Senior Eleanor Stern’s favorite baseball memory is a disappointing one for many other fans: the 2020 World Series, when the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4 to 2.

“I was really excited and overjoyed,” she said. “It was also a really special moment to watch the final with my dad.”

Stern became interested in baseball at a young age through her dad, eventually becoming a Dodgers fan.

“Growing up, (my dad) would take me and my sister to baseball games,” she said. “As I got older, I started getting more into the actual sport (through) watching it.”

This tradition with her dad has continued, and Stern usually goes to two or four games during the year. Most recently, she watched the Dodgers play the San Francisco Giants in April. Despite having a soft spot for the Giants, Stern has remained a steadfast Dodgers fan because of her dad.

“My dad’s from LA, and he grew up watching (the Dodgers) and going into their games, so he’s always loved them,” she said. “That made me like them too. Also, I was born in D.C., so if anything, I wouldn’t be a Giants fan — I would be a (Washington) Nationals fan.”

Stern keeps up with her favorite teams through social media and watches games and checks scores through ESPN. To show support, she buys merchandise, collecting Dodgers bobbleheads and baseball cards from various teams. Stern also wears her Dodgers apparel as part of her everyday outfits.

Unconventionally, Stern does not have a favorite player.

“I always say that I have really bad luck with my favorite players,” she said. “Whenever I choose a favorite player, they either get injured, start to suck or go to a different team. I can’t really have a favorite player, or it’s not going to work out for me.”

Sophomore Liam Wong remains an avid fan of the Golden State Warriors, showing support by tracking games and following their social media accounts. Wong also goes the extra mile by directly sponsoring the team, purchasing merchandise that he wears proudly.

“I have a Golden State Warriors hat and pants,” Wong said. “I (also) have patches from the Finals to put in my backpack or basketball bag.”

Wong grew up watching NBA games with his grandfather.

“When I was little, he just had the TV on, watching different teams,” he said. “Whenever he put on Golden State Warriors games, I would really enjoy that team.”

As a tradition, Wong wears his Warriors hat during important games, such as the Finals or playoffs. His favorite memory is watching the Warriors defeat the Boston Celtics 103 to 90 during the 2022 NBA Finals
while wearing the hat.

Wong’s love for basketball also extends to videography. Since eighth grade, Wong has been taking videography classes at school, and he currently films the Stanford University mens and womens basketball teams for fun.

“I really like the stories I could tell (through the camera),” he said. “It’s been a really fun experience. I wish I could film the Warriors, so if I film Stanford (games), I can work myself up (to that).”

Wong’s enthusiasm for the Warriors isn’t just for the team as a whole. It extends to individual players: Shooting guard Gary Payton II has a special place in his heart. He attributes his fondness for Payton to their similar playing styles on the court.

“He’s more of a defensive player, which is the type of player I am,” he said. “He basically guards one through five (which means he guards all positions) and doesn’t back down if there’s a challenge.”

Draymond Green, a power forward of the Warriors, has influenced Wong’s leadership on the Gunn boys basketball team.

“On the junior varsity team, I try to talk a lot on defense, be a team player and be a leader for the team as well,” he said.