LOS ALTOS
SUMMER SPORTS CAMP
2024
Group 1
Vanessa Castaneda
Hi everyone! My name is Vanessa Castaneda, and this will be my Second year at Decathlon! I am super excited to meet everyone, make new friends, and create endless memories. I graduated from Piedmont Hills High School in 2020, and I just graduated from Chico State University as a Liberal Studies major with a minor in Child Development. I am now planning to gain my Teachers Credential and pursue a Master’s Degree. Many of my classes thus far consist of how to teach and create lesson plans on various in-depth topics that children will learn at an elementary school level, and understanding how a child develops into an adult based on intrinsic and extrinsic factors that they face as they grow. During my time in Chico I have helped volunteer at two elementary schools as an After-School Tutor where I would help students do their homework and reading, and as a Classroom Teacher’s Assistant where I would assist the teacher in giving small groups of children instruction and assignments that we would work through together.
To help me stay active in Chico, I enjoyed going on hikes in Upper Bidwell Park, and going to my school’s gym multiple times a week to do light weight lifting or playing small pick-up games of indoor soccer with my friends. I began playing soccer at four years old, and it continues to be a passion of mine. Growing up I played competitively in the Bay Area allowing me to learn new skills in teamwork, communication, perseverance, and dedication. It has also given me many opportunities to connect with new people across the country, and has allowed me to travel all across the western states. Overall, I strongly believe that staying active, learning how to work in a team, and creating new friendships are an important and amazing staple to implement into a child’s life that they will carry on with them for years to come. I am excited to be a counselor this summer and I look forward to meeting everyone and building a friendship with you and your child!
Wes Calhoun
Hi! My name is Wes Calhoun. I'm a rising sophomore, and I've been at Decathlon for over 8 years now. Some of my best memories of summer have been with this amazing camp! I am a first year junior counselor, and I couldn't be more excited. I am and always have been a very active kid, and this camp is perfect for me! Even if I wasn't feeling up to sports, there was always something to do. I made new friendships and bonded with counselors more than I ever thought I would. Some of the amazing staff have become my role models, and I've looked up to them for years. Outside of camp, some of my favorite sports are basketball and baseball. I have also been a part of karate, swimming, soccer, and wrestling. I have become more of a leader and a mentor throughout all of my years at camp. It's boosted my confidence and my success. I have 2 siblings that both have come to the camp - and they both loved it. This camp has become a part of my life. I look forward to it every summer and can't wait to keep it going. It has taught me so much, and has always been fun. I know your camper will feel the same way by the end of it!
Rowan Tashev
Hi, my name is Rowan. I am a rising junior at Mountain View High School. This is my 8th summer at Decathlon. I have loved every minute of Decathlon Sports Camp, both as a camper for four years and as a Junior Counselor. I am excited for this upcoming summer as a second year Junior Counselor. My summers at Decathlon were also spent with my two siblings, my older brother who was a Junior Counselor for two years, and my twin sister Lara who will also be a Junior Counselor this year. Growing up, watching and playing sports have been a really important part of my life and have had a positive impact on me. I’ve played many sports, including soccer, baseball, basketball, and football.. This last fall, I was on the Mountain View High School Junior Varsity basketball team, where I learned to motivate and lead others in a team environment. Next year, I will be moving up to play basketball for the MVHS Varsity Basketball Team. Outside of school sports, I participate in many extracurriculars. I am part of a Business Competition Team that will be partaking in the VE newsletter and later DECA tournaments. Next year, I will be one of the Presidents for the Business Club at my high school. Overall, I am really looking forward to creating a fun learning environment so that I can pass on the same joy I experienced at Decathlon to all of my campers!
Group 1.5
Miles Wolf
Hi, I'm Miles! I've been coming to Decathlon as a camper and a staff member for over ten years now. It's been about five years since I last spent my summer with Decathlon, and I'm so excited to be back. I grew up in Sunnyvale and went to Wilcox High School, where I played baseball and water polo. Then I went to UC Santa Barbara, where I studied Chemical Engineering and went to the beach on the side. After graduating in 2020, I worked in Orange County as a Process Engineer and tutored. In 2022, I decided to take a break from work and travel the world. In the past two years, I've backpacked through most of Western Europe, explored parts of Asia, and roamed the United States. During my travels, I saw many unique places and met even more amazing people. But a massive takeaway from it all is how many incredible places and people there are right here in the Bay Area. Decathlon is one of those unique places with lots of awesome people! So, I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to make many more fantastic memories with the Decathlon family this summer. Hopefully, one of those tremendous memories will be helping the Counselors go undefeated in the Counselor-JC games! Regardless, I'm sure many of the other fantastic memories of having fun in the sun will stick with me and the campers for a lifetime.
Asher Darling
My name is Asher Darling. Decathlon has been a highlight of my summer every year since before I started kindergarten. As a junior counselor, I look forward to helping create the same amazing atmosphere I loved when I was a camper. In the fall, I will be a junior at Menlo School and play basketball and golf. Outside of my passion for playing sports, I am involved in journalism and will be the news editor for my school's newspaper next year.
Cate Grunewald
Hi my name is Cate Grunewald and I am a rising sophomore at Saint Francis High School. I have been going to Decathlon since I was 6 and each year my love and appreciation for this camp has grown. Over the past 8 years at camp I have learned to have fun playing any game, win or lose, and how to practice good sportsmanship, even if it’s hard. I am so excited to introduce your kids to the lessons I learned at camp that have stayed with me since. This year I was on the girls varsity swim team at Saint Francis and made the highest honor roll. I am the oldest sibling to my 11 year old sister Anna and 7 year old brother Charlie (group 1.5 alum) and have been babysitting consistently since 7th grade. This year my babysitting commitments have picked up, in a normal week I usually babysit for at least 8 hours. As a first time Junior Counselor I am excited to meet your kids and I know they will have the best time in my group!
Group 2
Amit Manor
Hello! My name is Amit Manor and I am 21 years old. I'm entering my junior year at the University of California, Santa Barbara as an Economics & Accounting major. I've been at Decathlon almost every summer since I was seven years old, and coming to camp has consistently been the highlight of my year. My favorite parts of camp were meeting new people, playing sports I don't usually play such as Gaga Ball and Wiffleball, and going on field trips with the camp to the beach. In my free time, I love playing soccer and basketball with friends, relaxing with my family, or experimenting with cooking. I have an older brother Guy who is 22 years old, and a younger sister Dana who is currently at camp with me. It will be my 10th year at camp, and I'm excited for another great summer!
David Ciprian
Hello everyone, my name is David Ciprian and this will be my first summer at Decathlon Los Altos! I grew up in San Jose, California and currently attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. I am a Business Administration Major concentrating in HR, Management, and will be graduating next Spring!
Growing up, I have had a strong passion for sports! I have been wrestling and playing football since I was 5 years old! Additionally, I have played almost every sport including: basketball, swimming, baseball, volleyball, soccer, track, skiing and lake surfing. I currently work as an intramural sports official for flag football and enjoy being around the competitive nature. In my free time I enjoy hanging out with my family and friends and being outside. I have 4 siblings and a crazy dog named Bane! I am super excited to be able to work at Decathlon Los Altos and am looking forward to meeting and hanging out with everyone! It will be a great summer!
Ori Miasnik
Hi, my name is Ori. I’m a rising sophomore at Los Alto High School, and ever since I can remember I have been climbing the ranks at this amazing camp, and now couldn’t be more excited to be a junior counselor. This is my 8th year at the camp, but it is my families 18th consecutive year, and still counting. My whole life, I’ve tried different sports but the one I connected with most was basketball, I have been playing basketball for the last 7 years both for school and club. This camp has always been a safe place where I’d always experience some of my best memories from each summer. I’ve always loved the mix of sports this camp provides, and the relationships both with campers and counselors that are made through the different activities. I still remember to this day all of my counselors and how much fun I had with every single one. Outside of sports, I take school very seriously and have many extra curricular ranging from volunteering to coaching kids basketball on a weekly basis. In addition, throughout both school and other activities, I am a very social and energetic person and I am really looking forward to getting to know every single camper. I’m super excited!!!
Lara Tashev
My name is Lara Tashev. I am a rising junior at Mountain View High School. I have been part of the Decathlon Camp community for almost 7 years. I started out as a camper, and then as a Junior Counselor in Training. This summer I'm looking forward to being a Junior Counselor. I have played many sports over the years, including gymnastics, dance, soccer and track and field. Recently I was on a club team for soccer and joined the track and field team in high school. I am looking forward to helping campers make friends, try new sports and have a lot of fun this summer. I have so many great memories from being a camper at Decathlon Sports Club and I am excited to help kids make their own great memories this summer too!
Group 3
Taylor Young
My name is Taylor Young, and my experience with Decathlon began when I was eight years old. Now that I am 21 years old, I have been involved with Decathlon for more than a third of my life! I feel as if every summer from my childhood was spent at Decathlon, which I feel very privileged to say. I started as a camper, worked my way through the ranks, and now am a second-year counselor. I am grateful to Scott, Rich, and the other directors for developing a program and place like Decathlon and for all they have done to improve countless lives every summer with their dedication and hard work.
I graduated from Mid-Peninsula High School in the Class of 2021, where I played soccer, tennis, and basketball for my high school's varsity teams. This will be my fourth year at Chapman University this upcoming fall. I am majoring in Business Administration and am hoping to pursue my MBA shortly thereafter. I love learning about how to manage businesses, as one day, I hope to run some sort of business in the transit, real estate, or construction industry. At Chapman, I love competing in intramural sports (soccer and basketball, both played twice a week) and lifting weights with friends in my free time. I will be a camp counselor for Decathlon during both sessions, and am very excited to do so! After returning from studying abroad in London this past Spring semester, I could not have asked for a better college experience thus far, and I am incredibly thankful to my parents for the opportunities they have blessed me with.
Outside of school and sports, I am very into music and photography. I listen to many genres of music and love attending live performances with friends. I also love to travel! I was able to explore over 12 countries this past semester in Europe!Decathlon Sports Club has meant a lot to me and has impacted my life in many ways, and I hope I will be able to continue being involved in years to come.
Carlos Acosta
Hello, my name is Carlos Acosta. I was born and raised in Colombia. My favorite sports are soccer and basketball, as I have played these two sports all my life, especially soccer. At the age of 7, I played soccer in a very good sports academy in my country called "Compensar," where later, at the age of 9, I began training in basketball as well. I managed to compete nationally in soccer with this academy in the "Pony Futbol" league. Later on, I continued to develop my sporting knowledge. Last year, at the beginning of the year, I competed at a semi-professional level for my university, ECI, in Colombia, to enter the Colombian First C league. Currently, I am studying with a degree in Modern Languages at Uniminuto University in Colombia. And this would be a bit of what I could share for now. I'm looking forward to spending the summer working and enjoying the camp.
Yardenne Sternheim
Hi! My name is Yardenne Sternheim, and I’m going to be a JC at Decathlon this summer. I’ve grown up in Palo Alto all my life, but aspire to travel the world someday. This will be my eighth summer at Decathlon, and I’m just as excited as all the previous ones. I’m a rising junior at Palo Alto High School. I enjoy history and English, as well as journalism, and will be joining one of my school’s publications this coming fall. I can’t wait to work with the campers and play all the sports during camp. I do mostly water sports, school season swimming and water polo (club too), but with two brothers and an active family, you can find me playing other sports during my free time. Every year I look forward to coming back to camp, and am so happy to be working at Decathlon this summer!
Group 4
Avi Sanchez
Hi, my name is Avi, and this is my seventh summer at Decathlon, my third summer working at camp, and my first summer as a counselor. Having been born and raised in Mountain View, I’m thankful to Decathlon for providing me with a space to have fun and make lasting memories from elementary school all the way until college. Decathlon does a fantastic job catering to all age ranges and levels of sporting ability, which is why I’ve attended for so many years.
I graduated from Mountain View High School in the Class of 2023 and I currently attend the University of Michigan’s school of engineering, majoring in computer science. In high school, I participated in track and cross country but love to play sports like soccer and football recreationally. In college, I love running and going to the gym to stay active. I’m also a huge football fan, so getting to see both my college team win the national championship and my hometown team, the 49ers, compete in the super bowl made for an unforgettable year of sports. Though my freshman year was a blast, I’m excited to be back home, not only to get to work at camp, but also to escape the freezing temperatures!
In my free time I love to bike, read, play the guitar, and watch movies. Currently I’m learning songs on the acoustic guitar from Bob Dylan, the Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac - music tastes inspired by listening to 70s and 80s radio while driving with my dad. My hobbies are ever changing, so if you have any recommendations for new activities to try out, let me know!
I’m looking forward to working at Decathlon, and I hope to make a summer of fun and lasting memories for my campers.
Ben Brierly
Hi, my name is Ben! I’ve been a camper at Decathlon for 3 years and am excited to spend my first summer as a junior counselor this year! I went to Graham Middle School for all three years of middle school, and I currently attend Los Altos High School, where I am heading into my senior year. I love to watch and play just about any sport, especially basketball. I currently play basketball and football, but I also played soccer for about 10 years. I also love playing golf and spike ball as side hobbies when not competing for my school sports teams. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, and we often go on hikes or day trips to the beach. One of my biggest regrets was not going to Decathlon from a younger age, as some of my best friends and memories were made in the 3 summers I spent. I hope to share the same positive energy that I was greeted with as a camper!
Alex Yang
Hi, my name is Alex, this is my 10th summer at Decathlon, and I am looking forward to my second summer working as a junior counselor. Last year was a blast so I'm sure this year will be even better. I'm 16 years old and I was raised in Cupertino. I will be a Junior at Lynbrook next year. Over the years I have tried many sports such as basketball, flag football, baseball and track and field. I was also on the track team last year. I enjoy cubing (rubix cube solving), video editing, hiking, and playing video games in my spare time. Becoming an employee for Decathlon was always something I wanted to do since my first year at camp and I'm super excited to have a great time with the campers!
Group 4.5
Nate Heppberger
Hi, my name is Nate Heppberger and I'm super excited to be working at Decathlon this summer. This will be my second year as a counselor but Decathlon is nothing new to me as I am a part of the Hall of Fame and attended as a camper for 5 straight summers. I've grown up in Mountain View and conveniently am able to walk to camp every day to the elementary school I went to as a kid. I graduated from Saint Francis High School and just finished my freshman year at Texas Christian University where I’m majoring in Strategic Communications. As a kid I played every sport you could name and a big reason for that was Decathlon. As I got older it became impossible to play every sport there is, so in High School I played my two favorite sports, basketball and football. Although I am not playing sports at the collegiate level I am still involved with intramural basketball and football. Sports have always been a huge part of my life and have created so many friendships and memories so that’s what I hope to grant all of my campers this summer. I can't wait to meet all of our campers and ensure they have a great summer like I did!
Group 5
Nico Chou
Hi, my name is Nico Chou and this is my 9th year at Decathlon (and second year as a counselor)! I grew up playing soccer and basketball and in 2023, I graduated from Gunn High School where I ran cross country and track and field. I just finished my first year studying math and physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (which makes me an avid Wisconsin Badgers fan). In my free time, I love attending Wisconsin sporting events (specifically football and volleyball), playing pickleball at the park, and taking photos on my DSLR camera. Decathlon holds a special place in my heart—it’s my home away from home during the summer. As a camper not so long ago, I loved the camp's friendly competition, but I also found just as much joy in getting to know my groupmates and counselors. I hope to share that same experience with my campers and I'm thrilled to be back for another summer!
Davidi Aharon
Hi, my name is Davidi Aharon. This is my sixth year at Decathlon, and my second as a counselor. I've just graduated high school, and next year I'm taking a gap year, after which I will be studying at Stanford. I love watching and playing many sports but my favorite is soccer! I've played club soccer for as long as I can remember, and I was the captain of both my club and high school teams. Growing up, Decathlon was always a highlight of my summer, and I hope I can help share the Decathlon magic with your kids too!
Group 6
Duncan
Hi, my name is Duncan Sutton, and this is my first year working at Decathlon Summer Camp. I grew up in San Mateo, California, and I am proud to be one of the few people from San Mateo at the Mountain View camp. As the youngest of three, I understand what it feels like to be the youngest, and I can assure you that it has its perks!
I played every sport imaginable as a young boy, including soccer, baseball, basketball, football, golf, tennis, and track, etc. Eventually, I realized that golf and football were my favorites. I attended Junipero Serra High School, where I played football and golf all four years. Some of my best memories include going to the state championship twice, beating De La Salle, and, of course, beating St. Francis.
Next year, I will be a sophomore at Texas Christian University (TCU), studying Finance with a concentration in Real Estate. Both of my siblings went to TCU, so they have now passed the torch to me. I plan on getting involved with the TCU football program as a student manager/recruiter, which will be a great experience and a valuable learning opportunity.
In addition to sports, I have always enjoyed spending time with family. I have many younger cousins and every holiday, we have an Olympics competition, which has shaped some of my favorite childhood memories. These experiences have taught me the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and having fun.
I’m looking forward to creating new memories this summer at Decathlon and hope to make your kids feel the same excitement and joy. I can’t wait to share my love for sports and teamwork with all the campers and help them have an unforgettable summer!
Ryan Juran
Hello! My name is Ryan Juran and this will be my 11th Summer at Decathlon. I graduated from Saint Francis high school in 2022 where I played football, basketball and lacrosse, although football was always my first love. I am currently a rising third year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where I am double majoring in philosophy and pre-law. My goal is to one day go to law school, but I have a long road before I get there! Outside of school l am on my fraternity’s executive board where I have learned a lot and made many meaningful connections. In my free time I enjoy playing basketball, working out, being outdoors, and spending time with my friends and family. I am looking forward to a great summer with this awesome group!
Kiran Raina
Hello, my name is Kiran Raina and I am a rising Junior at Los Altos High School working as a JC. This will be my second year at camp and I hope to make more memories again this summer. I’ve played almost every sport there is, but my main and favorite sport has to be soccer. I currently play at the NPL (national premier leagues) level and served as the captain for my high school JV team, and also won MVP. Besides soccer, I am an avid runner and I compete on both the cross country and track teams for Los Altos High School. Aside from these two I grew up playing football and played it my freshman year, and I love playing volleyball, basketball, tennis and badminton. Outside of camp some of my passions and skills I hope to learn in the future include photography, martial arts, and cars. I look forward to having a blast this summer with all the campers, as well as sharpening up my skills in some sports I haven’t played in a while!
Group 7
Surya Somasundaram
Sports have always been a significant part of my life. Basketball, in particular, has been my passion for about 10 years. Over the past two years, I've also taken on private coaching and started refereeing in the last year. Through sports, I've learned valuable lessons and formed many meaningful friendships. Beyond sports, I enjoy spending time with my friends, whether we’re playing video games or board games. I also listen to all sorts of music and my favorite artist is Zach Bryan. I’m very excited to meet everyone and embark on this journey with Decathlon!
Samay Shanmugham
Hi, I'm Samay Shanmugham and this will be my 8th summer at camp - my 2nd as a Junior Counselor. I am an upcoming senior at Mountain View High School and went to Bullis Charter from 1st-7th grade and Blach for 8th. I play varsity lacrosse (and previously basketball) for Mountain View High and love to get involved in sports whenever I can. When not on the field or court, I also love getting out on the golf course or going fishing. Camp has always been a summer highlight, making unforgettable memories. This year, I'm excited to provide that same great experience to my campers.
Group 8
Kez Dunn
Hey everyone, my name is Kez and I'm super excited to be back at Decathlon for a second year! I just finished my second year at the University of Texas, where I study exercise science and work for our Men's Basketball team. Growing up, I mostly played Football and Track and Field, but I was fortunate to have awesome experiences in many more sports. I now love pretty much all of them and enjoy working with kids, so a camp like Decathlon is perfect for me! My favorite activities at camp would have to be our trips to the beach, wiffleball, flag football, and pretty much everything else as long as our group is having a good time. I can't wait to see all the campers, and I also look forward to meeting some of y'all at Extended Care!
Khalil Qureshi
Hi! My name is Khalil Qureshi. This will be my ninth summer at Decathlon and my very first summer working here. I am going into my senior year at Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto. I was born and raised in Palo Alto where throughout my time at Hoover Elementary, JLS Middle School, and Gunn High, I played many seasons of basketball, football, baseball, soccer, and cross country. While I have spent many hours as a player, I have also spent a lot of time coaching. I was a head coach for two basketball teams this past year and plan to do more during my senior year. During my free time, I like to watch NBA games (huge Golden State Warriors fan), watch movies/TV shows, and try new foods. In the future, I hope to study kinesiology or become some sort of teacher. My main goal at Decathlon is to help the campers have the same amazing experience I had, and I am super excited to be working at camp this summer.
Group 9
Ben Westgate
I graduated Mountain View High School in the class of 2023, and just completed my freshman year at the University of Arizona where I am studying retail and consumer science. I played every major sport growing up and received the most training in football, basketball, and baseball. This will be my 12th summer at decathlon, I’m currently 18 years old. I first started my journey at decathlon long before I was born when my mom was a counselor in college, then I started as a group 1 camper when I was 5 years old and haven’t looked back since. I’m absolutely pumped to make this the best summer Decathlon has ever seen!
Ori Gillai
Hi, my name is Ori Gillai. I am a rising senior at Los Altos High School, and this will be my ninth summer at Decathlon and my third year working here as a Junior Counselor. Decathlon has always been a huge part of my summer. As a camper, attending Decathlon helped foster in me a love for positive competition and teamwork, and some of my fondest memories come from days spent playing sports and having fun at camp. Working as a Junior Counselor, I have found it extremely fulfilling to share the same energy and excitement that I’ve always felt about Decathlon with my campers, and I’m looking forward to doing so again this summer! Outside of camp, I enjoy playing basketball, reading, and hanging out with friends.
Group 10
Ryan Boardman
Hi, my name is Ryan Boardman and this will be my second year as a Counselor at Decathlon. I was born and raised in the bay area and I currently work as a PE teacher & Athletic Director at a private school in Campbell. The past few summers I have coached at various sports camps working with kids ranging from ages 5-14. Growing up I played baseball and basketball however I have extensive knowledge of many sports because of my background being a PE teacher/ Athletic Director. I am happily married and my wife and I have three wonderful children. My oldest daughter (10) plays softball and she is currently on a travel softball team. Throughout the summer we spend most of our weekends watching our daughter compete in softball tournaments, which as a family we all enjoy. My hobbies include traveling, exercising, and spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy spending time at the lake during the summer where another passion of mine is water sports. I have been wakeboarding and waterskiing ever since I was a kid. I'm looking forward to my second summer at Decathlon and am excited to meet your kids!
Danny Swank
Hi my name is Danny Swank I’m 18 and I have been at decathlon for 14 years. All of my life I have played a variety of sports such as football, baseball, volleyball, wrestling, basketball, rugby and soccer. As you can see it is an important part of my life. During my third year of high school at Saint Francis I played football and rugby. When I grow up I hope to work as a marine biologist or a sports marketer. I am returning for my third summer as a Junior Counselor and I am very excited to be back at camp because I have been here for over half of my life. It means the world to work here again. I hope to bring your kids the same joy and experience as I did at Decathlon.
Ron Vansover
Hello! My name is Ron Vansover. I am now a rising Junior at Kehillah Jewish High School, and I went to Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School for elementary and middle school. I recently did Taekwondo, a Korean martial art, and I am now a black belt. I also do strength training and lifting. I love hanging out with friends and reading and watching science fiction media, mainly DUNE! This is my tenth summer at Decathlon Sports Club, having started during the summer right before first grade. I have made so many wonderful friends and memories here at camp and this is hands down my favorite camp to go to during the summer! Decathlon has created such a significant impact on me as a person, and I am so grateful that I can contribute to it!
Group 11
Danielle Gillai
Hi! My name is Danielle, I am 19 years old, and I am so excited to be a counselor at Decathlon! I grew up here in Los Altos and played basketball at Los Altos High School. I just finished my freshman year at Barnard College of Columbia University, where I am majoring in computer science. Besides basketball and programming I also enjoy hiking and playing guitar! I have many happy memories from my summers spent as a camper at Decathlon, and I can’t wait to create the same awesome experience for campers this year.
Kendall Nord
Hi! My name is Kendall Nord, and I am super excited to be a JC at Decathlon Sports Camp this summer. Currently, I am sixteen years old and am a rising junior at Mountain View High School where I have loved running on the varsity cross country and track & field teams as well as playing on the school soccer team. Prior to high school, I was on the Blach Intermediate School cross country, volleyball, soccer, and track & field teams, and played club soccer for MVLA Soccer Club. I have been able to make so many amazing friendships and memories through sports so far and look forward to making more this summer at Decathlon Camp with all of you! I look forward to sharing my passion for sports and building a strong team bond with my campers! Although this will only be my second year working at Decathlon, I had a blast working as a JC last year and am so excited to come back and work this summer! In my free time, my favorite thing to do is to play with my friends and family. Whether I am building legos, shooting soccer balls with my younger brothers, or running with my younger sister, I always have a blast. I can’t wait to start our summer fun at Decathlon!
Ellie Katsav
Hi! My name is Ellie Katsav and I’m a rising sophomore at Los Altos High School. I do track and field and was on the field hockey team at school this year and can’t wait to play again next season! This is my fifth year at Decathlon but I first came to camp in kindergarten and absolutely loved it! I have lots of experience babysitting and teaching kids and love to make a positive impact on them. I’ve loved being a camper at Decathlon and then learning to be more involved in camp as a JCIT so I am very excited to be JC this year! I hope to make this summer full of energy and amazing memories for the young campers so they can fall in love with camp like I did in Group 11!
Tamara Rubinsky
Hi, my name is Tamara, I am going into my junior year at Menlo Atherton High School, this is my 4th summer at Decathlon, and my second summer working here as a JC! I have loved being a part of Decathlon for the past four years, it has become one of the highlights of my summer and a place where I can make so many memories. Over the years I have enjoyed doing gymnastics but currently am doing volleyball for my school and club teams! When I'm not playing volleyball I like to bake, listen to music, watch sunsets, hang out with friends and spend time with my family. I also really enjoy getting to meet new people and hangout outdoors! I am super excited to be a part of the amazing staff this year and overall, have an amazing summer. I cannot wait to make this year at camp the best one yet!
Group 12
Emily Jacquemin
Hi! My name is Emily and this is my first summer here at Decathlon! I am so excited for what this summer holds and to meet everyone!
I grew up in Sunnyvale and graduated from Homestead High School in 2022. I am now entering my junior year at Arizona State University, studying Business Marketing with a minor in Psychology, after transferring from the University of Hawaii. After school, I am hoping to work within the marketing and advertising industry of sports!
I have played sports my entire life and played soccer and field hockey competitively throughout high school. Therefore, I am always looking for ways to incorporate sports and ways to stay active into my life. Recently, I had the opportunity to work as a competitive soccer coach for a young team with the Hawaii United Football Club. Coaching this team became one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, which is what led me to the Decathlon! Playing sports has allowed me to create lifelong friendships and taught me valuable lessons, which are experiences I hope to share with the next generation of athletes!
In my free time, I love going to concerts, going to the beach, playing pickleball, and traveling! I also love finding ways to get more involved which is why I am a part of a sorority and professional fraternity at school.
I am incredibly excited to work as a counselor this summer and to create meaningful memories with all your kids!
Micaela Rubinsky
Hi! My name is Micaela Rubinsky and I am a rising junior at Menlo Atherton High School. I have been a part of the Decathlon community for four years, and this is my second summer working as a JC! I enjoy every second spent at Decathlon because the camp gives me the opportunity to connect and build new friendships with others. Over the years I have played a little bit of volleyball but currently do dance for my school and studio teams. When I am not at dance, I love to hang out with my friends, bake, and listen to music. I am so excited to be a part of the Decathlon staff this year and I cannot wait to have the best summer ever!
Noa Gold
Hi! My name is Noa and this will be my 6th year at Decathlon. I was a camper for five years, and this is my first year working as a Junior Counselor. I have participated in many sports over the years, including gymnastics, dance, swim, and field hockey. I am currently competing in field hockey and swimming. In my free time, I love to bake, read, listen to music, and hangout with friends. I had so much fun being a camper at Decathlon, and I can't wait to return this year and make even more great memories!
Natalie Erdell
I attend Los Altos High School and I will be going into my sophomore year. I am a student athlete who played JV Field Hockey, JV Soccer, and Varsity Lacrosse during my first year of high school. My favorite sport is soccer and I also play for MVLA soccer club year round. This is my 6th year at decathlon, and my first year being a Junior counselor! I always love trying new sports and making friends, and I’ve found that Decathlon is an excellent place to do that. Decathlon has been my favorite camp since I first started going, and the Counselors were always an essential part of what made camp so fun. This year, I am excited to take that role and I hope to create the same fun experience!
Group 13
Cassie Hickinbotham
Hi, My name is Cassie Hickinbotham and this is my first summer at Decathlon. I am so honored and excited to have this opportunity, not only for the experience but for the special memories I get to make here. I was born and raised in Campbell California, where I played various sports growing up, beginning with softball, where I debuted as a Green Gecko. After my stint in softball, I began dancing where I was on a competitive team for over 7 years. I finished off my sports career as a varsity field hockey captain and the goalkeeper at Branham High School, where I graduated last year. This coming fall I will continue with my college career attending Colorado State University for my second year majoring in Communications with a minor in Media Studies and Business management. I plan on continuing my studies abroad the following year beginning in Italy, and hopefully getting to fulfill my travel dreams and see a great deal of Europe.
Outside of school, I am very passionate about music. I love all genres and I especially love to attend concerts in my free time. One of the things I like most about music is the community, and its beautiful ability to bring people together. I also love to spend time in nature, such as hiking, camping, or skiing in the Colorado mountains. I think this fascination originated as a child when I attended summer camp every year in the mountains.
I am very excited to be involved and work at Decathlon and I hope to make an impact for all the children just as I was impacted when I was younger.
Ellie Westgate
Hi, my name is Ellie and this is my 11th summer at camp. I started at camp when I was 6 years old because my older brother raved about how much fun it was. I joined the next summer and have come back to each one since then. This is my third year as a Junior Counselor. Last year I had so much fun with my campers and I am super excited for this summer. I was born and raised in Mountain View California with my 2 siblings who also attend camp. I was exposed to all sports at around age 5 including gymnastics, soccer, and basketball and then later I tried softball and volleyball. I played volleyball and basketball all of middle school and slowly pulled away from all other sports to commit to competitive basketball. I am an incoming senior at Mountain View High School this year, excited to finish out my last year as a high school student. I've played basketball for my high school team all three years so far, starting the last two seasons on varsity. I have continued playing basketball outside of school with a local club team and I hope to go out strong next year for my senior season. As a student, I have worked to keep up my grades and join clubs including our school's GreenTeam to advocate for a more eco-friendly and aware campus. Outside of school, I love hanging out with friends, being outside, and cooking in the kitchen. As always I am so excited to return to Decathlon this summer for another awesome year at camp. Each year has been such an amazing experience, meeting new people and creating fun new memories. I can’t wait to work as a JC this year and may there be many more memories to come.
Camryn Motil
Hi, my name is Camryn Motil and this will be my first year working as a junior camp counselor. I was born in Aromas CA but my life has always revolved around the Mountain View Area. I went to Saint Francis high school for the past four years but I’ve been around the school since the moment I was born. My Dad was the Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach for twenty years; so I basically grew up in the gym. I played sports like basketball, volleyball and track throughout middle school, however my favorite was being a wide receiver for our flag football team.
Once I got to high school I decided to focus on my real passion of Dance. Through my Competitive Dance Company, I have become a 5x Ms. California Champion, a 3x West Coast Champion and a 2x USA Champion. I will be using this amazing talent to minor in Dance next year in College, as well as becoming a new addition to the University of Dayton’s Dance Team. I’m super excited for the summer and can’t wait to meet all of you!
Group 14
Olivia Bocchieri
Hello, my name is Olivia Bocchieri and this is my 10th summer here at Decathlon. In the fall, I am going to be a sophomore at Indiana University, majoring in film with a minor in theatre. I have made so many great memories during my time here at Decathlon and want to make sure my campers are able to make those same memories. My brother and I were both campers here and were always welcomed with smiling faces from the staff. I love working with kids and always try to make sure they are having the most fun possible when under my care. I work at an ice skating rink during the winter when I am back from college and constantly work with kids on the ice while ice guarding. The best definition I was given for ice guarding was a lifeguard but on ice. I have played a few sports over my life including softball for 8 years, soccer and lacrosse for 3 years, and dance for 4 years but I have gained a lot of my knowledge about other sports here at Decathlon. I can't wait for camp and to have an amazing summer.
Parker McCabe
Hi, my name is Parker McCabe and this is my third year working at Decathlon and eighth overall! I’m currently a junior at Los Altos High School where I play water polo and am on the swim team. Outside of sports, I am part of my school’s theater company and choir. I can’t wait to make this summer great!
Group 15
Lara Lew-Strass
Hello! My name is Lara, and I am so excited for camp this summer! This will be my 6th year at Decathlon, and I am looking forward to spending the whole summer with my campers! I am from Palo Alto, and graduated from Palo Alto High school in 2023. While there, I was vice president of the Jewish Student Union, a Co-Captain of the Field Hockey team, founded a girls business club, and got certified as an employable assistant teacher for California schools! Since then, I have enjoyed a gap year abroad filled with growth and friendship, and am returning with so many stories to share. In the upcoming year, I will begin at Stanford University, where I hope to pursue economics and statistics, as well as join a variety of clubs such as a-cappella, intramural field hockey, Jewish Student Union, and more! I can’t wait to have a great summer!
Sabrina Neal
I just finished my freshman year at Los Altos High School. I played varsity softball and JV volleyball. I am 15 years old, this will be my 9th year going to Decathlon, and I’m excited for hopefully my 10th and 11th over the next few years. I’m so excited for a fun summer at camp!
Group 15.5
Ashley Sarkosh
Hi, my name is Ashley Sarkosh and I have been a camper at Decathlon since 2015 but this will be my first summer as a counselor. I just graduated from Gunn High School and will be an incoming college freshman this fall! My favorite sport is soccer, and I have been playing competitive soccer since I was 6 years old. I was also on the swim team for three years at Fremont Hills Country Club, I played basketball for NJB for four years, and played recreational volleyball for two years. In high school, I played Lacrosse and soccer. I enjoy playing sports because I can be active and get great exercise, while at the same time be with a group of friends who share the same goal. I have met many of my closest friends from playing sports. Because I love sports, Decathlon Sports Club was a perfect fit every summer. Two of my favorite activities at camp were dodgeball and gaga ball, probably because I didn’t play them too often and so I would always look forward to these activities when I went to camp. I also looked forward to seeing my welcoming counselors and friends every day. Going to Decathlon is always one of my favorite highlights during the summer and that is why I am so excited to come back and be a counselor and encourage and provide your campers with lots of fun and great memories.
Paige Leban
Hi, my name is Paige Leban and this is my 8th summer at Decathlon. I’m 17 years old and just finished my Junior year at Los Altos High School. My favorite sport is soccer, and I’ve been playing since I was 6 years old. I currently play forward for a club team in Palo Alto and I’ve been on the Los Altos JV Soccer team for three years. Outside of sports, I like to do photography and hang out with my friends. This is my third year of being a Junior Counselor and I am very excited! When I was a camper, Decathlon was always something I would look forward to over the summer and I can’t wait to continue camp as a JC. I’m looking forward to spending another summer working at Decathlon!
Group 16
Ainsley Witte
Hi! My name is Ainsley Witte, and this will be my 10th year at Decathlon. I started going to camp in kindergarten, then went through the JCIT program, worked as a JC, and this will be my first summer as a counselor. I graduated from Los Altos High last year and just finished my first year at Northeastern University in Boston. Sports have played a massive role in making me who I am today! In high school, I played softball, field hockey, and basketball. At Northeastern, I play on the club frisbee team and on intramural basketball and soccer teams. My favorite camp activity has always been gaga ball (which I thought was my life's true calling as a camper!). I love sharing my enthusiasm with the campers while letting them discover for themselves how fun and valuable sports can be. Outside of sports, I enjoy going to concerts, playing guitar, baking, spending time with my two dogs, and reading. I am so excited to be spending another amazing summer at Decathlon!!
Cammie Melcher
Hi, my name is Cami, and this is my fourth summer at Decathlon. I grew up in Menlo Park, and I'm going into my senior year at Menlo-Atherton High School. From a young age my parents threw me into sports and I enjoyed every second of it. I did sports like tennis, swimming, dance, aerial silks, before I fell in love with soccer. While playing soccer I played basketball, and waterpolo. I love working with kids as they always add new fun perspectives to every conversation. I feel so lucky to be able to work at decathlon this summer and I know we are going to have a blast!
Group J7
Glen Fries
Hi, my name is Glen Fries, and this is my sixth (non-consecutive) summer at Decathlon. I was a camper in the 1980s and became a counselor for a few years after graduating from Homestead High School. This will be my first year as a Camp Director. I went to Tufts University outside of Boston for my undergraduate degree. At Tufts, I played football and was a captain my senior year. I worked at an Investment Bank before getting my law degree at the University of New Hampshire. I eventually returned to California, turned my back on the corporate world, and became an English and Special Education teacher at San Mateo High School. I love it! I am also an assistant football coach at the high school. My children Eva (7) and Beni (6) will be legacy campers this summer. In addition to forging new friendships, I hope they (and all campers) will learn the lessons of good sportsmanship, determination, and skill development I took away from my years at Decathlon. Let’s have an amazing summer!
Group J8
Andre
Hi! My name is Andre Hayes and this is my 6th year at camp and my 1st year as a director. I was introduced to the camp by one of my closest friends Jeff Berridge. We were Basketball teammates at NDNU and remained friends after we graduated. I currently work at Sacred Heart School as an Associate Teacher and I coach youth basketball. With basketball being my main sport I really get a chance to share my passion and knowledge to the kids who share the same passion. I'm really glad to be a part of the DSC family, I don't only get to coach and teach the sport that I'm passionate about, but I also get to learn more about other sports from all the great staff and athletes at this camp.