By Adam Hawthorne, Staff Writer
As the fall season comes to an end and the weather becomes colder, anticipation for River Hill winter sports begins.
Over the next few weeks students will begin to try out for various sports such as basketball, wrestling, and indoor track. This time of year brings a mix of excitement, nervousness, and motivation as athletes try and make their team. These tryouts bring new opportunities for those seeking the chance to make a team or try a completely new sport all together, creating a competitive atmosphere among student athletes.
Basketball tryouts are one of the most competitive among the winter sports. The girls and boys team are looking to build on and improve from last year. There are many returning players, but there is always room for new assets to step up and take advantage of this opportunity. Sophomore Justin Manganillo looks to seize this opportunity for himself. Manganillo made it to the last round of junior varsity basketball tryouts last year, but unfortunately did not make the cut. However, he did not let this bring him down but instead used it to motivate him towards his goals of making the team. “I’ve been working hard all summer and I’ve put all my effort and work into this. I’m determined to make the team,” says Manganillo. Coaches have already said they expect a big turnout this year, especially with many underclassmen hoping to make the team.
The girls basketball team is taking a different approach to tryouts this year, hosting their tryouts at 12am Saturday morning. Winter sports tryouts are technically not allowed to happen until Saturday, so the girls took advantage of this and decided to have them as early as possible. No one has ever seen a team do this before, having tryouts late at night, but the athletes think it is a fun idea and want to go along with it. “It is kind of crazy to have a tryout at 12am, but I think it will be fun and I am sort of looking forward to it, even if I don’t get a lot of sleep the night before,” says sophomore Olivia Creighton.
Indoor track is also preparing for a busy season. While outdoor track happens in the spring, the winter version focuses more speed work due to their shorter events with a 200 meter track instead of the normal 400 meter track. Many athletes use winter track as a way to prepare for other sports or to stay in shape, but the team still takes competition very seriously. Runners have already started conditioning in preparation for the season. “I’m excited to get back running and I think that we’ll have a very successful season,” states Junior Christopher Koonce.
Wrestling is another sport pulling in a lot of interest this winter. Over the past few years the program has grown a good amount and hopes to continue building momentum. The team hopes to improve on a successful previous season, and everyone is excited to get back into the sport. Coaches emphasize attitude and effort just as much as strength and technique, and returning athletes are excited to welcome underclassmen or new athletes to the team. “I am definitely a little nervous heading into these tryouts, but I am excited for the season and I am looking forward to get back into a sport I used to play,” says freshman Logan Case.
As tryouts get closer, more and more students are getting excited for the winter season to begin. No matter what sport they’re going for, everyone is focused on doing their best and seeing how far they can go. With so many athletes putting in the effort, this winter looks like it’s going to be a strong and exciting season for River Hill.