Gotham Candidate Forum: Division 9
Players in Division 9 will be voting from May 7th, 2025, through 11:59 PM on May 11th, 2025, to elect captains for the Fall 2025 Division Play Season as well as Team All Stars for the Spring 2025 Division Play Season. If you play in Division 9 and have not received a ballot after 2 PM on May 7th, please e-mail [email protected].
Below, please find the candidate profile of the candidates for Division 9 Captain:
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- Kendall VanAmburg–Hiiee D9! šš¼ This season taught me that winning isnāt everything š – and while itās certainly fun to win, itās SO important to still have fun even while losing. Iām running for captain because I have loved being captain before, and I want to give back to this incredible community that has meant so much to me the past two years. Coming into D9, I was both nervous and excited by the prospect of a division full of new people, but Iāve had the most amazing time and Iād love to keep the good vibes going! š
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- Raily Hsu–Iām passionate about leading by example and creating a supportive, driven team environment. As Captain, Iāll bring strong communication, accountability, and motivation to help every member thrive. I believe in encouraging growth and fostering a positive team culture. This will be my first time serving as one. I am so excited to see how it goes!
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- Amy Santiago–D9 is my safe placeāa space where Iāve grown, felt supported, and found community. The diverse teams our Captains select each season make D9 truly special, and itās been incredible to watch our division evolve and create a culture thatās fun, competitive, and inclusive. I would love the opportunity to continue contributing to that growth and provide others with the same positive experience D9 and Gotham has given me.
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- Kevin Mahoney–Hi! Iām Kevin. You might recognize me from such roles as Excessively Sweaty Middle and Frightened Serve Receiver #2. This season, Iād also like to be a captain. Iāve been in Gotham for three years, and itās been the source of some of my most fun experiences and closest friendships in the city. Iāve been fortunate to have had captains who made that possible, and Iād love the opportunity to pay that forward by creating the same experience for others as a captain this season.
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- Sandi (aka Steven) Woods–Hey Gotham fam! IāmāÆSandiāequal parts scream machine and human playlist. Iāll set the rotation, track the stats, and still have postāmatch drinks ready at Gym Bar after the match. And, as Gaga reminds us, āBaby, we were born this wayāāborn to dive, laugh, and win together. If you want a captain who hustles for every ball āÆandāÆ every teammate, bump me to the top of your ballot!
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- John Rafael Perez–If you’ve met me (or just watched me dive across the court for the ball), you’ll know that I really really REALLY love this game. But more than that, I’ve been so grateful for the D9 community, which has been welcoming and supportive. I’ve spent my last two seasons in this division really learning this game and meeting as many D9-ers as I can, and I now feel prepared enough to give back to a community that’s meant a lot to me over the past few years. I hope that I can bring out the best in a team, and give everyone the opportunity to shine.
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- Miguel Luis Arias–Hey! I am Miguel Luis (or as my friends fondly call me, Migs š). Iām running for captain because I want to contribute in making D9 as fun as possible, on and off the court! Iāve been playing volleyball since I was 11, and I love how it brings people together. Iād love to build team spirit, create good vibes, and organize social hangs with our team and other D9 squads. Whether weāre bumping balls, grabbing drinks after a game, belting our hearts out at karaoke, or showing off our smarts at trivia night, I want everyone to feel welcome, connected, and part of something awesome. Letās win some points, make new friends, and keep it fun all season!
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- Steven Ott–Channeling our royal queen Gabby Windey, who (sort of) said, āI love Gotham Volleyball. I love the friends on the sidelines, I LOVE my team, and I love talking at Gym Bar.ā My name is Steven Ott, and with past captain experience, I’m thrilled to bring my high energy and spirit to our Fall 2025 D9 season. What makes D9 amazing is the blend of new faces, teamwork, fun, and competition. No chopstick eye-gouging here, Gabby, sorry! As your captain, I’ll focus on building each other up so we can dominate on the court and have a blast doing it. Let’s make this season unforgettable! <3
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- Kevin Park–D9, I am once again asking for your support! After two seasons as captain, I’ve learned so much from my team, the division, and my fellow captains, and Iād love the chance to continue building the fun, competitive, and inclusive community that makes D9 my favorite division. Itās been great connecting with new and familiar faces while leading alongside my fellow captains, and Iād be honored to do it all again. Letās make next season even better!
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- Eric Eichenholtz–I am running for Captain because I enjoy giving back to the Gotham community by building a team that plays well, has fun, and embraces the wonderfully diverse community that is Gotham Volleyball. I am a veteran Captain with a track record of building teams of level-appropriate volleyball players that have a good experience on and off the Court. If re-elected Captain, I would work hard and use my experience to pick a Fall 2025 team that is skilled and has an enjoyable season. Along with the other Captains, I would work to ensure that Division 9 remains a open, welcome, social and inclusive place for all.
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- Tim O’Keeffe–Iām interested in running for Captain because I love bringing our little community together through sport, laughter, and a little friendly drama on the court. Iāve been a captain before and know how to lead with heart, humor, and a fierce group chat game. Iām all about creating fun inclusive vibez where everyone feels seen, hyped up, and ready to slay the house downāwhether weāre winning points or living our best lives at Gym Bar.
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- Gerardo Tanaka–I’m interested in serving as Captain because I want to help ensure that Gotham, and especially my team and division, continues to be a strong, positive, and welcoming community. I believe in playing volleyball to have fun, connect, and support one another. I have previous experience as a captain in high school and naturally consider myself a leader. Most importantly, I want to make sure my team has the best experience possible at Gotham ā just like the amazing one I had this past season.
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- ALANDY BAUTISTA — I believe that I am a transformational leader. As a dedicated captain, Iāve been serving Gotham for twelve (12) seasons since Fall 2017. I put together a group of incredible players that I personally picked with strong skills and potentials who stood out during tryouts for my teamās draft. I teach & promote sportsmanship, camaraderie, skill development, teamwork & the love of the sports. Itās very important to invest in others, give something back to the community & use my unique talent to make a difference. When I plant those seeds to other players in my team, I transform them & serve as a catalyst captain to bring out the best in them. To my dearest D9 Family, Iām again running as Captain for Fall 2025.
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- Toby Boff–After having joined Gotham 3 seasons ago, I have been so fortunate to have captains that have fostered a strong sense of community and friendship. I’ve seen first hand the positive impact that a supportive, encouraging, and friendly captain can make on a team. I would love to pass that experience on to a future team!
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- Matt Poon–Hello! I’ve had the pleasure of being a captain twice before throughout my time in Gotham, and I believe I’ve been able to maintain my commitment to inclusion, community, and collaboration. I’ve always valued building positive and authentic connections on and off the court, and I am excited by the chance to do it again as a captain. Please vote for me if you’re looking for a leader who will look out and advocate for you, values a diverse and dynamic team, and wants to laugh a lot with you.
