Fall Sports Comparison

A look into the overall differences of each fall sport.

BY REED JENSEN & JOSIE EIFFERT

KAITLYN PILE GIRLS GOLF

1. What does practice look like for you?

“The team meets at the course, then we split up in groups to putt, chip, and go to the driving range.” 2. What is your normal routine for game day?

“Get up stupid early and drive to the bus with music blaring. We loadd up, get to the course, go to the range. I hit a few shots before I head to the green, and I try to stay focused.” 3. How does your sport differ from others?

“It is all individual, you have to rely and trust yourself. Also, you can have your best round ever one day and shoot one of your worst the next.”

CHEERLEADING CICI MOSES

1. What does practice look like for you?

“Practice starts with rolling out the mats, conditioning, stretching, and lots of tumbling, jumps and stunting.” 2. What is your normal routine for game day?

“Game days are the best! We all start with a short practice, then we all eat dinner together, while painting eachothers faces. We take cute photos, of course, and then its off to cheer on our chiefs.” 3. How does your sport differ from others?

“I truly love my sport and the bond we have with each other is unbreakable. In cheer we are all one big family. Being on this team has taught and given me so much. I love them all and will miss them.”

ALI DAWSON VOLLEYBALL

1. What does practice look like for you?

“A normal day for practice looks like everyone helping to set up the nets and get all of the equipment out. Then stretching and warming up by 2:50. After, we do drills and practice until 5-5:50 depending if we do a workout.” 2. What is your normal routine for game day?

“Our game day routine is setting up the net and getting out the equipment. Then, we eat and warm up alittle around 3:45. We watch the freshman game and the first set of the JV game. We then go to stretch and warm up again, before we play. After our game, we take the equipment down.” 3. How does your sport differ from others?

“It is a combination of fine tuned finesse and strength. Most sports are one or the other, yet the best teams in volleyball have a solid balance of both traits. ”

CROSS COUNTRY SALLY CYBULSKI

1. What does practice look like for you?

“Practice consists of a morning run or weights and then afternoon practice that could either be a workout or a long run. We always stretch and do strides, abs and then we team it up.” 2. What is your normal routine for game day?

“Game day routine always starts out early and the first thing I put on is my uniform. I always eat animal crackers and fruit cups and pump myself up by listening to the climb by Miley Cyrus for hours on repeat.” 3. How does your sport differ from others?

“I think the most obvious difference is that cross country runners are a lot dumber than other sports, because it is 100% more mentally and physically challenging and the kids still show up the next day, ready to do it again.”

HOLLACE HUBBARD GIRLS TENNIS

1. What does practice look like for you?

“Practice starts out with a solid round of our warm up routine, doing a variety of drills, and sometimes practice matches, plus tons of water.” 2. What is your normal routine for game day?

“A normal routine for game day is staying fueled and hydrated through out the day, getting out on the courts to warm up and hyping up your teammates. ” 3. How does your sport differ from others?

“Tennis is different than other sports, because even though its an indivudal sport most of the time, there is a huge dynamic of team work and support from your teammates. We also love to be out on the courts playing and practicing because we have so much fun doing it.”

FOOTBALL SAM SNIDER

1. What does practice look like for you?

“For practice I meet with my position group and watch film, go out stretch, [and] go through individual with the rest of the offensive line” 2. What is your normal routine for game day?

“My rountine for game day really starts before Friday, as I like to make sure to hydrate before game day and then on actual game day I like to get a nap in pregame before I listen to music and get ready to go.” 3. How does your sport differ from others?

“Football is different from other sports because of game planning and prepartion that goes into each week. For football, we are changing and adjusting entire schemes each week to match what we see from the other teams for one game on Friday night.”

MEGAN DANCEY SOFTBALL

1. What does practice look like for you?

“Practice usually consists of playing catch, taking reps in the field and batting practice and scrimmaging.” 2. What is your normal routine for game day?

“For game day we warm up by playing catch and hitting in the cages. We then take infield/outfield to get game ready.” 3. How does your sport differ from others?

“My sport is different because many of us have to step up and be leaders. The ball is hit to my position so much which means I have to step up and be a leader and role model for the younger kids. Softball is all about being a team and helping each other to be successful.”

BOYS SOCCER ETHAN ARROYO

1. What does practice look like for you?

“Our practices our centered around working one corner kicks and free kicks. We have also done a lot of scrimmaging when we have games coming up. ” 2. What is your normal routine for game day?

“Game day is typically spent hydrating and listening to music. I’ll show up early to watch JV play and then we will have a quick team meeting before warm ups.” 3. How does your sport differ from others?

“My sport differs from other because there is a different MVP of each game. I feel that it is only takes one individual to change the entirety of the game.”

GRANT RUDNICK BOYS SWIM

1. What does practice look like for you?

“Practices are usually two hours each. We do different sets every day, but we usually swim about three or sometimes more than four miles per practice. That distance is divided into sprint work or distance work.” 2. What is your normal routine for meet day?

“When we have a swim meet, I make sure to eat lots of carbs. During the day, I like to imagine my races and how they are going to feel before actually swimming them, so that I am prepared for it.” 3. How does your sport differ from others?

“The swim team is just one large team; there is no varsity or ranking. Everyone proves themselves by how well they swim during the season. Swimming is unique because it seems like an individual sport from the outside, but is very much a team sport. ”

GOLDEN GIRLS CLAIRE LINTON

1. What does practice look like for you?

“Practice consists of warming up/ conditioning, learning or cleaning whatever dance we are performing that week, and sometimes placing them on the field to get ready for game day.” 2. What is your normal routine for game day?

“On game day, we all get ready together, go to team dinner, and get to the game early to prepare and warm up.” 3. How does your sport differ from others?

“Dance is different than other sports because it is also an art form and you perform for large groups of people. It takes a lot of time and is a bigger commitment than people realize.”

SPORTS

Fall Sports

Learn more about our fall sports from this year’s captains.

BY JULIA KLEIN

What are you most excited about this season? “I am most excited for working hard with the team to hopefully win districts. I am also excited that there are not as many COVID restrictions this year and we actually get to travel to St. Louis and Jeff City.” What are you hoping to accomplish this season? “We are hoping to win the district title and get a conference championship.” Is there any young talent that you are looking forward to this year? “Kai Jaeger is a freshman striker and he’s shown some great talent throughout the summer and the first couple of weeks. I’m excited to see what Kai can bring to the table.”

Boys Soccer Luke Courtney

Rachel Deters Cheerleading

What are you most excited about this season? “I am most excited about getting back into stunting and competing this year. Last year we were not able to stunt or compete due to COVID. I am also very excited to be mask-less on the sidelines.” What are you hoping to accomplish this season? “This season I am hoping to accomplish our team’s goal of continuously working hard and winning our competitions. I am also hoping to figure out where I want to continue my cheer career for college.” Is there any young talent that you are looking forward to this year? “There is a ton of young talent this year! We have many new freshmen that bring a lot of skills to the team, shout-out to Sailor!!”

What are you most excited about this season? “This season, I’m excited to see how much everyone improves their skills and passion for the sport. I want to be the best team leader along with Kaitlyn Pile in order to be a cohesive team.” What are you hoping to accomplish this season? “I’m really hoping to make it to state this year. I’ve been within a few strokes the last two years, so I’m focused on playing my best at districts.” Is there any young talent that you are looking forward to this year? “We have a freshman who has started on varsity and keeps improving every tournament, so that is exciting. There are many seniors graduating this year, but I know that many underclassmen have great potential.”

Girls Golf Elizabeth Finke

What are you most excited about this season? “I’m most excited about the team traveling. It’s super fun and we have a really good team this year. We are all super close.” What are you hoping to accomplish this season? “I’m hoping that me and my partner, Brynley Brotherton go to state this year and place in at least the top six.” Is there any young talent that you are looking forward to this year? “Windsor Brotherton is a freshman. She is our number six on varsity and is my partner, Brynley Brotherton’s, little sister. I think she has a good chance at making top varsity in the next couple of years.”

Girls Tennis Esther Choe

Claire Linton Golden Girls

What are you most excited about this season? “I am most excited about getting to go to nationals... hopefully. We weren’t able to go last year because of COVID-19, but have high hopes that we will be able to go compete at ESPN this year” What are you hoping to accomplish this season? “We are hoping to place at local competitions, state, regionals, and nationals. Last year we placed 11th nationally and are hoping to get top 10.” Is there any young talent that you are looking forward to this year? “I would say all of the freshmen on the team this year. I did not know any of them prior to tryouts but have been amazed by their work ethic and drive during our practices.”

What are you most excited about this season? “We are gonna do a lot of travel meets this season. I’m excited to go to Kansas City because we didn’t get to do very much last year.” What are you hoping to accomplish this season? “I want to make it to state in the 100 yard breast stroke and I’m hoping that our relay will do well at state. We have a good relay group this year.” Is there any young talent that you are looking forward to this year? “We have a freshman, Bryce Ridder. I swam offseason with him and he’s already probably the best person on the team. He’s pretty much qualified for state already. I’m hoping he can possibly get top 16 at state.”

Boys Swim&Dive Grant Rudnick

What are you most excited about this season? “I think I’m most excited to see the growth of our team and how our success will develop throughout the season. Also, having fun with my friends.” What are you hoping to accomplish this season? “Our goal is definitely to win our conference and hopefully advance to districts after that.” Is there any young talent that you are looking forward to this year? “Pitcher, Allison Scott, a freshman. I’m excited to see her grow through the season and to watch her mature in the circle. Also, Taryn Hagardt, a freshman. She is our second baseman and a slapper. I’m excited to watch her develop as well.”

Softball Kate Pierce

Tara Randol Cross Country

What are you most excited about this season? “Just looking forward to being able to travel. We have 17 girls on the team this year, so excited for a big team and looking forward to doing well.” What are you hoping to accomplish this season? “I am hoping to make it to state individually and as a team for the third year. And hopefully we could even place at state but we will see how it goes.” Is there any young talent that you are looking forward to this year? “We have two new girls, both freshmen, Charlotte Cones and Kaitlyn Davis. They both ran with us all summer in the offseason and they’ve already done really well in the first couple meets.”

What are you most excited about this season? “I’m most excited to see how we do this season. We have a really strong team and if we perform like we should we have a shot at the state title. I’m also excited to see how my teammates do.” What are you hoping to accomplish this season? “I’m hoping to run good times and help out my team in trying to win a state title.” Is there any young talent that you are looking forward to this year? “Lots of people are working hard this season to get better, one in particular would be Owen Siever. He has lots of dedication to the sport and placed eighth in the freshman race at Forest Park. I’m excited to see how he progresses this year.”

Cross Country Brooks Barker

What are you most excited about this season? “I’m really excited to grow relationships with the girls and to just have a good senior year.” What are you hoping to accomplish this season? “Hopefully, we beat Nixa, win Districts, and are able to go to State.” Is there any young talent that you are looking forward to this year? “Emma Eaton, sophomore, is someone who I’ve really seen step up into our libero position on varsity. Last year I never would have expected this but she’s transitioned into the position really well. She works really hard every practice to fight for the spot on varsity. Bella Faria, sophomore, made a varsity spot right when she became a freshman. She’s someone who scores a lot of points on the court and she brings a lot of energy to the court. Reagan Greenway, sophomore, has moved into the setting position really well. It’s hard to form connections through the setter and the middle but she’s done really well working together with them.”

Volleyball Caroline Field

Sam Snider Football

What are you most excited about this season? “I’m most excited to see what my boys can do. I’m pumped to play Glendale because we’ve been right there for the past two seasons, and this is our year. There is some great talent on our team and I’m looking forward to seeing how we work together on the field.” What are you hoping to accomplish this season? “I’m hoping to play to our fullest potential and to get better every week.” Is there any young talent that you are looking forward to this year? “We have Bird Mabins at quarterback, Shaun Campbell at receiver, Jake Field at running back, and Paxton Wehner at tight-end. They are all sophomores. All dawgs. It’s been great to see them do their thing so far and I’m excited to see how they’ll improve throughout the season.”