by: Tanya Chang
Sports Editor

Captain of the undefeated JV basketball team Mason Le is thriving in his sophomore year of high school, his strong mindset and leadership skills driving him to improve both on and off the court.

Le participates in a well-rounded schedule including Algebra 2 Accelerated, AP European History, English 10 Honors, Spanish 3, Chemistry, and Ceramics for his sophomore year. While he mentioned English 10 Honors as challenging, he acknowledged his struggles as an opportunity to grow academically. Le added that Ceramics offers a space where he can express his creative freedom, a low stress outlet during school hours. In the future, he looks to pursue a career path in engineering; to support his work ethic on a minor scale, he stays organized when it comes to practices, assignments, and volunteering.

This year, Le guided the JV Basketball team to an undefeated season, demonstrating the team’s talent and collaboration. He credits their success to the close knit community their team has built, along with their growing trust, as he explained, “We played club basketball together, so we had chemistry, and we played together freshman year.” This shared experience translated to each player’s communication and confidence during games. Le does more than just hold the title of captain; he motivates his teammates and when someone feels discouraged, he makes it a priority to maintain a positive attitude. He also emphasized the importance of focus, making sure that his team uses every opportunity to improve, playing a big role in his leadership development. Although Le proudly identifies as a student-athlete, he pointed out that he definitely prioritizes his academics.

Beyond basketball, Le has developed an interest in sports videography. In his earlier years, Le experimented with video editing through a youtube channel, typically centered around gaming content inspired by his cousins. However, His consistency in posting slowly began to decline although his passion for editing never disappeared. Now, he is expanding his knowledge in the world of editing sports highlights.

Le also participates in Boys Team Charity (BTC) offering him the opportunity to give back to the community while spending time with friends. His favorite place to volunteer is Happy Dragon Thrift Shop in Los Gatos, where he assists the manager and enjoys greeting customers or helping them when needed. To Le, BTC isn’t just achieving volunteer hours, but more about enriching the well being of others.

Whether it’s leading the basketball team, exploring the editing scene, or contributing to his community, Le approaches every commitment with an open-mind and determination. His sophomore year reflects not only athletic success but personal growth, proving that leadership extends far beyond the scoreboard.