THE WOOSTER BLADE | JAN. 25, 2022 | PAGE 12
WHS athletes explain team traditions HANNAH LOGIUDICE staff writer The WHS athletic program includes 27 sports teams. Many of these teams have traditions that the team does every year. These traditions differ based on the teams, but overall, these traditions help to establish a sense of community within the team. At WHS, the girls lacrosse team has a tradition of wearing ribbons in their hair and writing a word on their arms during games. According to Ella Smucker (12) each player is responsible for supplying a ribbon for at least one game, so by the end of the year, each girl has a ribbon for each game. Many of the players choose to keep those ribbons on their lacrosse bags meaning that as a senior they have ribbons that span their entire WHS career. This tradition gives seniors a
thing to look at and remember the time spent on the team. When looking at this tradition and what it means to her, Smucker (12) says, “Our ribbons aren’t just a fun tradition, they bring us all together, they give us something to look back on from every game.” In addition to wearing ribbons, the team is given a word to help motivate the team before the game by the head coach Holly Pope. This word can be anything and is meant to represent a specific element which the players should be focusing on during the game. The boys swim team has the tradition of bleaching their hair and then eventually shaving their heads and everything else before big meets. According to Caleb Kostohryz (10), the boys swim team gets together before NEACs and bleaches their hair. Although it is not required, it is tradition that many of the boys
participate in. When looking at how bleaching their hair builds team camaraderie, Kostohryz (10) says, “I feel like it promotes good team bonding and brings us together.” Swimmers then wait until sectionals when they traditionally shave their heads, legs and sometimes arms. Kostohryz says this tradition was created in an attempt to improve times at important meets, as shaving all the hair off their bodies is supposed to reduce drag in the water and improve times. Whether shaving has an actual effect on times is pretty much unknown, but the tradition of doing so can have an effect on the team mentality. The tradition of these sports teams do not occur within the time of a single class or coach. The traditions are passed on by upperclassman to incoming freshman in an attempt to foster a community within each team.
New Year’s resolutions:
SPORTS
Individuals set fitness goals MOLLY BYRNE staff writer Setting New Year’s resolutions is a common practice for many people and some of the most popular goals to set are related to fitness. Of those people who make resolutions, 95% of them, according to Alexandra Parren’s of sundried.com, claim they are related to fitness. Mike Sullivan, History Dept. member and AP Psychology teacher, said he has set a fitness goal for 2022. “I want to lose at least 10 pounds a month and start working out twice a day, in the mornings at 5 a.m. and at night, go running,” Sullivan said. Even students at WHS have created fitness goals for themselves for the new year. Andrew Glasgow (12), a
member of the WHS swim, soccer and lacrosse teams, is one of these students. “I want to cut my calorie intake down from 4,200 to 3,200 per day, as well as cutting out sugary drinks. I would also like to work out for two to three hours per day,” Glasgow said. While many people set fitness goals for the new year, athletes can set goals to help them with their particular sport, like Alivia Thorley (12), a member of the WHS gymnastics team. “I would like to strengthen my cardio through running to help with my floor routine,” Thorley said. While staying active all year in order to stay healthy is very important, setting specific goals in areas that you personally want to work can be more motivating and can help to keep individuals accountable.
WHS staff reminisce on Ashland University coach Jud Logan’s life NORA LEVY staff writer Earlier this month, historic track coach Jud Logan died. As a former Olympian and an Ashland University Track and Field coach, Jud Logan had a great impact on his athletes and everyone who crossed his path. Doug Bennett, WHS boys track coach and Music Dept. member, said he remembers Logan’s enthusiasm while coaching at track meets. Bennett’s memories center around Jud’s joy when coaching, Bennett explained, “...if he [Jud] could have been in the thrower circle with his athletes, he would have been.” Bennett also noted the joy that coach Logan had for his
athletes and his passion for the sport. Chris Mascotti-Rasor, WHS girls track coach and Math Dept. member, had a great experience with coach Logan at a track camp in which he coached her in long jump. Mascotti-Rasor emphasized that Logan cared about the athletes beyond their sport. She also remembered his personality, saying, “What made him special is how friendly and personable he was. He also had a great sense of humor,” Mascotti said. Mascotti specifically recalls when Logan decided to teach her and another camper how to hitch kick at the Malone Track and Field camp. “After about an hour of jumping off of their old side
stage in the gym onto the pole vault mats, we both had it down,” Mascotti said. Mascotti credits Logan for helping her improve her long jumps. She also referenced her seventh place finish at the state track meet that year and explained that “I am certain he played a key role in that success.” Ashland Athletic Director Al King stressed Logan’s positivity and energy. “He would light up a room when he walked into it. . . He [Logan] didn’t have “down,” days very often. The bigger the challenge, the more inspired Jud became,” King said. Not only did Logan inspire others, but he was also an active force in the Ashland community. King shared that
his team would help at the Hospice Corn Roast every year. The Logan County Foundation also donated to help fund a playground for special needs children. Logan’s impact can be felt by those who interacted with him. Ryan Smith, a General’s Academy Social Studies teacher, was a sprinter when he was recruited to compete at Ashland University. After an injury, Smith asked to compete in throwing and said that Logan welcomed him with open arms. Smith remembers Logan’s ability to make everyone feel like they were the most important person in the room. “His disarming kindness brought everyone together more than anything,” Smith
said. After Smith was hired as the throwing coach at Edgewood, Logan allowed Smith to come back to Ashland to watch practice and brush up on his throwing techniques so Smith could do his best as a coach. “He would never tell anybody no if they needed help,” Smith said. Smith expressed why Jud Logan was so impactful in his athlete’s lives. “With Jud it was just the way he treated everyone…I always felt valued and I know that’s how it was with everybody,” said Smith. Jud Logan was the type of coach every athlete wanted to learn from and the type of person everyone wanted to know.
