By Kloe Adams and Sam Gruetter
Junior Andy Qiu impresses many with his unwavering commitment to three school sports, rigorous academic schedule, and a myriad of unique creative outlets. Whether leading his soccer team as captain or winning awards for refereeing, Qiu is constantly making impressive contributions to the Los Gatos High School community.
Qui commenced the 2024-2025 school year on the junior varsity Los Gatos Boys’ Cross Country Team, making it his third year with the program. He described the sport as fun but challenging: “Some days the workouts were pretty difficult. My least favorite workouts are probably mile repeats where we just had to run miles over and over again.” Despite the physical toll, Qiu found enjoyment in running on trails with friends. By the end of the season, the hard work paid off, resulting in Qiu’s placement in the top 15 of the team and winning the league.
Straight from cross country, Qiu transitioned into the soccer season, making the junior varsity team and quickly rising to the role of captain. Qiu leads his team as a defensive starter and captain, helping attain their current record and place in their league. Qiu commented on the team environment and culture, saying, “Everyone enjoys playing with one another, which helped us form a tight-knit team. We are all very supportive of each other.” Qiu’s high school coach, Rick Morin, also coaches Qiu’s competitive team at the club level, where he plays for local club Los Gatos United. Qiu’s commitment is unwavering as he continues to play club soccer during the cross country and track seasons. As the soccer season reaches its midway point and track preseason begins, Qiu continues to look forward and plans to try out for track and field, specifically for the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m events.
If three sports were not enough on his workload, Qiu furthers his pursuits in academics as he takes a rigorous course load, prioritizing advanced classes within the STEM field such as AP Physics, AP Statistics, and AP Calculus AB. He described his busy schedule, saying, “It is pretty hard managing three sports with school, but I think I am doing pretty well.” Physics proves a challenge to Qiu, however, he expressed that it is one of his favorite classes. “Physics is enjoyable because my teacher Mrs. Peters [Rachel Peters] is very engaging. There are also a lot of labs, so it is more hands-on, which helps me learn better.” He identified a specific interest in STEM and noted his desire to major in a STEM-related subject.
Already preparing for next year, Qiu is excited for the new course options, specifically AP Environmental Science, and most notably the trip to Catalina Island, “I am really looking forward to the Catalina trip. I’ve had some friends who went on the trip, and from what they’ve shared it sounds like a lot of fun.” As his impressive junior year comes to an end, Qiu expresses similar ambitions for the remaining duration of his time at LGHS.