When it comes to post-game interviews, most of the time I stick with talking to coaches. A lot of times, it’s simply a timing issue. When a game is over, my job is only half done. While everyone else gets to go home or grab a bite to eat, I’m hustling back to the office to write my story and finish the sports section.
My main reason for not talking with a lot of athletes is the fact that a lot of high school kids aren’t used to talking to the media. There is many a time I have protected an athlete from him or herself.
But when someone has a big game, I believe they should get a chance to talk about it and I did after a CCS basketball game a couple weeks ago.
(Names and schools are being withheld so as to not make a big deal out of this. I had a laugh when I heard this story.)
He said he had been benched for half the season. I asked if it was for disciplinary reasons, knowing that a benching is pretty big deal.
He confirmed it was disciplinary, so I went to confirm it with the head coach. I told him what the player told me and he answered with a euphemistic, “growing pains.”
OK. Whatever. Makes for a better story.
Turns out, something got twisted in the translation. The player had simply been removed from the starting lineup because of mistakes in practice. To him, it was “disciplinary.” To the coaches, it’s a move and decision staffs make at every level of the game.
But he also misunderstood the term, “benching” — which would mean not dressing and not playing at all. He had been playing consistent minutes throughout the season, just in a secondary role.
At the end of the day, it’s all good. Next time, I’ll just have to probe a little deeper to make sure everyone is on the same page.
***
The Menlo boys’ tennis team, the reigning CCS and Northern California champion, is off to a strong start to 2026 as the Knights went 4-0 in capturing their second-straight title at the 16-team tournament they co-host, the Bay Area Classic tournament, this past weekend.
Recommended for you
Menlo rolled over Palo Alto, 7-0, in the opener, followed by a 6-1 decision over Palos Verdes, 6-1.
The semifinal rematch with Palos Verdes was a lot closer, with the Knights pulling out a 4-3 win to send them to the finals where they beat University-SF, 5-2.
Menlo lost only two matches last season as the Knights rolled to their 18th CCS title last year, but their first since 2022. They went on to capture the NorCal title before falling to now two-time state champion University-Irvine.
***
The CIF updated the Northern California Division V boys’ soccer bracket with second-seeded Crystal hosting No. 6 Nipomo-San Luis Obispo County at 3 p.m., instead of the 5 p.m. originally listed after Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Woodland Christian.
With no lights on its field, I texted Crystal head coach Roberto Miranda to make sure the school was hosting the game and it wasn’t being moved to a different venue.
Wednesday morning, the CIF updated the schedule and the Gryphons are, indeed, playing at home 3 p.m. Thursday.
***
Three years after Menlo’s Ava Allen made the Knights’ baseball team, there is another girl cracking the baseball roster, with freshman Chloe Cresson making the cut for the Menlo-Atherton junior varsity baseball.
And this is not a case of Cresson transitioning from softball. She has played baseball her entire life, since tee ball with Belmont-Redwood Shores Little League and has continued her baseball career on the club circuit.
Cresson also played JV volleyball and basketball for the Bears, as well.
Nathan Mollat has been covering high school sports in San Mateo County for the San Mateo Daily Journal since 2001. He can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com.
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.