows and have created some memories none of us will soon forget. Thanks are in order to the following people, who leave our Fall Sports program better than they found it 4 years ago:

Boys Soccer - Harry K, Gabe K, Zach T, Phong T
Girls Volleyball - Abbe L, Haley W
Girls Tennis - Rowan P, Anna S, Danielle P, Corinna A, Lucia L
Cross Country - McCall C, Walker W, John W, Max G

Your collective passion for the BLUES has been unwavering and your desire to push yourself and your teammates to succeed is greatly appreciated.

Much love Class of 2013 Blues - WE ARE URBAN!

Go BLUES!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

The "Riley" effect

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:30:21 EST

If you arrive on campus at 2:55pm, it is more than likely you won't find many students in the halls of Urban. You will however find a majority of our Winter and Spring Athletes congregating in lower St Agnes waiting for Riley to open the weight room. A few years ago the weight room was a space where you would typically find very few students and those that were in there did as much socializing as they did weight lifting. My how the times have changed! Thanks in large part to the energy and passion of Riley M, our superstar math teacher and strength and conditioning coach, we now have kids lining up to work out on a daily basis.

In addition to working with students in our formal Strength and Conditioning physical activity classes, Riley is working with winter and spring athletes helping them focus on sport specific workouts which will help them in their respective sports later this year. We have both young men and women working hard 3 to 4 times a week from our basketball, baseball, lacrosse and softball programs. The only problem to date.....we only have one Riley!

It is nothing short of fantastic to see Urban student athletes working hard in their off season with the goal of improving their strength and conditioning. I have no doubt in my mind we will have more success on the court and on the field due to this increased passion and for that, we all owe a big THANKS to Riley.

Go BLUES!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

A Day in the Life

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:37:14 EST

Last Friday, our students participated in our annual Fall Service Day. We had members of the student body throughout the Bay Area working for Habitat for Humanity, the Heart Walk and in Pt Reyes doing trail work. Our freshman class, along with Freshman Class Advisors, spent the day in Marin County working on trail restoration projects. Our Boys JV Soccer coach Danny C loaded an Urban Suburban at 8:00am and headed out to begin a day of hard work in the bright sun of Marin County. At 2:15pm, Danny loaded 8 JV soccer players into his van and began the trek back to San Francisco. He arrived at Urban just after 3pm where he quickly had his freshman players change and board a bus with the sophomores who had just returned from the Heart Walk in San Francisco. At 3:20 the bus pulled out of The Urban School en route for Crocker Amazon and a JV league soccer game vs The Bay School. The coaches and players arrived 10 minutes prior to the start of the game where they QUICKLY warmed up and took the field. In the end, The Blues came out on top with a 1-0 win. The victory itself is secondary to the effort these boys and Danny C exhibited on Friday. It would have been easy to use their full day of trail work as an excuse for not playing their best, but the boys showed a ton of heart and pride and found a way to end the week with a victory. A most satisfying and tiring Friday afternoon -- a day in the life of an Urban student!

Go BLUES!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

Fall Athletics - A Great Start!

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:14:12 EST

As we prepare for an action-packed Friday of Urban Athletics, we can quickly reflect on the first two competitive weeks of Urban Athletics:

Girls JV Volleyball - The JV Lady Blues are off to a 2-1 start with victories over Drew and Athenian and a close 3 set loss to Valley Christian. It's incredible to see how much the girls have improved individually and collectively as a team since their first match on the 28th. With three more non league matches before we start BCL West play, the girls look to continue to work hard and improve and I'm certain they will rise to every challenge we present them.
Girls Varsity Volleyball - The Varsity girls are improving on a daily basis and getting more comfortable on the court playing together as a team. We've had some fantastic moments and some learning opportunities and through it all, our varsity girls lead by Abby L and Haley W have maintained an incredible attitude and work ethic. If you like to watch a team work hard and have fun, I encourage you to come out and see our varsity volleyball team!
Boys Varsity Soccer - The Blues are off to a great start winning three non league games including a fantastic 3-1 win over Bay last Friday night in front of well over 100 Urban students, parents, faculty and fans. For those wondering if The Urban School has school spirit, that was answered loud and clear on a CHILLY Friday night as our student body cheered the boys on to a much deserved victory. The boys look to duplicate that success tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Kimbell Field. We expect another "packed house" to cheer the boys on.
Cross Country, JV Boys Soccer and Tennis - All working hard on daily basis in preparation for their first race / match of the season.

In addition to our in-season athletes, it's incredible to see how many of our Winter and Spring Athletes are utilizing our facilities and preparing for their respective seasons. It stands to be a fantastic sports year @ The Urban School. Urban Fever is in the air - catch it!

Go BLUES!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

One Clap

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:43:27 EST

Today marks the official start of our 2012-2013 school year! As is tradition at Urban, our senior class entered the gym and then each senior introduced a new member of our community, the class of 2016. Great to see so many new and excited faces and if our first two weeks of practice are any indication, we've got ourselves quite an ATHLETIC class!

I was able to speak briefly to our entire school this morning at our first All School Meeting. As I had each specific class give me "ONE CLAP" - I was able to demonstrate to our student body how effective we are when we come together to cheer and support the Blues. When everyone in the gym gave me "ONE CLAP," St Agnes was rocking! I'm hoping to replicate that spirit and pride throughout the year.

Today our boys JV Soccer team heads to Branson to battle the Bulls. Tuesday, the Urban Girls Volleyball program takes the court to battle Drew in a non league matchup. JV @ 4pm, Varsity at 5:30. Come out and see our girls break in the "new" St Agnes Gym. On Wednesday, Boys Varsity soccer starts their 2012 campaign in historic Kezar Stadium vs OMI at 4pm.

Hope to see everyone this week at our one of our events.

Go BLUES!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

It's about that time....

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 11:31:17 EST

Hard to believe, but our summer is nearly over and on Monday we start the 2012-13 Athletic year. The Blues had much to celebrate in 2011-12 and we look to build upon our success and school spirit this year. Here are a few things to look forward to:

* As some may have already heard, Urban Athletics has a BRAND NEW look in '12-'13. We're excited to unveil our new look on Monday the 13th, and fear not, students, parents and alumni will have the ability to outfit themselves in Urban Blues Gear with our new look!

* Girls Volleyball - Our 2011 squad was YOUNG and competitive. Our 2012 squad will have a solid core of returning players and should compete for the BCL West Title.

* Cross Country - For the second straight year, we lose quite a few quality runners from our highly competitive program. Fear not, anchored by Walker, Cassidy and Molly C, the Blues will once again contend for BCL, NCS and CIF supremacy!

* Boys Soccer - The Blues had a breakout year in 2011 finishing third in the BCL West and qualifying for the NCS Tournament. Duplicating that success will be difficult as the Blues graduated quite a few talented senior leaders, but Harry K and Gabe K look to continue the tradition of success. The boys will play several Friday Night games, which will offer the student body a fantastic opportunity to showcase our Urban Pride!

* Girls Tennis - The Lady Blues hope to build on the success their male tennis counterparts achieved in the spring of 2012 and will be lead by Anna S, Rowan P and Danielle P. All signs point toward a fantastic season!

* The City Cup - Year 2. Last year the Blues narrowly lost the City Cup, our year long athletic competition with Lick-Wilmerding. We hope to change the outcome in '12-'13 and get off on the right foot with Volleyball, Soccer and Tennis victories.

Can't wait for Monday the 13th and the start of another season of Urban Athletics!

Go BLUES!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

What a Week -- UPDATED

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:44:48 EST

UPDATE - What a fun week this has been with 3 more games to go! On Wednesday the Boys JV opened with a dominating victory over Crystal Springs and were lead by freshman Rowan and Eddie. The Varsity boys followed with a defensive effort for the ages and shut Crystal Springs out in the 4th quarter winning 40-25.

Last night the JV and Varsity girls defeated SF Waldorf in dominate fashion raising their respective records to 2-0. Today the JV Girls battle AAA power Wallenberg.

3 games in the WEEK left. GO BLUES!

As the weather changes and the winter rolls in, so does BASKETBALL season. We're off and running and the week of 11/28 - 12/3 is a busy one for the BLUES. In the span of 6 days, we will play 12 games with all our teams taking the floor. As of Wednesday, I've had the opportunity to watch:

Girls Junior Varsity - Victorious over city rival Lincoln in their home opener in St Agnes. The girls won despite playing without 2 key returning players. Freshmen Katherine S and Bonnie B came up big in the 2 point win.
Girls Varsity - Big winners over Freemont Christian in their opener in Kezar. 3 girls in double figures, some incredible interior passing and tenacity on defense highlight the opening win.
Boys Varsity - Also big winners vs Freemont Christian on Monday night. Johnathan B and Nate C lead the way for the Blues, who despite a sloppy first half, got the job done.
Boys Frosh / Soph - WINNERS in their opener last night vs Lick in St Agnes Gym. The boys raced out to a big 2nd quarter lead and held off the rival Tigers claiming a 36-31 win. Big Andre and Brendan D lead the way for the Blues who played inspired basketball.

Today I will get the opportunity to see our Boys JV team open play vs a talented and tough Crystal Springs. Other highlights this week:

Girls Varsity and JV vs Waldorf - 12/1 in Kezar - 4/5:30pm
Girls JV vs city rival Wallenberg - 12/2 in St Agnes - 4pm
Boys Varsity vs reigning state champ St Joe's - 12/3 - 2:00pm in Kezar

A busy week for the BLUES!

Go BLUES!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

Ring Ring!

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:51:47 EST

Yesterday in the rain at Crocker Amazon, the boys JV soccer team defeated University 1-0. As has become the tradition when we defeat UHS, the JV Boys arrived early this morning to RING the Victory BELL!

A few things put a smile on my face this morning:

The smiles on the faces of our JV Boys. There's nothing more rewarding than defeating your rival and the boys are clearly proud of their accomplishment.
The attitude the boys had going into the game and once the game ended. The boys have been working HARD since August 15th and they expected to play well and win.
The reaction of our varsity team. This is a victory for the entire soccer program and it's great to see and hear the boys on the varsity team offering their encouragement and compliments to the JV boys.
The sound of that bell ringing -- it won't ever get old!

Go BLUES!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

WHITE OUT - A success

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:41:36 EST

Friday the 9th was one of those days that as an Athletic Director you just sit back and smile. In an effort to support our Boys Varsity Soccer team, the Urban Athletic Club (UAC) planned and organized a WHITE OUT. We asked every Urban student to wear a white tee shirt to school and at lunch our boys soccer team was outside spray-painting their names, numbers and "U's" on the shirts. We had well over 150 students in white and the excitement and Urban Pride were evident in the halls throughout the day.

At 3:30pm, Kezar Stadium was relatively quiet. By 4:00pm, we had over 100 fans in the stands and thanks to our incredible senior class, who lead us in cheers throughout the afternoon, we were a loud and supportive crew. The chants on "Let's go Urban" bounced off the walls of Kezar Stadium and clearly helped our boys keep their energy level high.

The Blues did not disappoint and defeated a strong SF Waldorf team by the score of 3-1 leaving the Blues with a 5-0-1 non league schedule and giving them a good deal of confidence as they prepare to begin BCL-West league play.

The scene on the field after the game was fantastic. This picture captures the moment well. URBAN PRIDE on display!

Go BLUES!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

Fall 2011 - Urban Pride

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:15:27 EST

We are off and running, figuratively and literally! Our fall sports teams have been working hard since August 15th and several teams are off to GREAT starts.

Boys Varsity Soccer is off to a fantastic start. Their 4-0-1 record going into our match vs Waldorf is a great representation of their hard work. The boys are working hard in practice and getting results on game day.
Girls Varsity Volleyball sits at 3-1 this season with their only defeat coming in 5 sets. They have several tough opponents coming up starting today and leading up to league play but I'm confident the Blues will compete and play with pride!
Our Cross Country team has yet to formally compete, but they are as always, working hard!
Girls Varsity Tennis lost their first match to WCAL foe Sacred Heart but they continue to work hard and improve and look to have a great BCL-West season. Girls JV Tennis starts their season next week.
Our JV Volleyball and Soccer teams are also doing well. Boys JV Soccer is 1-0-1 and improving on a daily basis and JV Volleyball is 2-1 in matches and working as hard as any group during their practice.

Today was a GREAT day at Urban. Hundreds of students dressed in WHITE to support our boys soccer team as we are hosting a WHITE OUT in Kezar Stadium. As I type, students are marching over to Urban to show their support.

Urban Pride is in the air!

Go BLUES!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

The Summer - A Time to Improve

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:27:55 EST

The 2010-11 school year has come to an end. The Blues had a great athletic year winning NCS Titles, competing for the first time in the NCS Tourney in both Girls Soccer and Boys Lacrosse and our athletic year culminated with Cole W finishing 5th in the State in the 800M. Not bad for a "small school near Golden Gate Park"!

The summer offers our athletes countless opportunities to improve, and I'm thrilled with what I've seen already! Monday - Wednesday the St. Agnes Gym is open from 9-11 a.m. for our basketball players to work on individual and team skills and our Blues are taking full advantage. The Class of 2015 is well represented as our incoming freshman are working hard and getting acclimated to their new coaches.

Starting on July 12th, our Boys Soccer program will begin a month of workouts leading up to tryouts on the 15th of August. The boys are working out at Kimbell Field in San Francisco from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays starting on 7/12.

Whether it's attending a camp, playing on a club team or working out with other Urban athletes in St. Agnes Gym, our Blues are eager to improve and are willing to work hard in an effort to bring home some BCL West Titles in 2011-12.

Can't beat the Summer! Time to get to work BLUES!

Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

The Blues are busy

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:47:37 EST

Our BCL-West basketball season is coming to a close. Our boys varsity team is still battling for a spot in the BCL-West playoffs and the NCS Tournament and if all goes well, will continue to play throughout February. Our girls play their final game tonight (2/11/11) vs conference rival University. This has been a long season for our girls, but 11 of our 12 players are set to return for the 2011-2012 campaign so our hopes are high.

While hoops is coming to a close, SPRING sports are underway and we are BUSY on Page St.

Our Boys Lacrosse team looks to improve on their first ever BCL Playoff birth. They have senior starters at every position and we'll ask much of our underclassmen as well. (Watch out for our SUPER FROSH, Max and Sigi)
Our Boys Baseball team looks to continue their tradition of excellence and will rely on a solid mix of veteran players, (Gabe, DA and Robert) as well as some younger players. As always with Urban baseball, our boys will learn from Noah and Dustin and will learn much about life through the game of baseball.
Our Girls Soccer program is bustling with energy. With over 40 girls out for Varsity and JV soccer, their are high hopes for our Lady Blues. Last season ended with a heartbreaking loss in a shootout to Marin Academy, but the Blues showed they can play with anyone and look to build on the 2010 campaign.
Our Softball team looks to repeat as BCL-West Champs and battle for a D5 NCS title.
Our Track and Field team has over 30 members, a new high for us, and we look to continue our success on the track and build upon a great 2010 season.
Boys Volleyball is showing incredible resilience right off the bat as we struggle to find gym space and time during the end of basketball season. The boys are working hard on and off the court and look to once again make the BCL playoffs.
Our Co-Ed Fencing team is preparing to battle San Francisco AAA opponents and they have been working hard for weeks. Both girls and boys teams look to advance to the City Championship this year.
Lastly, our golf squad has been taking advantage of this incredibly mild winter weather. Lead by Super Soph, Alex P, the boys look to regain the BCL-West title

Hoops, Hoops and more Hoops

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:40:07 EST

It's been way too long since I've updated our Blues Athletic blog and for that, a hearty apology and a promise to keep you posted on our 2011 journey.

The winter is HOOPS season at Urban. This year we have fielded five teams:

Boys Freshman
Boys Junior Varsity
Girls Junior Varsity
Boys Varsity
Girls Varsity

To date, our teams have had their fare share of on-court success and all have also dealt with some tough defeats. All our teams are working hard in practice, improving on a daily basis and enjoying all that comes with being part of a team. Some highlights:

Boys Varsity vs. Lowell - The boys battled AAA powerhouse Lowell throughout the four quarters and found themselves down three with six seconds left. A quick in-bound pass to one of our super Soph's, Nate C, who made a great cross over dribble, elevated and hit a buzzer beating three-pointer to send the game in OT. The boys eventually lost by three but served notice to the Bay Area - they are a team that plays the full 32 minutes and can hang with anyone.
Girls Varsity vs Lick - Down seven points with less than 40 seconds, this one looked like it was over. A quick layup, a steal by Lily B and another quick layup had us down three. A great defensive effort lead to yet another steal and soph shooter Nick G stepped up and knocked down a huge three to tie the game. The girls had a chance to win in regulation but Jenna W's shot rattled out. The girls eventually lost in overtime, but much like the boys, they showed great determination and heart in their comeback.

Two moments hardly capture our season to date, but they do a nice job of showcasing the heart our Blues have on display each and every game. I'd encourage fans of the Blues to come watch our teams play this season. While I can't promise victories, I can promise you'll see some incredibly talented young men and women playing their hearts out and doing their very best to bring wins back to Page Street!

Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

Boys Soccer - A look back

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:32:41 EST

Our boys soccer season came to a close on Monday with a hard fought battle vs Stuart Hall. The boys battled all season long and while wins were hard to come by, we have some great moments to celebrate:

A season of incredible goal tending by Senior Gabe H. Game in and game out, this young man delivered with huge saves culminating with several huge saves in our final league game vs Lick.
"He's a Freshman" - Seth R wearing number 10 and scoring big goals for our program as a freshman, including our first 2 of the season vs Drew.
Big Goal Gabe - Sophomore Gabe K playing up front for the first time in his Urban career scoring BIG goals for the BLUES including a beautiful strike to put us up 1-0 vs Lick.
Our Seniors - A thanks to the young men that dedicated 4 years to our program, leaving it better than they found it. ZZ, Gabe, Andrew, Oliver, Oliver, David, Rob and Adam -- thanks boys!

The future is bright for the Blues. With Evan, Emmet, Seth, Gabe, Brett, Albie, Walker, Phong, Ryan and Zach returning and a host of talented JV players ready to step into varsity roles, 2011 has the potential to be a great year.

WE ARE......URBAN

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:14:15 EST

It's been ages since I've updated my blog and I assure you the winter season will have plenty of updates. With that said, today I witnesses something that reminds me why I LOVE our Urban student body.

Today is our annual Halloween celebration. I'd venture to say 85% of our student body and faculty are rocking costumes and enjoying a fun day on campus. During lunch, our incredible jazz bands performed in our theater to the rowdy cheers of our student body.

What makes this story incredible from my perspective is the makeup of our jazz band. On "stage" were not just incredible musicians but also some of our best athletes:

Max B - A varsity lacrosse and basketball player playing in our Advanced Jazz Band and our unreal Urban Funk Orchestra
Abby D - Senior Varsity soccer and volleyball player playing the sax and singing her heart out.
Gabe K - Sophomore soccer star playing the drums for several groups.
Minh J - Basketball and Tennis player tearing the bass guitar up.
Chris H - Varsity tennis player and exceptional work on the trumpet.
Ben R- Varsity Cross Country and Track and Field and perhaps the best young horn player in the Bay Area.
Ian -- Varsity Soccer and Tennis and drummer.
Jayne - Varsity Hoops and lead vocals for our Urban Funk Orchestra.

What an incredible display of talent and diversity. I don't know many, if any, schools that feature students with such a broad range of talents. We may not win every game we play, but our success goes well beyond the field and the court.

WE ARE...URBAN!

Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

Welcome Back!

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:51:53 EST

Hard to believe, but for our Fall athletes, the summer is over and it's time to start practice. Boys Soccer, Girls Tennis, Girls Volleyball and Cross Country practices all formally begin on Monday, August 16.

We have very high expectations for our Cross Country program this fall as the students prepare to improve on a great 2009 season. Lead by Sean, Cole and Alex, the boys' team has its eyes set on a Division 5 NCS title.

Our Girls Tennis team looks to build on a great 2009 and earn another trip to the NCS Tennis Tournament.

Girls Volleyball looks to replace five incredible seniors and will be lead by juniors Danielle S and Hadley M and senior Abby D.

Lastly our Boys Soccer team looks to build on its 2009 4th place finish in the BCL-West. While the squad lost some key members to graduation, the boys bring back starters at key positions and will be lead by Even C, Gabe K and Gabe H.

It's set to be an exciting fall at The Urban School of San Francisco. The Athletic Department has some fun events planned and we intend to have a GREAT time supporting our BLUES.

Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

The Summer - Time to Improve

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:44:19 EST

A reminder to all Urban athletes, the summer is when we can go from good to GREAT. Take advantage of your free time and spend some time working on your fitness and skills.

Boys basketball will continue to have Drop In Hoops on Thursday's from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. (6/24, 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22). All boys hoops players are encouraged to come and play including our incoming freshman.

Girls Hoops will hold workouts on Wednesday's and Friday's from 4:30pm to 6:00pm.

Champsionship teams are built in the off-season. Let's work hard this summer!

Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

PERFECT

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:53:18 EST

UPDATE: See the article in San Fran Preps!

There is much to celebrate today at The Urban School of San Francisco. Yesterday, in a key BCL West softball game, University and Urban took to the field in a battle for first place. What occurred over the course of the subsequent two hours can be described in one word: PERFECTION.

Senior captain, Danica L, took to the mound and delivered a perfect game. Twenty-one University batters came to the plate, 21 University batters were retired in order. Danica struck out 16 batters, retired two Red Devils on their come back attempts, and her teammates combined for the other three outs. Danica threw 66 strikes and a mere 19 balls and was in total control of the game from the onset. (She also had three RBI's, two hits a scored a run. Just another day at the ballpark!)

Congrats to the entire Softball Team and to Danica L - Perfect on April 13th!

Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

WE ARE URBAN!

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:37:55 EST

Last night was our annual Spring Concert at the Herbst Theater. It offered a chance to see many of our great student athletes excel in yet another discipline. I am truly amazed at how well rounded and talented our incredible student body is. It's rare in today's world of specialization to see young men and women focus on a variety of different activities. In an era where parents push their children to do everything possible to obtain Division 1 scholarships, I feel truly blessed to work with student athletes who are equally passionate about the Arts and Music. A few great sights and sounds from last night:

Max - One of the best defensemen on our lacrosse team and an intergral part of our boys hoops team TEARING up the keyboard and piano with the Advanced Jazz Band
Abby - A volleyball and soccer player literally melting hearts with her vocals on All of Me
Sophie - The captain our of our girls volleyball team playing multiple instruments and playing them WELL!
Evan - Captain of our boys' soccer team enjoying a vocal solo
Lily - A power forward on our hoops team and a talented track and field member rocking the bass for multiple groups.

Every athletic team was represented last night and the parallels between Music and Athletics are not hard to find. Teamwork, practice, dedication, passion and pride -- attributes that define our student body. Job well done last night!

WE ARE URBAN!

Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

The Madness That Is March

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:21:36 EST

It's been awhile since I've updated the blog, and I'm sorry as much has occurred since my last post:

Our spring teams are battling on a daily basis and each team is improving as we speak. With 11 teams and nearly 35 percent of our student body competing in the spring things are certainly busy here in the athletic department.

I'd be remiss if I didn't take a few moments to comment on the NCAA Basketball Tournament, as I find it to be an incredibly captivating athletic competition every year and this year is no different:

For starters, Urban grad Jene Morris led her San Diego State team to an UPSET victory over Texas on Sunday. Jene lead all scorers with 32 points and was clearly the best player on the court. Best of luck to the Aztecs as they continue their quest!
The Little Guy - How exciting to see the Northern Iowa's and St Mary's of the world defeating traditional powers like Kansas and Villanova. These young men represent the best of amateur athletics. There is not one person on the Northern Iowa team who was recruited to play "big time" college basketball. There's not one young man on that Northern Iowa team who has realistic visions of playing basketball beyond the college level. Yet on Saturday night, they had a chance to beat a team of highly recruited athletes, many of whom are destined to play pro basketball, and they made the most of that opportunity, as did Bay Area local Omar Samhan and St Mary's.
Sportsmanship - I've been moved by the raw emotion of this year's event. There have been so many games decided on last second shots and I've yet to witness anything but incredible sportsmanship from everyone involved. My favorite comments came from University of Maryland standout, Greivis Vasquez. The 'Terps lost a hearbreaker after erasing a nine-point deficit in the last minute. It would have been so easy for Greivis to be curt with reporters after the game as he just played his last game in a college uniform. Instead, he spoke eloquently about his love for college basketball and his teammates. He ended his remarks by telling the press that while his team lost on the court today, they won in the larger scheme of things. "Today we grew as a team and we will be better men because of this experience."

Life lessons through competition - doesn't get better than that!

Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

Time to Reflect - the Season That Was

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:52:38 EST

As our girls and boys varsity basketball teams wait to find out if they will play in the NCS Tournament and our spring teams prepare for their first contests, it offers a nice time to reflect on the hoops season. Some highlights:

Our boys varsity game AT University. While the boys failed to get the W, they battled a very good UHS team for 32 minutes in front of a packed house. What makes this a great Urban moment is while we were the away team, our student body filled the gym and displayed an incredible amount of school spirit cheering the boys on until the final whistle. You could not ask for a better atmosphere.
Girls comeback vs UHS. Down 18 points at one point and 8 with four minutes left in the game, the girls battled back and defeated UHS in overtime for a huge league victory in Kezar.
JV Boys vs University - The JV boys were dealt a tough loss at UHS but in their second game at Kezar they dominated from the opening whistle and avenged the loss with a resounding victory. (Must have been the headbands!)
JV Girls - Tough to pick out one moment as they had an incredible season and improved every day. They battled a very good Lincoln team to the buzzer in St Agnes early this season and showed themselves and everyone who was watching that the future of the Urban Girls Hoops program is BRIGHT.
Frosh / Soph Boys - After losing to both UHS and MA by large margins, the frosh / soph boys finished their season with wins over both squads.

I gained a good deal of respect for our Urban athletes this winter. They handle victory and defeat with class, they represent their school with pride, and they treat their teammates and opponents with respect. They honored the game of basketball and should all hold their heads high. Success is about so much more than wins and losses and to that point, I'm confident we had a very successful basketball season and continue to build a successful basketball program here at The Urban School of San Francisco.

Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

Playoff Time - BCL West Tournament

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:11:03 EST

After an exciting regular seasons, it's BCL-West playoff time! Our boys and girls teams have battled all season long and with wins last week, both are eligible for the NCS D5 Tournament. They have 2 paths for this event - an At Large bid or an Automatic Bid if they are able to win 3 games this week and win the BCL-West Tourney.

BCL Tournament - Tuesday

First up for the girls, Tuesday @ 4:30pm in Kezar vs Marin Academy. The girls have played 2 close games vs MA, losing at MA by 2 points and winning in Kezar last week by 8. Expect a close game.

The Boys battle Lick @ 6:30pm at Lick. Despite losing twice to Lick in the regular season, the boys certainly proved they can run with our D4 rivals after losing a heart breaker by 2 points earlier this month. Expect a 32 minute battle!

GO BLUES!

Director of Athletics:
Greg Angilly

B I G Week - Go Blues!

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:31:11 EST

With two weeks left in the BCL-West regular season, much is left to play for. Both our boys and girls varsity teams are battling for key league wins in an effort to solidify quality finishes within the league and opportunities to compete in the NCS Basketball Tournament later this month. Two great chances to come show your support:

Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. - The Boys battle UHS at Kezar. The student body will be rocking some old school Blue / White / Blue headbands to show their support of the B L U E S!

Friday at 7 p.m. - The Lady Blues will battle Lick at Kezar. Once again, players and fans will be sporting our old school headbands as cheer the Blues on.

This is a call to all BLUES fans. Come help us rock KEZAR and cheer the Blues on to victory.

Go BLUES!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

Thanks Coach!

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:24:14 EST

Today as I stepped off the 71 bus en route to The Urban School, I noticed a small video production crew filming on Haight St. As I slowly walked past, I recognized the young man who was both filming and directing the video. He was a former student that I coached in lacrosse five years ago while at St Ignatius College Prep. When he saw me he stopped production for five minutes and we spent a few minutes catching up.

As a junior in high school Eli (name has been changed) didn't make the varsity team and I offered him the opportunity to play JV. He was the only junior on the JV team which i'm certain was a tough pill to swallow but he worked hard and came back to tryouts his senior year determined to make varsity team. Eli worked hard during his tryout but was clearly not one of the best players and was someone who was not going to see much if any playing time. My coaching staff and I met and we decided to give Eli a chance to be on the team with the understanding he may not get on the field very often, if at all. He jumped at the chance and made the most of every opportunity he was given. He met with our staff to discuss getting in better shape as he was slightly "overweight" and his eating habits were far from healthy. In the span of our lacrosse season, Eli lost 20 pounds and literally transformed physically and changed his life.

As we stood and shared a cup of coffee, he let me know the opportunity to be part of the varsity team his senior year completely altered his life. He realized that he could accomplish anything he set his mind to and as opposed to following his father and brother into dental school and dentistry he forged his own path and is "fulfilling his dreams on a daily basis." "Coach, if it wasn't for that opportunity, i'm not certain I would ever have realized my true potential -- thanks." I quickly reminded Eli that all we as coaches did was give him an opportunity and what he did with that opportunity is the true success story. I hugged this young man and wished him wel,l as he is set to move to New York City this weekend to continue to pursue his career in video and film production.

This chance run-in inspired me to continue to push our Urban coaches on a daily basis. It inspires me to push our athletes to make the most of every opportunity presented to them. and it inspires me to work harder each and every day to make this Athletic Department the best it can possibly be.

Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics

BCL West Battles

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:18:35 EST

As our league season begins, I'm reminded of a great book, The Last Amateurs. The book, by John Feinstein, takes readers through a season of Patriot League basketball. The Patriot League comprises seven highly respected academic institutions. Academics clearly come first at these seven schools and STUDENT athletes play basketball for the love of the game as opposed to playing the game in an effort to make it to the NBA.

I find this to be quite analogous to the BCL West. Our Urban basketball players have to be incredible time managers as they attempt to navigate a full basketball season along with the rigors of the Urban curriculum. After nearly six weeks of nonleague games vs opponents ranging from other Nor-Cal D5 schools to large D1 public schools, our league games are now a chance to battle our peers.

The Last Amateurs depicts each league game as a battle and that is no different than the BCL West. Many of the young men and women on basketball rosters in the BCL know each other from elementary and middle school, and as we all know, you never like to lose to a friend! This makes for some great games and much drama.

I'd ask all of Urban basketball players to keep in mind that while we strive to win, we always honor the game and play with class, in our wins and our losses. In addition, remember we are representatives of The Urban School of San Francisco.

Here's to a great season. Let's just keep in mind we are battling our peers and we should respect them and upon the final whistle, shake their collective hands and thank them for the opportunity to battle on the court.

Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
The Urban School of San Francisco
Director of Athletics

Happy Holidays

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:51:47 EST

As we prepare for a new decade, we should be thankful for the memories athletics have provided in the last 10 years. Within The Urban School of San Francisco we've had our share of highs and lows, great victories and agonizing defeats, but through it all, I'm certain life lessons and skills have been learned on the court, field, course, etc.

As I prepare to take the week off, I'm left searching for 1 sports story that captures the essence of high school athletics and serves as a reminder that athletics can elevate a school community and better all of our lives. It was not very difficult for me as the following story is one that I often watch to remind myself why I love sports so much. Enjoy and happy holidays.

Here's to a great 2010!

Go Blues!
Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics

Cross Country - A Season To Remember!

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:44:29 EST

Here are some highlights from our incredible cross country season!

-The boys: started out the season by winning the Pinole Invitational in an upset over College Prep, Stuart Hall and Marin Academy. Cole was second and Sean sixth.

- Came in ninth out of 23 in the small school division (D4 and D5) at the Artichoke Festival in Half Moon Bay; Cole W was third in a time of 12:11 on a 2.33 mile course (an average of 5:05 per mile), recording the 11th fastest time ever on that course.

- At the Stanford Invitational, the boys came in 10th in the division 5 race, which included six of the top 10 ranked D5 teams in the State; Cole W came in fifth in a time of 16:43, the fastest time ever for an Urban boy on a 5k course and Sean came in 12th out of 154 runners; the team went from 32nd in 2008 to 10th.

- Won the BAC Challenge at Lindley Meadow; Cole took first place while Sean was second and Alex was 15th out 95 runners; Cole's time of 16:57 established a record for The Urban School for the Lindley 5k course.

- Came in second at the BCL West Championships; Cole W won the league title while Sean was third and Alex was 12th; the team established an Urban course record of 91:39; the boys were second overall in the league's final standings with a dual-meet record of 8 - 1.

- The boys came in fourth at NCS, an improvement from 15th the previous year and became the first Urban Boys Team to qualify for the CIF-State Championships; Cole W placed second in D5 losing only to the section's top-ranked runner; Sean was ninth and Alex improved from 61st place in 2008 to 27th in 2009; the team improved their 2008 time by 5:25

- At the State Championships, the team came in 17 out of 22 in spite of the fact that Cole became ill during the race and bravely finished even though I almost pulled him from the race. Going into the meet he was ranked sixth, and if he had beee able to run his usual race, Urban would have taken at least 10th place. Even so, we ended the season ranked 17th in the State for D5; Sean came in 23rd in a field of 183 with the second best 5k time for an Urban boy at 16:52. Alex established a personal best 5k time of 17:30

- The girls: were fourth in the BCL West with a record of 6- 3; although it was the same postion as last year, they ran six minutes faster as a team than they did in 2008. Their time of 99:29 is a school record for 5k; Emma L was siixth in a time of 20:33 (fourth best Urban girl's time at Lindley Meadow); Cailtlin I was 13th in 21:39 and Emma M was 15th in 21:41; the team's time of 99:29 is an Urban Girls record.

- At the Pinole Invitational the girls tied for third; Caitlin was sixth and Emma M ninth.

- They placed sixth in D5 at NCS and just missed qualifying as a team for State; they improved their NCS 2008 time by 2:08. Emma L qualified as an individual by coming in 10th with a time of 19:26 (an improvement of 2:36 from 2008); Caitlin I came in 18th with a time of 20:23 and just missed qualifying by two places; this was a dramatic improvement for both girls as Emma was 44th in 2008 and Caitlin was 40th.

- At State, Emma L competing against the top D5 runners came in 44th out of 165 in a time of 20:43; fourth best time for an Urban girl at the State meet.

- At the Stanford Invitational, the girls came in 11th improving from 22nd in 2008. Caitlin was 17th with an Urban course record of 20:45 and Emma L was right behind in 18th, out of 120 competitors, at 20:46.

- Caitlin won the first 2009 BCL West league meet at Lindley Meadow in a time of 21:15.

One Program - One U

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:13:55 EST

Today I asked all 57 of our winter basketball players to meet me in St Agnes gym for a 20-minute meeting. I had a few "housekeeping" items to discuss with the student athletes but had two major things I wanted to share with them:

"Thanks" - Our basketball players essentially give up their Thanksgiving and Winter Holiday break, as they have practices and games throughout both vacations. I applaud their commitment and thanked them in advance for putting TEAM first. (Fear not, a little NIKE stocking stuffer will help ease the loss of days off!)
The main point of my meeting was to remind our five teams we all fall under one program - URBAN BASKETBALL. We will celebrate our collective success this season, and I asked all of them -- from our seniors to our freshmen -- to keep in mind they all represent The Urban School and to play with pride and passion each time they step on the court.

I finished by asking each of them to take a sharpie and put one "U" on an old basketball in an act of solidarity. One U, One Program. I'm now the proud owner of one GREAT basketball with 57 "U's on it.

Go Blues!
Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics

Fall Season Highlights

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:16:52 EST

As we near the end of the fall sports season, I wanted to share some highlights from what has been a great start of the year for the Urban Blues.

The White Out - While we did not defeat UHS, we took them to the limit and played in front of a PACKED house in St Agnes Gym. The school spirit exhibited by most of our student body was nothing short of exceptional and it certainly aided our varsity volleyball team in their effort to knock off UHS.
Boys Soccer vs Drew @ USF - For 78 minutes we battled Drew, played exceptional defense and the boys kept themselves in the match. With two minutes left, Evan ripped a free kick off the cross bar and straight down over the goal line. The boys showed heart and determination and showcased why you play until the last whistle
Cross Country BAC Challenge - Already in the midst of a great season, our boys cross country dominated the BAC Challenge taking home the team title and finishing 1 and 2 in the men's event thanks to Cole and Sean. (NOTE - Next Friday the boys and girls teams battle for the BCS Title in Lindley Meadow. We will have a bus ready to take students, faculty and staff over to support!)
Varsity Tennis vs Marin Academy - Our varsity tennis team, enjoying a great regular season, met rival Marin Academy in Golden Gate Park. Tied at 2, Sarah battled through several match points and pulled out the 2nd singles victory and the match for the Blues. The girls will have the # 2 seed in the tennis tournament that starts next week. (NOTE - Allegra plays in the individual semi finals Friday @ 3:30 pm at City College)
JV Soccer - Hat Trick Harry leads the boys JV team to a great victory over rival UHS and earns the nickname, Hat Trick Harry in the process.
JV Tennis Jamboree - Showcasing skill and spirit (think blue face / body paint) the Lady Blues bested MA in the semi's and barely lost to UHS in the finals, taking home the 2nd place trophy

So many other moments come to mind and will be discussed in upcoming posts as we focus next week on season recaps and award winners. Thanks to our athletes for making the fall a great success and thanks to our fans for showing their support.

Go Blues
Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics

Sun. Fun. Tennis!

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:21:53 EST

As we near the end of the fall sports season, our teams will have the ability to compete in end-of-season events and playoffs. Thursday marked the end of the JV Tennis season and six members of our team (our Super Sophs) competed in the annual end of year JV Jamboree.

Six teams spent the afternoon in Golden Gate Park competing against one another enjoying a great day of tennis and sun. The afternoon began at 12:30 with the Lady Blues warming up and sharing quite a few laughs. (It should be noted that the Urban Blues clearly were the most spirited of the squads and were covered in blue face paint.) The first portion of the event allowed all six teams to play one another in a modifed round robin format.

Zoe and Lindsey got off to a slow start but as the afternoon progressed they began to dominate their competition. Our doubles teams, Jayne and Tali and Josephine and Kendra had a good deal of success right from the get go. My personal highlight of the round robin section came after Tali and Jayne lost to the Marin Academy 1st doubles team and came off the court enjoying a laugh with their opponents. I asked them, "How did we do.?" They responded, "We lost, but we made some new friends."

The Blues finished tied for 2nd place after the round robin portion and advanced to the knock out phase of the event. In the semi-finals the Blues battled Marin Academy and came out on top! On to the Finals! The girls battled University in the finals and played their hearts out. Lindsey, battling a sore wrist, played a great match falling just short. Zoe just missed out on an upset and Tali and Jayne lost in a tight tie breaker. Kendra and Josephine won and when the points were tallied up, Urban fell just short and finished in a very respectable 2nd place.

The girls were thrilled, as were Kirsten (JV Coach) and Erica and I. Many fun photos with our 2nd place trophey were taken and will be shared soon. The girls were excited and rightfully so. They battled for nearly five hours and finished their season in style.

Thanks to the freshman members of the team for coming and showing their support and to University for organizing this great day. Smiles, laughs and a 2nd place finish --- a GREAT way to finish a solid season.

Go Blues!
Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics

A Q&A With the Urban JV Soccer

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:29:48 EST

I was able to sit down with our JV Soccer Coach, Danny, and talk to him about his season to date:

1. How would you describe your season to date?

"This has been a season where we are starting to believe we can be one of the top teams. We've walked off the pitch after several games in which we've either lost or tied, and thought that we could have won the game. We just needed that extra physical and mental push. We've lacked that killer instinct. Lately though, we've shown the desire and confidence to do better. We are playing more collectively and we are showing up to games knowing we can come out with a victory.

"A lot of credit goes to the patience and work ethic the boys have displayed in training. I say patience because early in the season we were dribblers, and since then we've tried to work as a team by passing the ball; that alone requires patience. Overall, the boys are becoming more confident in themselves and if that's all we get from this season then I'd be happy."

2. What are you most proud of?
"I'm proud of the fact that we're starting to play as a team. Early on we were playing like 11 individuals and even then we still managed to win a game or two. But now, we are starting to trust each other with the ball and we are spreading it around. We're doing the things that I've been asking for since day one and what makes me even prouder is the fact that they are telling each other the same instructions I've given them. This shows me that they've been listening. Perfect example of a student learning and applying."

3. What area do you think the boys need the most work?
"They need to improve on the technical, tactical and knowledge of the game, but that will come with experience. The area where they really need to improve on is mental toughness. What I mean by that is the ability to push oneself when the body is telling them that they can't go anymore. The ability to make that next run, that next tackle, that next pass when the body is fatigued, hurt, etc. The ability to keep going strong in the final minutes of a match. "

4. Describe one experience you have had this season that is a good representation of The Urban School.
"The boys always come to games and practices with great attitudes. They seem to have fun even in training. They're always laughing; any chance they get. They are very talkative especially on the bus rides to and from fields. All I hear is non-stop chatter and laughing, lots of laughing. They like to clown around a lot,but it's that happy, positive attitude that is so typical of Urban students that has been made this season enjoyable."

5. Finish the sentence "The JV boys soccer team is at their best when.........."
"...they are confident and start demanding more from each other. This wasn't always the case. As I teach them the technical and tactical aspects of the game I've also tried to change the mentality of the Urban soccer player. Urban soccer players tend to build up other conference teams and rightfully so, as we always have quality squads in our conference, but I think that's a big Urban problem. How can we expect to beat them on the pitch when they've already beaten us in our minds? We need to have a confident mentality, one that leads us to demand more from one another in practices and in games.

"We struggled with this early on but we've been getting better. If one has been to our games lately, you'll actually hear the boys talking to each other, sometimes yelling in frustration, which I perceive as I good thing because it shows they want to improve. They are demanding more from themselves and each other. We are no longer there just to make up the numbers; we're there to compete.

"Just the other day we were tied 1-1 late into the second half, and while the other team seemed satisfied with a draw my boys weren't. If the ball went out in the other team's favor we chased after it knowing that they would waste time by walking to get the ball. These boys wanted to win and had confidence in themselves that they could accomplish it. Unfortunately, time ran out and we drew 1-1 as we constantly threatened the opposing goal. But I'm happy with the mental progress we've made."

Come watch the JV Boys Soccer team finish up its fall campaign over the course of the next two weeks. Big thanks to Danny for taking time to answer my questions!

Go Blues
Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics

What a Day!

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:28:35 EST

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, there are going to be days where the ball does not bounce your way and victory is just out of our reach. Today was a GREAT reminder that there will be days when everything falls into place.

4 p.m. - I arrive to the Golden Gate Tennis Courts to watch the Varsity Girls Tennis team vs. Convent. During my 45 minutes there I watch Allegra and Catalina win their single matches, Lola and Adrienne dominate their doubles match and Sarah M battles back to win a key first set tie breaker. I also enjoy watching Sarah and Becca battle in doubles. (NOTE - this was their first time playing together this season) The girls eventually defeat Convent 4-1.

4:50 p.m. - I make it to Lindley Meadow in time to see our Girls Varsity team head for the finish line. Caitlin and Emma finish in the top 10 and the girls team finishes the BAC Challange (10 teams) in third place. A great showing!

4:55 p.m. - I wish the boys team luck and away they go, lead by Cole and Sean. I am convinced by the girls on our team to wait and watch the entire race which I do, even though I know I'm supposed to pick up my own kids at 5:30 p.m from their school. (We're hoping the wife doesn't read this post!) Cole is squarely in command of the race at the 2-mile point with Sean in fifth place and Alex, Whit and Walker battling as well. As they come to the finish line, Cole and Sean are running one and two without another runner in sight. Alex, Whit and Walker all finish strong and the Boys WIN THE BAC CHALLENGE!

5:15 p.m. - The JV Volleyball team finishes a two-game sweep of Drew earning a great league win and again showing improvement indicative of the hard work they are putting in at practice.

7 p.m. - The Varsity Volleyball team finishes a four-game victory over Drew, earning a key league win and giving them some momentum going into a big rematch with University on Friday.

Five teams, five great results. Today was a good day!

Go Blues!
Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics

Conference Battles

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:06:14 EST

After testing ourselves vs some great non-conference opponents, we are now squarely in the midst of our conference schedule. This offers us the chance to compete against our peers, and I've been extremely impressed with how hard our teams are battling. Some highlights:

Cross Country - We continue to turn heads and "surprise" our conference foes. Building on the success from our first Intra Group Meet, the boys pulled out an exciting win over Stuart Hall thanks to Sean's valiant comeback. We lost to University by one point, a result I'm confident we will turn around the next time we have a chance (Tuesday October 6 in Lindley Meadow).

Tennis - Our Varsity Tennis team has surged to a 2-0 conference record recording back-to-back wins over Lick and San Domenico. They continue their quest for a BCL title on Wednesday with a HUGE match vs University. Our JV Tennis team is improving on a daily basis and improved its league record to 3-2 with an exciting win over Drew on Thursday.

Volleyball - After tough defeats to UHS and Lick, the varsity squad bounced back with a 3-1 victory over Convent. They have two BIG league matches coming up vs Drew and then a rematch vs University at UHS. Perhaps we should "flood" the University gym in Blue Shirts on Friday to show our support!

TO BE CONTINUED!

Go Blues!
Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics

Urban Fever....CATCH IT

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:55:15 EST

It's been said there are no moral victories in sports. Anyone who attended our WHITE OUT or Varsity soccer match vs Marin Academy this week would certainly disagree.

On Tuesday the Urban student body came in droves to St Agnes Gym to see the Lady Blues tangle with cross town rival, University. The excitement started hours before the match with the creation of countless WHITE tshirts designed by our very own volleyball team. Athletes and artists, how very URBAN! By 4:45 the gym was buzzing and by 5:15 there wasn't a seat in the house. In front of a passionate crowd, the Lady Blues played some of their finest volleyball of the season. Highlighted by some HUGE kills from Anneli, Sophie and Danielle, the ladies took two of the first three games pushing University to the brink. In the end, the Red Devils prevailed in five sets. Victory eluded us that evening, but with the backing of the Urban student body the team passionately represented The Urban School.

Wednesday afternoon the boys soccer team tangled with 2008 NCS Champs, Marin Academy. On a blustery, cold late September afternoon the Blues played with a sense of urgency and emotion I had yet to see from this group. They battled a very skilled Marin Academy team for 90 minutes, never backing down and nearly tying the game at 1-1 late in the 2nd half. The boys played in front of a large group of chilly students, faculty and administrators and brought us all to our feet on several occasions, highlighted by Gabe K making a great defensive play and imploring the crowd to make some noise. You have to love a fearless FRESHMAN!

Two matches, two great efforts and two great displays of school pride and spirit from our student body. We didn't win on Tuesday or Wednesday, but there is no one who can convince me we are not a stronger community because of the effort of both our athletes and our student body. I told both teams at the conclusion of tough losses that I am extremely proud to run the department they represent on the field and floor.

There's an Urban fever in the air....CATCH IT.

Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics

Community via Sports

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:12:57 EST

One of my favorite aspects of competitive sports is the sense of community they have the ability to evoke. This is most easily witnessed in college football stadiums around the country on any given Saturday.

This past Saturday provided a great example of how sports can create a positive community. The University of Washington football program endured the nation's longest losing streak: 15 games that spanned the course of nearly two entire football seasons. On the 12th of September they ended the losing streak against the University of Idaho and on the 19th they welcome perennial national title contender, USC to their stadium.

The Huskies were prohibitive underdogs on Saturday. Aided by one of the loudest crowds I've heard, Washington pulled the huge upset and beat USC 16-13. Upon completion of the game, thousands of people, with little in common other than their passion for the University of Washington, came together on the football field to celebrate the victory. Old and young, black and white, athletes, professors, community members and scholars all stood side by side celebrating on the field for over 20 minutes. There were no incidents or altercations, just pure excitement and pride. For those 20 minutes, the best of sport was on display and it was enjoyable to watch albeit from 1,000 miles away.

I look forward to working with our student body, faculty and staff and sharing "the joy of victory and the agony of defeat."

Go Blues!
Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics

Looking Forward, Glancing Backward

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:41:45 EST

The week that was:

Our Varsity Tennis team "upset" WCAL Power Sacred Heart Cathedral 4-3.
Our JV Tennis team opened its season with a 3-2 victory over Convent.
Our JV soccer team opened its season with a 1-1 tie vs Drew.
Our Cross Country team continues to run like the wind. The Girls took 2nd place in our first league meet with Caitlin finishing in 1st place overall, while the Boys won again besting Marin Academy and International with Cole and Sean taking 1st and 2nd place respectively.
Our Varsity Girls Volleyball team pushed powerhouse Balboa to four games and continued to showcase its athleticsm and passion.

The upcoming week:

The Varsity tennis team heads east to Freemont Christian on Tuesday to battle an East Bay foe
The Volleyball team battles University on Tuesday in St Agnes Gym. We are going to conduct a WHITE OUT. Every fan will get a white t-shirt and I'm imploring the student body to fill the gym and show support for the Lady Blues!
The Boys Varsity Soccer team opens league play vs defending champ Marin Academy in Kezar Stadium on Wednesday. Another GREAT opportunity to come out and support the Blues.

WHITE OUT on Tuesday, Kezar on Wednesday. Let's Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics
Go Blues

Something for Everyone.....

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:45:59 EST

If you are a sports fan, we have something for you on Wednesday the 16th!

4 p.m. @ Lindley Meadow - The Boys and Girls Cross Country team takes part in its first conference meet as they run against Marin Academy, San Domenico and International High School.

4 p.m. @ The Polo Fields - The Boys JV Soccer team battles for the second day in a row vs The Bay School.

4:30 p.m. @ Kezar Stadium - The Boys Varsity Soccer team plays its first game of the year in historic Kezar Stadium vs Rincon Valley Christian.

5 p.m. @ St Agnes Gym - The Girls JV Volleyball puts its two-match winning streak on the line vs San Francisco powerhouse Balboa High School.

6:15 p.m. @ St Agnes Gym - The Girls Varsity Volleyball team looks to "upset" Balboa for the second straight year and build on its exciting victory over Waldorf last Friday night.

Approximately 25 percent of our student body will be particpating in an athletic contest tomorrow! Please come support one, or if you dare, make a little of each event.

Go Blues!
Greg Anglly
Director of Athletics

Run Like the Wind!

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:23:04 EST

For the past three weeks, I've been thrilled with the excitement and enthusiasm displayed by our cross country team. From the first day of workouts on August 17th, we have had a motivated crew of runners pushing each other on a daily basis.

On Thursday, Sept. 10th, the hard work paid off. Our girls team placed 3rd overall and was led by Caitlin Iglehart and Emma McCune, both whom earned individual medals. Not to be topped, the boys team WON the overall Team Composite score. Cole Williams placed 2nd, Sean Judkins-Boeri 6th, Alex Wu 15th, and all three won individual medals. The team win was aided by Whit Henderson who improved by more than two minutes over last year's race and by Walker Willet who had the best time for a freshman.

Congrats to both our girls and boys teams! Hard work paying off, you can't beat that!

Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics
Go Blues!

Remembering 9/11

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:00:06 EST

As we approach an important date in American history, I'm reminded of how sports played a large role in the healing process for our nation. I personally have vivid memories of sitting in AT&T Park for the first game after 9/11. The feeling of comaraderie and the raw emotions of the collective 40,000 people in the stadium that afternoon still bring me to the verge of tears eight years later.

I distinctly remember watching the 2001 World Series games 3 and 4 with my father, a lifelong New Yorker. The two of us are avid baseball fans (SF Giants, of course) but for several weeks we, as many in our country, watched the New York Yankees help heal the psyche of a city and an entire country. Regardless of your policial views, I'm sure you will enjoy this clip as it showcases the very best of what SPORTS can be.

I would ask our athletes who compete on 9/11 (Varsity Soccer and JV/Varsity Volleyball) to take a moment and reflect on the tragic events of that day and remember the heros who gave their lives to save others. Please play with pride and passion tomorrow and represent The Urban School to the best of your abilities.

Go Blues!
Greg Angily
Director of Athletics

The Lady Blues

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:40:47 EST

Over the course of the past two weeks I've had the opportunity to watch the Urban girls varsity tennis and jv and varsity volleyball teams compete. Prior to watching these events I had never attended a girls tennis or volleyball match. To say I was impressed would be an understatement.

The tennis team has been working hard on a daily basis under first year coach Jason Pino and their hard work certainly paid off in a dominant performance over Wallenberg. Led by Allegra Gordon, Sarah Marver and Catalina Gutierrez, the singles teams all won easily. The doubles teams of Atkinson / Rubin and Slepin / Brooks also powered their way to straight set victories. Not only were the girls victorious, they also were gracious in victory and appeared to have a GREAT time on the court!

The Urban volleyball program bounced back from a tough defeat to record their first victory of the season over Sonoma Academy sweeping three games on Friday night. The girls were without their regular coach who was himself competing in a tournament, so I stepped in to "coach" the team. In essence I had the best seat in the house while Sophie Lieberman set the lineups.

The volleyball squad is adjusting to life without several key members from a fantastic 2008 squad, but this team is loaded with talent and potential. The aforementioned Sophie Lieberman, along with Anneli Eddy and Danica and Andrea Lauden, lead this years squad which has a great mix of veteran players mixed with some young guns including super soph Danielle Shorenstein.

The tennis and volleyball teams both compete this week and all are encouraged to come out and show their support.

Girls Tennis - 9/10/09 at St Ignatius - certain to be a tough match for the Blues
Volleyball - 09/09/09 at San Rafael High and 9/11/09 at SF Walford (245 Valencia St,)

Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:23:36 EST

In trying to find the perfect way to wrap up the first week of school, I'm reminded of the last line from a favorite movie, Almost Famous. "To begin with.....EVERYTHING" captures my feelings about The Urban School and our first week of competitive athletics.

Some highlights:

- The Urban boys soccer team upsetting San Marin from the MCAL 2-1 in its season opener.

- Our JV Girls Volleyball team officially kicking off our fall sports season and representing The Urban School with pride and passion.

- Our girls Varsity volleyball team pushing a very talented squad from Lincoln High in its season opening match while also playing with a great level of passion and athleticism.

- Meeting a large group of Urban parents at our Fall Sports meeting and sharing my excitement for the upcoming sports season and school year.

Here's to a great season! Go Blues!

Greg Angilly
Director of Athletics

PS - NAME THIS BLOG! Urban community, help me name the Athletics Blog. The winner gets an Urban gear item of their choice! Email me with your best idea by Friday, September 11th.