Fall sports have wrapped up the 2024-25 season at Columbia Heights High School (CHHS), and as we wanna look back we have to mention how the football, soccer, volleyball, swimming, cheer, cross country and tennis seasons have been such successful seasons to all of your Hylander athletes. What follows is a brief summary of what our student-athlete leaders think about how their season went this year!
“This season we had double the numbers we did last year, having almost 20 people come out and try the sport. Throughout the season we all got to know each other a lot better and also held more team events outside of practice which I think was very important in the bonding of the team. This season was fun and also very successful as we had another all-conference runner and [the] majority of the team made sections,” Cross Country Captain Cole Young (12) said.
“The soccer season had great progress and the news coaches helped improve as a team. The team had ups and downs but what mainly mattered is that we all faced challenges together as a team,” boys’ soccer Captain Juvenal Romero Penaloza (12) said.
“The Columbia Heights High School girls tennis team is a sisterhood of hard workers. They all encourage each other and strive for success. Even when we experience losses our spirit and ego is never broken,” girls’ tennis Captain Lybah Ali (12) said.
“The volleyball team had an outstanding season this year, as a team we have all improved so much and are so proud as one another. I hope the traditions of team bonding days get passed down for the future generations of volleyball players,” girls’ Volleyball Captain Carolina Baldovinos Miranda (12) said.
“This soccer season we had more girls join than past years. Even though most games we didn’t get the results we wanted, we still played with everything. Every practice and every game we learned more and more about each other. This soccer season went by fast but I cherished every moment with this team,” girls’ soccer Captain Karen Aicaser Matute (12) said.
“The swim team started with very few people, six people. With these six swimmers, we all made it to section finals. Swimming made me become very close to all these girls with all the carbo(-loads) and sleepovers. This team made me realize how a team can become your closest friends,” girls’ swim and dive team member Lupita Aguilar Velez (12) said.
“Football is the easiest way for me to interact with people and get to know them. After a couple of practices, you get to know how people react under pressure and what they’re really like,” varsity football Captain Obiajulu Morah (12) said.
“The cheer team taught me many things and helped me not be shy in many moments. The moment I joined I felt super welcomed by every single member. This season to me was amazing and it’s an experience that I would do again if I could,” cheer team member Kimberly Flores Chavez (12) said.
“The Strikers had a successful soccer season this year! The team is combined with students from Fridley and Columbia Heights in grades 7-12th. We play teams all around the area, including traveling all the way to St. Cloud. Our team gained many skills from the start of the season to the end of the season. We even won a playoff game! At each of our home games, the gym was filled with our fans cheering for us. Best fans in the league! I want to give a special shoutout to Shylah Wilson, our captain of the Strikers. She is an excellent leader on and off the field!” Coach Chloe Bluth said.
