As the Portola High athletic departments grow, new coaches are appointed each year to help athletes across campus improve both on the field and beyond. This school year, two of the new coaches include lacrosse coach and physics teacher Matthew Pantalon and girls tennis coach and U.S. government teacher Marissa Wilkerson.
Matthew Pantalon
Before joining Portola High as a new coach, Pantalon was a lacrosse goalie in Kenyon College’s collegiate sports. He previously used his experience in lacrosse to coach club teams, working with athletes to prepare them for local tournaments.
“I was also working with all ages,” Pantalon said. “So I got a lot of variety there. Versus here, I feel like a lot of the team is brand new to the sport, so that’s definitely a different perspective. I have to [work] on establishing those skills at the start. Lacrosse is very front-heavy when it comes to developing skills. So, trying to help people through that is something I have to adjust to.”
For Pantalon, coaching at Portola High extends beyond helping athletes succeed — it includes generating a sense of consistency, perseverance and team culture. In the future, he looks forward to helping students foster a positive collaborative atmosphere and ensuring that all athletes feel welcome on the field.
“[One of my goals is] making sure everybody feels like they have a place on this team and making sure it feels like a fun, worthwhile time investment,” Pantalon said. “I want them to feel like they’re getting something out of me, and I want everybody to get out of this season what they want from it.”
Marissa Wilkerson
Wilkerson began playing tennis competitively in high school, continuing her involvement into college. Fifteen years later, she enjoys incorporating tennis back into her routine as a coach.
“I teach all seniors and I wanted the opportunity to meet some underclassmen,” Wilkerson said. “I also wanted the opportunity to see students doing something they’re passionate about. I’ve only ever seen my students in an academic setting, so it’s really fun to get to experience that with them.”
During practice, Wilkerson looks forward to emphasizing fitness as a lifelong goal for her students, something that is continually practiced through daily habits, according to Wilkerson.
“So the current goal is to make sure that we’re working as a team and starting to become more cohesive as we get into the future,” Wilkerson said. “I would love to be able to have more practices tailored to individual skills and things the girls need to work on.”
As the sports seasons progress, Pantalon and Wilkerson are among Portola High’s new coaches who join athletes in their journeys of teamwork and self-growth. Through coaches’ instruction, students have the opportunity to not only explore their sports but also foster new passions through practice and experience.
