Two words describe the first day of practice for hundreds of South Whidbey High School athletes: tough and tense.
Back on the field and the gym floor after three months off, runners, football, tennis, volleyball and soccer players were knocking the gunk out of their legs and speeding their reaction times Monday. They were also trying to show off their best stuff, since coaches will be cutting team rosters this week.
Though coaches reported that many of their athletes came back for the fall season in shape from playing summer sports, there was still plenty of work to get done.
Starting earlier than any of the other teams were the boy and girl cross country runners. At 7:30 a.m. — a time few of the runners actually saw with open eyes during the summer — both teams started running their annual 12-hour relay, a fundraiser for the teams. As one runner at a time ran laps on the Waterman Field track, about 15 others lounged in a makeshift campground or in a sunny spot on the track.
Junior Callie Supsinskas said the girls team is ready for the season. She said team members got together for regular runs during their three-month break from school.
“We practiced Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays this summer,” she said.
In the gym, volleyball players were more concerned about their fitness level. After doing about two hours of sprints, jumps and hitting exercises, junior Chelsea Miller was exhausted.
“That was the toughest practice we’ve had,” she said. “But it may be because we’re out of shape.”
Miller may have been a little hard on herself. Team coaches were impressed with the team’s overall conditioning.
“This is the first year we’ve had a number of kids in shape,” said Jan McNeely, an assistant coach with the team.
Monday’s practices were not all business. On the football field, players did not don helmets and pads prior to doing footspeed drills. Though the running was difficult, they did earn a reward of sorts — a trip to the beach for another hour of practice.
While it is still early in the season, athletes are not necessarily holding back anticipating harder practices and upcoming games and meets. On Wednesday, a number of coaches will be picking players for their rosters and cutting athletes who do not make the grade. Mike Cotton, an assistant coach for the girls soccer team, made clear before Monday’s practice that he and other coaches will be watching their players’ moves during the first part of the week.
“You will be judged on your performance on the field,” he said.
Falcon athletic teams will spend the next two weeks in preseason workouts. The first official game for a Falcon team will be Sept. 10 road matchup between the girls soccer team and a team from Meridian High School.
