The Winter sports have concluded their respective seasons, which overall were some of the most successful in recent years. Now athletes and coaches participating in spring sports are beginning preseason preparations this week. As the spring track, lacrosse, tennis, baseball, softball, and golf teams prepare for their competitive seasons, preseason is a time to assess the condition of the team without the graduated seniors and to see how those spots will be filled with younger players.
Boys and Girls Spring Track both had very successful seasons last year, but many athletes have graduated. For the boys, Dana Dourdeville, Ian Knapton, and Christian Lavoie covered the distance, sprints, and throwing events respectively and were all major scorers for the team. On the girl’s side, Therese Morse, Emily Roseman, Hannah O’Day, and Alexandra Bare all graduated and were vital parts of the team. Nevertheless, performances in winter track by younger athletes show that there is certainly much potential for replacements.
For Tennis, key players like Shanice Dasilva and Olivia Offringa graduated, leaving spots open for underclassmen to step up and show what they are capable of. Golfers like Jono Wilbur have left ORR, and baseball and softball players such as Greg Kornichuk and Emma Keough have also graduated.
Preseason is the time when younger athletes realize the seniors are no longer there as insurance to win games or meets – now it’s up to them. It’s a great time for realizing potential and developing as an athlete, and individual, and a team. It’s clear from the successful winter seasons that there is plenty of athletic talent left at ORR. This spring season will be a season to watch.
By India Krawczyk