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Sports September 14, 2018
Is the pressure, expectations too much for athletes? By Jackson Gross Assistant Sports
the endzone to John Quintero, senior. hard,” Pierini said. “Well, we were actually down a touchdown right This kind of pressure is common across all Squatting behind the center, Michael Best, away and I was just thinking we gotta drive, we sports, including boys cross country, like Sebastian senior, looks over the line and checks the defense. gotta put this one in the end zone, we gotta bounce Vences, senior. He hears the crowd, the coaches, the other players right back their previous offensive drive,” Best said. “Three years [on the varsity team]… yea, and thinks of all his expectations, but he focuses in, Throughout all sports at almost any level there definitely, [especially] last year was a lot of pressure hikes the ball and throws into the back corner of are expectations and pressure to deal with. because we were juniors and we were trying to Some of those make our mark,” Vences said. expectations But other athletes feel a “To me, there isn’t very little sense of pressure start earlier than others, and they find a way to a lot of pressure especially deal with it, Adrienne with Christina Rohwedder, senior, has Pierini, senior because I love what pressure from her sister but who started has her own way to deal running varsity I’m doing... I just try with it. “Every single time since her I go out, I don’t go in like, freshman. I’m going to beat her record to go out there and “I actually and just do the best I can have because and if I do my best I can have fun with my especially [last end up breaking a record,” year] as a junior guys.” Rohwedder said. and now being a Best deals with his senior I’ve had pressure in a more relaxed to step up and way with his friends on the really learn from field. “To me, there isn’t a Michael Best the people as I lot of pressure because I was a freshman love what I’m doing and I’m Senior (from) the having fun with it, so i try seniors then so not to {let] the pressure get it’s kind of like to me too much, i just try pressure since i’ve and go out there and have been doing it for four years fun with my guys,” Best said. that I’m expected to know Regardless of how these athletes deal with everything and it’s kind of pressure they get, their main goal is to have fun.
Teams take bonding across the country you are with your team 24/7. On the contrary, high school sports do not have that luxury. Being tied down by school regulations and the school day itself, it makes it difficult to travel with The lukewarm hotel pool had you team. That is why Coach Jason nothing on the hot Arizona night, Wieder, staff, is very fortunate to have and the towering Embassy Suites the opportunity to take his baseball surrounded the pool while trees team to Disney World to compete, and swayed and shuffled in the courtyard. to spend time with each other. A life raft hooked onto a pole and “At Disney, our players get to spend its rope tied to a table leg on the 5 days together at a Disney resort, opposite side of the courtyard make they receive meal cards, a park hopper for a perfect pool volleyball net. The pass that allows our teams to enjoy entire Boys 17’s Adversity Volleyball amusement parks and rides; the team team smacking a beach ball back likes to swim at the hotel pool and and forth and a team from Puerto hang out. We’ve also seen an Atlanta Rico was standing on the side of the Braves game, the Louisville Slugger pool, choosing sides, pretending it’s Museum, toured the University of a real game, cheering, laughing, and Louisville and received a behind the competitiveness fill the air. scenes tour of Louisville’s Baseball Times like these build a team, program”. As much of an unique Coach Jason Wieder, staff, “...traveling opportunity it is, it is also one the together lets you share unique students can remember the rest of experiences with each one another,” their lives, it brings them together on Wieder said. and off the field. “It’s pretty cool to see As an athlete myself I can agree the teams come together after a Spring that traveling changes a team, and the trip, it has definitely enhanced our pros and cons can vary. According to baseball program”, says Wieder. Coach Jason Kopkowski, staff, there Senior Andy Shover, first basemen are more pros than cons. for the varsity baseball team agrees “Over the course of a season, with Coach Wieder, any sport, that season can become “Disney World has given me a lot cumbersome. So any chance a team of memories, and has made me closer gets to be together off the court/field, with my team”, Wieder said. bonds can be formed”. From my club volleyball team in Coach Kopkowski, staff, brings his a pool in Arizona, to Coach Jason girl volleyball team to Warren Dune Kopkowski’s trip to the dunes, teams State Park in Michigan, here they need the factor of travel and time warm up, and scale the sand dunes. spent together. It not only creates “The goal… is all about being there for a break from the playing field, it each other, everyone has got to make forces players to work with each it up the dune, it’s all or none”. other. “When you lean on each other Playing a club/travel sport is one the potential for success is so much of the best team bonding experiences greater than just letting everyone an athlete can ask for. You fly out stand by themselves,” Coach Jason across the country to compete and Kopkowski said.
By Jared Moser Staff Reporter
Photos Courtesy of Jason Wieder
Standing in front of the Disney’s Pop Century Resort, the Rock n Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and ESPN’s Wide World of Sports, the Wheeling Varsity Baseball team relax during their trip to Florida.
One team’s decline is another team’s rise By Claire O’Donnell Staff Reporter
As the years progress, Wheeling High School sees a continuous pattern amongst both the boys cross country and football teams. Less and less players are commiting to the football team while a noticeable increase in cross country runners has been brought to the attention of many players and coaches. Some believe this phenomenon is a coincidental occurrence, while others believe it is due to the ongoing problem of the injuries commonly associated with football. Such injuries might strike a concern to potential football players and/or their
guardians, leaving them a new path to pursue running instead. “I think the decreased numbers have a lot to do with injury,” said Ted Giang, senior, a former football player, “People are afraid that the protection- the helmets, the pads, all of it- are not going to fully protect them.” Giang said. Sprains, strains, and shin splints have become a minor concern in comparison to concussions in how they cause long lasting brain damage. However, not everyone believes the increased amount of runners is in direct proportion to fear of football injury, “I think all sports fluctuate with
participation,”said Matthew Weber, staff, ”Over the course of time, it all levels out. I don’t think it has anything to do with injury, it just happens.” Weber said. Some students and staff even believe the change in player participation is due to team performance, “I think it’s because we are doing better than the football team right now,” said Tyler Polak, a senior cross country runner. ”And because we are on the path to a successful season this year. I don’t really think it has anything to do with injury.” Polak said. The debate of whether or not the fluctuation of team numbers is related to is still in the air.