For Jacob Artof ’28, sailing is more than a sport—it’s a legacy. Introduced to sailing at seven by his father and grandfather, Jacob stuck with it despite early reluctance. 

“I hated it for four years,” he said. “But once I got better, I wanted to stay.”

Now 15 years old, Jacob has sailed for over half his life and recently earned a spot on the U.S. Youth Sailing National Team after placing fifth at the prestigious Midwinters West Championship earlier this year. He competed in the ILCA 6 fleet, one of six youth classes in U.S. Sailing, with the event serving as a qualifier for the national team.

“Being part of the national team is an incredible opportunity,” Jacob said. “It allows me to train alongside the best sailors in the country and continue pushing myself to improve.”

Training hasn’t always been easy. Living in Ventura and commuting to Santa Monica meant long drives, but his family eventually began staying on a docked boat to make training more accessible. Now, Jacob sails multiple times a week during the school year and trains six days a week in the summer. 

“This past summer, I only slept in my own bed twice,” he shared.

The Midwinters West marked a turning point. Jacob and two teammates, competing in a tougher fleet, took a strategic risk in the final race that ultimately paid off.

“We went to the right side of the course while everyone else went left. We ended up placing one, two, and three,” he said.

His performance earned him national recognition and the chance to train with elite coaches, including U.S. Olympic head coach Steve Mitchell. 

Looking ahead, Jacob hopes to one day compete in the Olympics or join SailGP, a global league known for its high-speed, cutting-edge sailboat racing. Through it all, he credits Viewpoint for supporting his journey every step of the way.

“If I were at a public school, all of this travel likely wouldn’t be possible,” he shared. “My teachers have been so generous and supportive.”

Reflecting on what sailing has taught him, Jacob added, “Mentality is everything. After the first day at Midwinters, I was ranked 26th. I kept pushing and ended up in fifth. Every day is a new race.”

On Saturday, May 17, Viewpoint’s Varsity Track & Field teams capped the season with a historic showing, as the boys’ team earned a share of the CIF-SS Division 4 Championship with Serra High School, with both teams finishing tied at 49 points.

The boys team earned key points in the field, on the track, and in the relays to secure the shared title, while on the girls side, Tessa McCormack ’27 made school history with a record-breaking performance in the 800m to qualify for the Masters meet.

Other Spring Sports Playoff Highlights:

• Boys Lacrosse opened the playoffs with a dominant 14–2 win over Damien on April 29 before concluding their playoff run in the second round.
• Varsity Softball put up a strong fight in the first round of playoffs on May 15, narrowly losing to Dos Pueblos with a final score of 4–3.
• Varsity Baseball concluded its season on May 15 with a hard-fought 1–0 loss to Artesia in the first round of playoffs.
• Varsity Swim competed in the CIF-SS Division 3 Finals on May 9 at Mt. SAC. The girls team finished 14th overall, capping off a strong season with a solid showing at the meet.
• Varsity Golf competed in the CIF-SS Regional Tournament on May 12 at Los Serranos Country Club. Robert Wang ’27 finished 59th out of 135 golfers, while Declan O’Bryan ’25 placed 83 out of 135.

Kudos to all of our athletes for their dedication and outstanding performances this spring!

These Seniors are still in the game, and ready to continue their athletic journeys at the collegiate level. As a beloved and annual tradition at Viewpoint, seven scholar-athletes were recognized for their peak performance and path to college sports on Monday, May 19.

• Barbara Bezuglaya (Fencing, Columbia)
• Solomon Grammer (Football, College of the Canyons)
• Aeneas Grullon (Basketball, Moorpark) 
• Eric He (Boys Track, Williams College)
• Samantha Marella (Girls Soccer, University of Miami)
• Carly Nelson (Girls Softball, NYU)
• Izzy Parsky (Boys Baseball, Dartmouth)

Our college-bound athletes were joined by students, teammates, faculty, coaches, counselors, and their families in the Paul Family Athletic Center (PFAC) as they ceremoniously “signed” to their respective schools. Mark McKee, Head of School and Josh Frechette, Director of Athletics delivered congratulatory remarks and words of wisdom for these Seniors. Coach Travis Kikugawa, who has built and grown our soccer and tennis programs while guiding students through their recruiting journeys, helped mark the moment by presenting each athlete with a graduation cord.

“This is a moment filled with pride, gratitude, and, most of all, optimism,” said McKee. “Optimism may not always be the first word that comes to mind when we talk about athletics. We talk about endurance, hard work, and competition. But optimism is the quiet force behind every practice, every setback, and every comeback. It’s what fuels the early mornings, the late nights, and the long bus rides. It’s what allows an athlete to believe—not just in a win, but in improvement, in progress, in the power of showing up again and again.”

“Each of you has earned the opportunity to compete at the next level—across NCAA Division I, and III, and that is no small achievement,” said Frechette. “Only 6 percent of high school athletes go on to play in college and you're among that group because of your drive, your discipline, and your love for the game.”

Tanaz Nourian, Associate Director of College Counseling, announced each Senior and facilitated their signing to commemorate the moment. In a new and heartwarming tradition, Nourian read a personal note from each athlete’s parents as they signed and posed for photos. 

Frechette added,” As you move on to the next chapter, remember this: The uniform may change, the campus may be new, but the qualities that got you here—work ethic, passion, grit—will carry you through whatever challenges come next.”

We applaud these students for their passion and perseverance, and wish them luck in their college journey.