Paityn Tabor ’23
Managing Editor and Sports Editor
Spring sports teams are currently in the height of their seasons and winter sports here at the College have just wrapped up. Meanwhile, fall sports are getting ready to dive headfirst into their prospective spring seasons. After a few months off, many fall athletes are eager to get back onto the field and begin competing again.
During every sports season, athletes are forced to quickly cultivate and perfect their time management skills in order to maximize their potential both on and off the field. However, as a result of the extended time spent away from their sport, athletes must readjust to being back in a strict athletic routine.
“The way I readjust to a busier schedule is by making sure that I put all of the new meetings and practices into a calendar,” explained Justin Albee ’23, who is a member of the football team. “This helps me decide the best time to study, watch film, or just relax.”
Being able to stay organized is a key attribute of a successful student athlete especially during this spring season, but another vital aspect for players is the ability to stay healthy. While these teams are not practicing every day the way they do in their fall seasons, they still practice frequently throughout the week and the wear and tear on their muscles and joints is just as substantial.
“It becomes easier to injure yourself when your body is not necessarily in in-season shape,” said women’s soccer team captain Maggie Kersting ’22. “I think rehab and recovery become really important in the spring season.”
In addition to employing smart time management habits and taking care of their bodies, many athletes view this time in the semester as bittersweet because each team’s seniors are no longer training with the group. For junior athletes, this can be particularly difficult because many of their teammates for the past three years are now retired from the sport and it is now up to them to lead their team during their senior season.
Moreover, other than the senior class, no fall athletes have experienced a true spring sports season here at the College. In 2020, when the current junior class were first-year students, the student body was sent home due to COVID-19 and last year each team underwent a modified full season in the spring. Therefore, other than the handful of current seniors who are returning for a fifth year in the fall, no member of any fall sports team has experienced a true spring sports season.
“All 2023 athletes were unable to ever have a true spring season, so this brings a lot of joy,” explained women’s volleyball team captain Izzi Visnjevac ’23. “However, it also evokes some sadness as I am heading into my final season of volleyball. Never getting to experience a spring season makes me want to make the most out of my last one. Four years here went by fast and I can’t believe it is already starting to come to an end.”
While bittersweet for many athletes, spring season gives them the chance to sharpen their individual skills while simultaneously focusing on improving the team as a whole. New individuals get the opportunity to blossom into strong leaders and set their team on track for the fall. Teams are able to strengthen their chemistry and come together before the school year ends and put pieces into motion for the fall. For many, this first true spring season will be exactly what they need to propel them into lasting success.
