EIGHTERS' YEARBOOK

Tan Pin Zhen
VOLLEYBALL (M) TEAM MANAGER
1. What drove you to be a team mag for
this particular sport?
I used to be a competitive volleyball player in secondary
school but eventually lost my passion for it
due to how competitive it can be just to get into the school team. I also felt like I could not see myself progressing
further up into JC and therefore I chose to quit volleyball then. Fast forward to Uni Year 1, Hall 8 gave me safe space
to try volleyball again. Due to the nature of Hall 8 sports being welcoming and accepting, I renewed my interest for
this sport and eventually focused on helping others who might be interested in this sport learn how to play as well.
After seeing how players like Jie Hui, Darren Nyo, Brendan Soh really start from zero and slowly train to become a
competent player in Year 1, it really warmed my heart and inspired me to give back this year as a Team Mag in Year 2.
2. Share your journey of being a team mag before and through the IHG season.
This Team Mag journey was certainly not easy as a lot of seniors who were experienced in the sport graduated
last year. This year the team was made up of mostly Hall trained players and even though they are really competent
players, it wasn’t enough to compete with the other teams in IHG with more experienced players. There was also
the challenge to teach the new batch of freshies about the sport with totally no experience. Hence, it was difficult to
train the team of varying skill levels to get ready for the upcoming competition. However, I am still thankful that the
team remain committed. Despite trainings held on Fridays and lack of training space, they still pushed on strong and
stayed focus during every training. Even when I proposed having additional training at OCBC Arena on Sundays (out
of our own time and pockets), the attendance was overwhelmingly positive, which showed that the team has gradually
loved this sport despite starting only in Uni. A really memorable match for me this IHG would be the match against
Hall 6. Hall 6 has a pretty strong volleyball team with a mix of experienced players. However, even though our Hall
was made up of mostly Hall trained players, we still put up a good fight neck and neck with Hall 6. Even though we
lost the match, I was super proud of the team and the team even said that they don’t mind the loss cause they had a
lot of fun. The other Hall’s supporters also cheered for us because they saw how hard we fought for the game. It was
truly a day of sportsmanship and love for volleyball.
3.Anything or anyone you are specially grateful for?
Firstly, I am very greatful to the alumni seniors Jie Xiang, Dion and Ping Teck. These seniors would often take their
time off their busy working schedules to come down to Hall 8 on Friday night or OCBC Arena on Sunday just to help
teach the new batch of freshies. And they provided me with a lot of useful advice on how to better train the team and
really thank them for taking their precious time off to help the new generation of vballers. Secondly, I really would like
to thank Charmaine, the girls team mag. We worked really well together this IHG season and really cannot see myself
working with anybody else but her. She is a really competent volleyball player and also provides really constructive
feedback on how to help the others improve. Lastly, just want to thank everyone in the 第 八 宿 舍 Volleyball group,
both past and present residents of Hall 8. Thank you all for being willing to donate out of free will so that we can
purchase volleyballs for the team. Thank you for constantly showing support and even getting welfare drinks for the
team whenever the team is training. You all know who you are. Volleyball is a sport that is really focused on team work
and I hope that more people can join this sport and our small little family.
2. Share your journey of being a team mag
before and through the IHG season.
Touch Rugby is in its essence is a team sport and very
hard to train or execute without numbers. It is also a
sport that is rarely played by other people and finding
players was the toughest part. But having lesser players
also meant having a tighter team bond amongst players
and I am extremely grateful for those who took their
time and played in this IHG season with me
Marcel Low
GRADUATING SENIOR
1. How was playing Touch this year
compared to your previous years?
Since we managed to get into the quarters
last year, I guess the natural goal was to make
the quarters or progress even further. Making
it to the quarters this year felt extremely
satisfying considering the fact that we could
never string a starting line for training and
most of the guys have never played a single
match before much less touch a ball.
2. What are some of the achievements
or struggles you’ve faced during the sport?
I never actually played competitive touch rugby prior to
entering uni and I guess the biggest issue was adapting to
a different playing style which was quite different to what
I was normally used to. I guess this sport is really quite
different from most territorial games (as we are passing
the ball backwards to move forward) which explains why
the community is quite small and tight. So I'm really quite
thankful to have friends that stepped into Hall 8 with me
(Zec, Evan, Daryl) and to play this sport together.
Wong Yi Jie
TOUCH RUGBY TEAM MANAGER
1. What drove you to be a team mag for
this particular sport?
When I was a Year 1 playing for touch rugby, I felt my
standards wasn’t up to par and would regret it if I did
not play again in Year 2. When I was approached to
be a Team Mag for Touch Rug in Year 2, I saw it as a
opportunity to try again and improve my standards
as a Touch Rug player.
3.Anything or anyone you are specially
grateful for?
I want to thank Marcel for sticking by me throughout all
the way for Touch Rugby. He was always there regardless
of the training situation despite weather or morale. He
was the true captain on the field and Hall 8 Touch Rugby
would not be where it is without him. And of course the
others who contributed to this sport.
tions to your team members?
S/O to YiJie, this year's team mag for managing to pull a
team together despite the circumstances, Jia Wen for
coming to help out when she's free, the boys who came
down to play as it's never easy to learn a new sport 1
hr before kickoff, supporters for constantly providing us
with hydration and first aid (esp for me) and lastly da
bros (zec, evan and daryl) for constantly being there for
me on and off da field .
3. As a graduating senior, any special men