Whether you are a freshman or a graduating senior, sports are an essential and unforgettable part of high school. Fall sports, particularly at the school, are extremely popular among students and a great way to make new friends, especially for freshmen. However, it is a different experience for everyone, and as a first-year student, it can be more intimidating.
The fall season offers a wide variety of sports, including cheerleading (competitive or sideline), cross-country, field hockey, golf, volleyball, football, ultimate frisbee, and dance. While each athlete may have a different experience, many freshmen, such as Nicolette Nelson, have had a great start to the fall sports season.
“I think it has been really fun [and], my team has been really nice and [so have] the coaches,” said Nelson.
Though sports can be important for physical health, many students join to make connections with their peers. Kate Johnson, a cheerleader, discussed how, though it can be stressful, cheerleading is really fun and has helped her make new friends at school as a freshman.
“I joined a school sport because I like to be athletic and I like to exercise at least every day,” Johnson said. “I think it is fun because you can meet with people who are also interested in the same sport, like you can make a community, make new friends, and that’s definitely what happened for me.”
Freshman baseball player Matthew Petruccelli explained that, although his sport is played in the spring, he is looking forward to meeting new people and building a community in baseball.
“I want to join because I have always had a passion for baseball, and I think it is a really fun sport, and you get to meet new people, [plus it] sounds fun,” said Petruccelli.
However, a well-known downside to participating in sports is balancing the time commitment of being a team member with schoolwork and social activities. Nonetheless, many students continue to excel in both settings despite the additional workload.
“I feel like it hasn’t been too bad, sure, the practices can get in the way of your homework sometimes, but as long as you keep a schedule and everything, then it’s good,” Nelson said.
This schedule, although challenging, is manageable. Freshman football player Jorge Pinto-Castro agrees and elaborates on this point.
“It’s kind of been a struggle… but you maintain a schedule, [or] get in a rhythm,” he said.
Another essential factor to consider is that freshmen often struggle when joining a new sport due to their inexperience with the specific team. When asked if they had any advice to offer to new freshmen, there was a wide variety of answers.
“Expect the unexpected,” Castro said.
Johnson added on to this sentiment.
“I would need to make certain times to memorize, like at my house, to memorize cheers and remember things, and [to] just be nice, everyone’s just trying their best, so being nice is one of those important things,” she said.
In the end, sports of any kind can be a valuable tool, and many freshmen agree that they have helped them not only physically, but also in making new connections during their first year of high school.
“It doesn’t matter what people think; do what you want to do,” Castro said.
