My son Nathan, a 2005 PALY grad, and I went to San Jose Saturday evening to watch the PALY girls volleyball team against Long Beach's "POLY" team compete for the State title in Division 1. Our girls won in a very exciting contest that really was down to the wire. Best of 5, in Game 5, PALY won 17-15. Very exciting and a marvelous evening all around.

My youngest finished at PALY in 2008, so I have not been as engaged with the school since then. What struck me last night was the huge turnout of PALY fans for the girls, great enthusiasm for the Volleyball program--I wish I owned the company that produced all the various T-Shirts that people were wearing in support of the team!

It really is awesome to have such a high caliber of athleticism in a high school that also is ranked as one of the best in terms of academics. My son pointed out that the two are not mutually exclusive, he is correct, and sad to say in many schools one comes at the expense of the other.

It also is awesome how this affects our connections with each other in the Palo Alto community. We are blessed to have such great programs such as AYSO, Little League, Softball, Middle School sports, and fine high school teams. Certainly my connections with this town came about in no small part as a result of my kids participating in such activities, and the adult friends I made along the way.

So, 2 celebrations: the PALY Girls State Championship in Volleyball, and how this sort of event helps add to the "glue" that makes us a community in Palo Alto.