As the final whistle blows to end the regular season, fall sports teams turn their full attention to preparing for sectionals and the state tournament. Strong performances in the past from teams during state push athletes to hold themselves and their teammates to a high standard while training for the most intense portion of the season.

Girls varsity soccer athlete Hazel McCarthy describes how her team is adjusting their routines to prepare for sectionals.
“My team has started watching film and practicing penalty kicks at the end of every practice,” she said. In close games, penalties can be the deciding factor.

Girls varsity cross country runner Sophie Kannapiran also focuses on the shifts in preparation that her team requires in order to perform well.
Kannapiran feels as though the team has made huge strides of improvement over the course of the season.
“We’ve obviously gotten faster. We did different team building phases because we started by just getting a lot of volume in our training and community building, and now we’re just trying to work on speed,” Kannapiran said.

Similarly, Devi Nelson, captain of the Sparks Swim and Dive team, notes the improvements that have been made by each athlete throughout the season.
“Our team has evolved so much since the beginning of the season. Each meet, so many swimmers have huge PRs [personal records], and it really showcases the hard work we have been putting in,” she said.

Athletes also rely on physical preparation and routines to perform their best during high-stakes matches or games. According to the boys varsity soccer captain, Patrick Wall, conditioning, though tedious, is necessary for players to be playing to their fullest potential.
“One other thing we do to prepare is just increased conditioning, because games can go longer and overtime, and you gotta be ready,” Wall said.
Kannapiran believes in a healthy diet and pre-race routines when heading into important races.

“I always eat the same dinner, fettuccine alfredo with fake chicken sausage, I always wear the same kind of socks, and I do my slick back,” Kannapiran said. “My diet affects the way I race a lot.” Kannapiran’s biggest worry is facing sickness while heading into sectionals and state, which she overcomes by taking extra safety precautions like washing her hands often and bundling up when it’s cold outside.
While Kannapiran finds success through individual preparation, others find it through team bonding. For Nelson, community building is a vital part of what makes the team successful in sectionals.

“Before our championship meets, we do psych sheets, where everyone writes a note for each of their teammates to hype them up before their race,” Nelson said. Though this is a small gesture, Nelson believes it goes a long way.

Girls tennis captain Nellie Larson is the only player from her team who is heading to the state tournament. As she prepares for her next match and her future tennis career, she reflects on the athlete and teammate she has grown into.
“I tried to be really encouraging to my teammates and be a person players can not only look up to as a player but also in social aspects as well if they need help with anything,” she said.

Larson finds the team’s energy level to be important combined with their traditions before a game.
“Personally, I always listen to music which is the same for the team. We always put on music and then we have our cheer before every match which I feel like gets everyone really excited,” Larson said.

Traditions like these reinforce a sense of connection between each teammate which gives them the confidence to perform well in races.
McCarthy also values traditions as a way to build a healthy mindset before games.

“As a team, we do our pre-game songs on the bus and pass out candy for everyone to eat,” she said.
McCarthy also hopes that attendance from students at upcoming games is high, noting that support from peers can make a big difference, especially in high-level match-ups.

“I’m hoping school spirit is high and that people will attend each other’s games especially as teams advance further,” McCarthy said.
Each fall sports team has put in months of preparation and hard work leading up to the crucial final weeks of the fall season. With many teams focusing on their eating habits, mental headspace and community bonding, they feel ready to compete in sectionals and the state tournament.