ISSUE 4
LOMA LINDA ACADEMY
The Mirror
MARCH 2026
KEEPING UP WITH LLA’S SOCCER TEAM REFLECTING ON LLA SINCE 1940
Volleyball Tournament
Writer: Joshua Rai Editors: Javet Wongkaren & Yehbin Jeon
The boys’ soccer team is having one of its strongest seasons yet, racking up many wins over the span of a couple of weeks. With huge victories of 16-1 and 14-1, they have been dominating the league and setting high standards. The season began back in November, leaving the team in a rough spot in the first few games. Since those first couple of games, they’ve managed to keep an unbroken streak of 11 wins, severely outperforming every other opponent they’ve played. Nicolas Drachenberg (‘27), an avid soccer player and member of the class of 2027, said that the team’s mentality shifted after the first couple of games, explaining that when the players began taking the matches more seriously, their performance on the field improved. He credited the team's comeback to the new coaches, noting that they’ve done a great job in bringing the team back together and introducing a more serious approach to practices and games. “People stopped messing around,” said Nico, “Once our mentalities changed, training became different and much more helpful.” Despite winning by large margins, the team has remained disciplined and focused through the games. Nico explained that the players stay focused until the end, staying humble and kind throughout the game by keeping long-term goals in mind, like CIF. CIF, or California’s Interscholastic Federation, is the organization that oversees high school athletics programs in California. It also hosts championships and tournaments. As they head further into the season, this team will continue to carry on the heart and grit that have so far defined their season. Their determination and teamwork are sure to leave a mark, and we can’t wait to see what they’ll accomplish next.
The Class of 28’ held a fundraiser volleyball tournament on January 10 at Loma Linda Academy. Six teams participated in the event and paid an entrance fee of $10 per person. Even though the tournament was held at LLA, anyone could enter as long as they were currently in high school. There was a food stand for players and spectators, which they delivered to your seat. The tournament moved into bracket play, where every team played simultaneously, and then was seeded based on record. The 1st-seed team would play the 3rd-seed team, and the 2ndseed team would play the 4thseed team. After bracket play, it led to the finals to determine who would win it all. The teams in the finals were “Joshua and Friends” and “Eva’s Team.” The winner, Eva’s team, then received a medal, and the tournament ended around 10 P.M. This tournament was very fun, and I hope to have more in the future with more fun competition. Stay tuned for more volleyballrelated news in our next issue!
Writer: Giselle Cruz Editors: Rockton Hill & Ethan Row