Focal Point Podcast

Just weeks away from the playoffs, Rajan Joshi, William Aniol and Siddhartha Sinha get together to discuss end-of-season awards, the new and controversial play-in tournament and predictions for both the near and long-term future. Also on this episode, Siddhartha Sinha sits down with fantasy sports guru senior Benny Wang to talk about his love for all fantasy sports and his best tips and tricks to win any fantasy league (58:58).

Hosts: Rajan Joshi, William Aniol, Siddhartha Sinha

Guest: Benny Wang

Producer: Siddhartha Sinha

Newly appointed Assistant Head of Upper School Jason Leneau was an athlete from the jump. Whether it was lacrosse, wrestling or even football, Leneau emerged from the Boys Latin School in Baltimore as one of the school's greatest athletes ever, eventually joining his alma mater's hall of fame. From Boys Latin School, Leneau found himself at the University of Virginia, where his athleticism was in just as much demand. Speaking with Arjun Khatti, Leneau reflected on one of the busiest athletic weekends he ever had while in Charlottesville and also how sports and coaching keeps drawing him in.

Hosts: Arjun Khatti, Siddhartha Sinha

Guest: Jason Leneau

Producer: Siddhartha Sinha

Simply put, sports is a haven for Reyno Arredondo '87. From his days playing soccer to his time on the wrestling mat, Arredondo says that athletics was crucial to keeping him focused on the tasks at hand. Sitting down with Luke Nayfa (1:28), Arredondo described his journey from the neighborhoods of West Dallas through the military to where he is now. As for Cory Martin (23:00), soccer has been more than a hobby. It's been a passion, a lifestyle for as long as he can remember. Whether it was youth leagues or walking on at SMU or a brief stint in Europe, no time is a bad time to talk soccer with Martin, and Peter Orsak took advantage of the opportunity to do so.

Hosts: Luke Nayfa, Peter Orsak, Siddhartha Sinha

Guests: Reyno Arredondo, Cory Martin

Producer: Siddhartha Sinha

Drew Brees is statistically one of the most accurate passers professional football has ever seen. Drew Brees is also one of the many quarterbacks who can say that he had a pass intercepted by Admissions Officer Korey Mack '00 (1:41). Growing up playing youth football on the historic Green Lions YMCA football team, Mack rose through the various levels of football, eventually captaining the Lions second ever undefeated varsity football team and participating in the Rose Bowl as a player on the Purdue Boilermakers football team. For Cameron Hillier '13, the journey was similar (39:25). Picking up tennis early in his life, Hiller has graduated from Lions tennis player to Lions tennis coach, and he's learning the ropes while winning SPC championships.

Hosts: Cristian Pereira, Dillon Wyatt, Siddhartha Sinha

Guests: Korey Mack, Cameron Hillier

Producer: Siddhartha Sinha

William Aniol spoke with Villanova long stick midfielder Jonathan Taylor '19 about his ongoing sophomore season with the Villanova lacrosse team. From Taylor's own battle with coronavirus at the start of the season to the daily battles he has against some of the best players in the Big East during practice, Taylor has had a season to remember.

Host: William Aniol, Siddhartha Sinha

Guest: Jonathan Taylor

Producer: Siddhartha Sinha 

For the Arroyo brothers, the past year has been unlike any other in their lives. Taking a gap year before starting their running careers at MIT, the brothers have been learning how to coach themselves while also discovering some new routes in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. They've also spent some of their free time on some passion projects that they've set aside for down time just like this.

Host: Siddhartha Sinha

Guests: Pablo Arroyo, Andrés Arroyo

Producer: Siddhartha Sinha

What does a college athlete do when their sport's season is cancelled? For Yale football wide receiver Seun Omonije '18, it meant there was more time to focus on his computer science major. Speaking with SeMaj Musco, Omonije talked about how he fell in love with computer science during his Middle School years and what he's learned while balancing his two passions of computer science and football in New Haven (1:17). Also on this episode, Rajan Joshi speaks with Penn basketball freshman Andrew Laczkowski '20 on his first year at Penn, recovering from offseason surgery and the adjustments he's having to make as a new member to the team (27:22).

Hosts: SeMaj Musco, Rajan Joshi, Siddhartha Sinha

Guests: Seun Omonije, Andrew Laczkowski

Producer: Siddhartha Sinha

Soccer has been a part of senior Knobel Hunt's life for as long as he can remember. Whether it's his numerous ties to FC Dallas or his loyalty to FC Bayern Munich, the beautiful game has been one of Hunt's defining extracurriculars. Next fall, Hunt will be adding another set of loyalties, having committed to SMU to play soccer for the next four years. Hunt spoke with Robert Pou about his lifelong dream of playing college soccer as well as the grueling process of identification camps that secured him the college offers he chose from in the fall.

Hosts: Robert Pou, Siddhartha Sinha

Guest: Knobel Hunt

Producer: Siddhartha Sinha

Whether it's The Office, Taylor Swift or a hoard of fellow teammates, senior Blake Hudspeth will always find a way to finish a crew workout, and that attitude is what drove him to commit to MIT to row crew for their heavyweight team next year. Sitting down with Sai Thirunagari, Hudspeth discusses his family's history with the sport, his personal objectives for next year and the beauty he finds in the school's team.

Hosts: Sai Thirunagari, Siddhartha Sinha

Guest: Blake Hudspeth

Producer: Siddhartha Sinha

Recently crowned SPC track and field champions Kit Colson and Michael Vanesko sat down with Siddhartha Sinha a few weeks before their championship meet to discuss their Lions track and field careers as well as their commitments to Yale and Middlebury, respectively. Colson also recalls his initial thoughts after breaking the school's longstanding 100-meter record, and Vanesko explains how pole vaulting in college became a real possibility late in his college application process.

Host: Siddhartha Sinha

Guests: Kit Colson, Michael Vanesko

Producer: Siddhartha Sinha