As the fall sports season comes to an end, I’m sure you know all about the epic wins (and losses) of our football team. Maybe you know a little bit about our soccer and girls’ volleyball teams, too! While we are incredibly proud of these teams, those students only represent a fraction of the dedicated student-athletes in our school. With senior nights in full force and championship games around every corner, let’s shine some light on the unrecognized sports teams of OHS.
Boys Volleyball
First and foremost on our list of “sports we didn’t know our school offered”, is the recently established boys volleyball team. The team has only been around for 3, coming up on 4 years, but has grown in skill and size with every passing season. For a person who has 8 dual meets in a season, the frequency of this team’s games is a massive culture shock. The dedication of the players on this constantly improving team is admirable, as there are occasions when they have up to 4 games in a single week. With 16 games down, the boys are aiming to go to sectionals at the end of this month.
Being interviewed is Chris Tapia, an 11th-grade volleyball captain who’s been on the team for 2 years. Playing on and participating in the young team has its challenges. Chris has been an instrumental part of the team’s developing foundation, and shared his thoughts on various aspects of the sport and team’s performance.
What sport and position do you play?
Chris: I play boys varsity volleyball and I am the libero.
What do you think your biggest team accomplishment has been this season?
Chris: Starting the season with a positive record, we were 4 and 2.
What do you think your biggest personal accomplishment was?
Chris: I was able to be a starter this year.
What was your favorite memory from this season?
Chris: We had two new additions at the beginning of the season who joined late, and they are now two of our biggest powers on the team. They came in after we had lost two games, and then we won four in a row.
Why do you think that boys’ volleyball doesn’t get recognized in the same way as other sports, including girls’ volleyball?
Chris: We’re not really seen as a popular sport. People don’t know how fun it is for everyone to play the sport, not just the girls. Some people see volleyball as a girls’ sport, but I feel like if they knew more about what we’re about, and how playing is for everyone, they’d be more intrigued.
What would you say to someone who wants to join the team but is skeptical or afraid?
Chris: There’s no harm in trying! You might find something you love.
What is the team’s goal/plan for the coming years?
Chris: Next year, we’re only going to have 3 varsity players returning because everyone else is a senior, so we really need to develop our team. Even if we don’t do well next year, developing everyone who joins next year will be a really big process, and developing boys’ volleyball as a whole.
Girls Varsity Field Hockey
Next up is the girls’ field hockey team. This small but mighty team has risen from previous years in numbers and positivity, and was able to secure 4 winning games this season. Countless more were played with grit and determination, and the girls were constantly able to return from a game knowing they played skillfully. The team consists of many players who are new to the sport, and a welcoming community fosters the growth and spread of knowledge across the team. Similar to boys’ volleyball, as the season comes to a close, the field hockey team is sectionals-bound and will continue to work hard over the next couple of weeks.
I had the opportunity to speak with Sofia Kringas, a 12th-grade speaking captain who’s been playing field hockey since her freshman year, and has been on varsity since the later season of her sophomore year. Sofia has been able to experience the growth of the team and shared her input on various aspects of the team’s performance and memories.
What sport and position do you play?
Sofia: I play field hockey, and I play defense and sometimes midfield.
What do you think your biggest team accomplishment has been this season?
Sofia: This year, our offense has been better, and we’ve been able to get up the field and win more; everything’s more attainable.
What do you think your biggest personal accomplishment was?
Sofia: I made speaking captain this year, so I help a lot of the younger girls develop their skills, and I like doing that.
What was your favorite memory from this season?
Sofia: I’m a little biased because last night we had team bonding, we have team bonding pretty frequently. Our preseason practices are pretty fun. We started with double sessions, so we have spent a lot of time together from August to now.
Why do you think field hockey doesn’t get recognized in the same way as other sports?
Sofia: I think there are a lot of other popular sports in the fall, so a lot of people tend to gravitate towards those sports, like soccer and football. We also don’t usually have as many people playing. This year, we had to combine our varsity and JV teams because we didn’t have enough players. I think our small team, previous record, and playing at AMD kind of deters people from coming to our games. We don’t have as many people, so there aren’t as many people coming out to support their friends and the team.
What would you say to someone who wants to join the team but is skeptical or afraid?
Sofia: We are very welcoming, we have a good JV coach who specializes in teaching new girls and helping them develop varsity-level skills. Varsity also works with and practices with JV a lot, so a lot of our Varsity captains and seniors help the younger girls get better, and we’re all teaching the grade below us. We’re always welcoming of new players because we have a lot of new players.
Cross Country
The cross country team has had a great season, with countless PRs and top finishers at every meet. The team works vigorously after school, running on the track and around town nearly every single day. These athletes put in the work and the mileage to support the team’s success. Cross country is one of those sports that cannot be faked. Your only true opponent is the clock; it’s a race against time. The clock doesn’t care if you had a bad day or if you’re just not feeling it. The only way to succeed in this grueling sport is to give it your all every time you put foot to trail. Other than that, it’s pretty easy!
I had the opportunity to interview Kaya, a 10th-grade distance runner who’s been on varsity cross country for 2 years. Kaya has run cross country since 6th grade, joining the modified team in the fall of her 8th-grade year. Kaya is consistently in the front of the pack during practice and helps guide the improving team towards victory and self-improvement. Kaya will be commenting on various aspects of the team’s performance and season.
What sport do you play?
Kaya: I run cross country.
What do you think your biggest team accomplishment has been this season?
Kaya: I think our biggest team accomplishment is that all of us PR’d this season
What do you think your biggest personal accomplishment was?
Kaya: Winning the Rivertowns Cup invitational and breaking 20 minutes in the 5k.
What was your favorite memory from this season?
Kaya: My favorite memory was running at the Section 1 League D mega duel meet. It was my first time winning a varsity race this season, so getting to lead the race and be in the front and have a big gap on everyone was really fun.
Why do you think cross country doesn’t get recognized in the same way as other sports?
Kaya: I think cross country doesn’t get recognized as much as other sports because it’s not really a team sport, and it’s a lot more individual. It’s not really a contact sport, so a lot of people don’t consider it a “real” sport. You don’t turn on the TV and see cross country, all you see is football, soccer, those sports.
What would you say to someone who wants to join the team but is skeptical or afraid?
Kaya: I would tell that person that cross country is not as easy as it seems, and it is not just running. You’re not only competing against other people, you’re competing against yourself. You have to put in the work and discipline, but when you run well, race well, and PR, it’s really fun and worth it. You get to socialize with people from all over the state, and it’s a really great chance to make new friends.
Girls Varsity Swimming
Swimming is a forgotten sport on the outskirts of sports culture in our and many other high schools. The girls’ swim team has gained many new swimmers this year and is currently building a strong foundation for years to come. The girls show dedication and improvement nearly every time they swim, with constant effort to try different events and swim faster and faster. Much like cross country, swimming is an individual sport, where the only person to truly beat is yourself. It can be hard to maintain stamina and motivation to swim. Sometimes, just getting in the pool is the hardest part of practice. (That, and the 3,000-meter ladder set coach has delicately written on the board.) What we’ve seen this season is girls pulling through. Girls trying their hardest, even on the off days, even when we’re 16 points behind with two events to go, because you never know when that hard work will pay off.
I am interviewing Brianna Contreras, a 12th grader who’s been on the varsity swim team since 7th grade. Brianna has seen 6 years of highs and lows, the peaks and lulls of the team, and is here to comment on various aspects of the team’s performance.
What sport do you play?
Brianna: I’m the Senior Team Captain for the Girls Varsity Swim team.
What do you think your biggest team accomplishment has been this season?
Brianna: I think our biggest team accomplishment was winning our senior meet last Friday, [October 17th]. It’s been a few years since we’ve won it, and we all worked really hard, showed good sportsmanship, and PR’d. It was close, but just enough to win it.
What do you think your biggest personal accomplishment was?
Brianna: Every year, I try and get to know the girls, and there were a lot of new girls this season, so that really helped me get out of my shell. I also dropped a good amount of time this season, which I’m happy about because I went a few years without dropping time.
What was your favorite memory from this season?
Brianna: Again, I think the Senior meet was really nice because it was my senior meet, and it was nice to win it. I also always love the homecoming T-shirt making with the team.
Why do you think girls’ swimming doesn’t get recognized in the same way as other sports, including boys’ swimming?
Brianna: I think swimming in general doesn’t get much recognition, but especially girls’ swimming. Coincidentally, we swim in the most hyped up and active season, and I feel like there are a lot of other popular sports, and it’s really easy not to realize there’s a swim team when there’s football and soccer and all these teams, so I guess it makes sense.
Why do you think football and soccer are so popular in comparison?
Brianna: Probably because they’re just really big teams. I feel like people like to watch team sports better because it’s almost easier to understand, whereas individual sports like track and swimming have meets. I guess some people could find it boring because it’s just us racing the clock.
What would you say to someone who wants to join the team but is skeptical or afraid?
Brianna: I would tell them to come out and maybe watch a practice, see if they like the people and the atmosphere. I think they should just come out and try, and give it a shot at least. Especially if you don’t have a specific sport that you play, swimming can keep you fit, and it’s good overall.
Girls Varsity Tennis
Lastly, but by far not least, our girls’ tennis team wrapped up another impressive, undefeated season in early October. The girls’ season is shorter than other sports, but is filled to the brim with games nearly every day. In spite of the back-to-back game schedule, our girls prevailed every time they played, bringing heat and skill to every team they went up against. Tennis is another removed sport from central sports culture, with its only media appearance and shoutout being after their victory through the league championship. The team is made up of hardworking girls who are always eager to improve themselves and their skills. Too often, tennis is deemed as a “free sport”, a sport where players do anything less than the resilience and determination these girls have shown through the season.
I am interviewing Alexine (Lexi) Theodorou, a 10th-grade multisport athlete who has been named captain this season. In a sport that is largely swept aside by many, Lexi has had an incredible season and volunteered to share her thoughts on the team and their undefeated season.
What sport and position do you play?
Lexi: I play varsity tennis, and I play singles.
What do you think your biggest team accomplishment has been this season?
Lexi: Our biggest team accomplishment was winning our league championship this year and going undefeated as a team.
What do you think your biggest personal accomplishment was?
Lexi: My biggest accomplishment was going undefeated in league play.
What was your favorite memory from this season?
Lexi: My favorite memory was the long bus rides with our coach and the team.
Why do you think tennis doesn’t get recognized in the same way as other sports?
Lexi: I would say that tennis doesn’t get recognized because it’s not really a known sport, and people are afraid to join because they might not be good at everything.
What would you say to someone who wants to join the team but is skeptical or afraid?
Lexi: No matter if you’re a beginner or if you’ve been playing for years, for sophomores and above, it’s a good varsity exemption, and it’s good to be active and be part of a team.
Tell me about what the team is like?
Lexi: We have tryouts in August, and everyone makes the team, but it can determine if you play or not at games. Everyone practices, and at games the team is always so supportive and hype for the if you’re the last ones playing and just all around.
How has the season been for the team?
This season was really stressful, but we went undefeated, and it was overall a really good season for the team.
Why do you think that football, girls’ volleyball, soccer (etc.) are so much more “important” than tennis?
Lexi: I think it’s just the way that schools, the athletic department, and everyone view them. They’re viewed as the big, important sports, and lots of sports just don’t get that type of recognition. It’s hard when on the announcements it’s always “come watch the football game”, and among the student population too.
Every season, there are only a few sports that get the true recognition they deserve. In the midst of high school and even American sports culture, it can feel like there isn’t a place for the overlooked sports that so many of us play. Whether you’re on the court, in the pool, or on the field, there is room to appreciate all of our student-athletes. With winter sports less than a month away, ask your friends about what sports they play. Maybe you’ll learn that we have an ice hockey team, too!
