As the spring sports season kicks off, WAHS athletes are filled with excitement by the crisp air and the scent of fresh-cut grass during practice sessions. Teammates exchange high-fives and cheers, while coaches offer words of encouragement fueling a wave of positivity. This spirited start shows not just the potential of a great season but, also, the beginning of a healthy environment for all involved.
At WAHS, school spirit is taken very seriously, and is a huge factor in determining whether a sports environment is healthy.
“The coaches are really good and the people are supportive,” sophomore wrestler Jose Jimenez said. “If you are falling behind in your classes or practice, they are there to help you.”
Therefore, if an athlete is stressed with their sport or schoolwork they know they have others to help them stay positive and on track. More beneficial thoughts when an athlete’s sport is both positive and negative is also can help keep the environment healthy.
“It is very difficult and it is very time-consuming, but it is very rewarding and fun,” freshman cheerleader Lana Hull said. Hull also talked about how others don’t view cheer as a sport, which is causing negativity from the students’ perspective.
While some coaches are more strict and stern, there are also the more laid-back coaches who still have a demanding side. “My coaches are always peppy and messing around. They are never too serious, and they are not mean either,” sophomore softball player Amelia Kidd said. Coaches are a part of an athlete’s physical performance physically on how practices are laid out. They are also a big part of shaping the environment so, having an equal balance between easygoing and somewhat serious coaches is a more reassuring way to know that a sports environment is healthy.
How long an athlete has been doing their sport also can affect their mindset towards putting in the work because of how their teammates view them.
“The coaches were very welcoming, but the teammates were really against you if you were new to the sport or hadn’t played in a while,” senior baseball player Chance Fullmer said. Especially in team sports, supporting all team members and coaches is a helpful sign of a healthy environment.
Freshman volleyball player Caylee Rogers talks about how team energy can affect everyone positively and negatively. “[My teammates] are hyped up but some teammates, when they get mad, can take you down,” Rogers said. “Our coaches are nice, [although] sometimes they can be rude for your mental state.”
When a player on the WAHS volleyball team makes a mistake, they all huddle up and encourage each other to not let them think negatively or get the energy down, according to Rogers.
Yelling at one another could be taken the wrong way by the viewers, but some volleyball teams and tons of other sports keep the adrenaline going. While being supportive inside the sport, a lot of the players are also friends outside of it.
While not all people on teams are friends, there are a lot with great relationships. A bond from a sport isn’t required but shows that the sports environment is healthy. “We like a lot of inside jokes and you will hear them in the halls,” senior swimmer Ella Winter said. “It is the weirdest thing ever, but every single kid [on the team] will understand what we are talking about.”
