Students in the bleachers are watching a girls’ volleyball game on October 14, 2025. The team is down by eight. Everyone’s concerned; the opposing team just needs three points to win the game. The referee blows the whistle, and the game continues. The team is suddenly gleaming, their energy is infectious, and their confidence has skyrocketed. The game is more exciting than ever, and your team has won the first set. How were they able to come back so strong?

     They accomplish this simply by uplifting and encouraging one another. Connection is an important aspect in sports teams. It is important that any sports team shares similar values. “We try to keep encouragement and always try to come together,” said freshman JV2 volleyball captain Annie Fowler. 

     These values are important to teams at West Albany High School, such as the boys varsity soccer team and the JV2 girls volleyball team. These values not only improve performance but also overall mindsets. 

     “I’d say that it’s improved our performance really well. When we’re down in a game, [we] hype each other up [with some] encouragement,” Fowler said. 

     Encouragement shows players a helping hand, allowing them to excel. However, this isn’t just for sports games; the players can be seen outside the gym or field, encouraging each other to do their best. 

     “Sometimes I fail in something [or] I don’t do good, so they encourage me and push me to do better next [time],” senior varsity boys soccer captain Julian Romero said. “I think it’s the main reason why we keep pushing each other [into] being positive, and having [a] positive mentality in general— [it’s] what pushes everyone to become better.” 

     This positive mindset applies both in the game and in life. It’s something that always sticks: words, memories, and moments in life that will always linger around.

     “We get food and snacks, and we do some fun activities, like competitions between our teammates,” Romero said. “We’ve organized some trips, and we went to Bend, Oregon, once to have a team bonding activity for a couple of days.”

     JV2 volleyball enjoys sneaking in a dance party before games— dancing around and having the best time they could before they bring that energy out into the court. “We just dance around and have fun, or we’ll just sit and talk and really just get to know each other,” Fowler said.

     Athletes will often go through difficult times. They will often hear positive comments from peers that they will always remember. Words they will use as fuel.

     “I remember that when we were [in] the state final during my freshman year, I was on the field, and we were losing by one,” Romero said. “[My teammate] said to just remember all of the hard times we had during practice, and to have that mentality come back during the game; the mentality of going through all [of] the bad things [and growing from them].” This support gives athletes like Romero a reason to keep going and brings out the best in them.

     “I’m a really good player, I’m strong, and I have a lot of dedication. I’ve gotten told that by multiple people, and it just sticks with me,”  Fowler said. These words seem small to a blind eye, but to the receiver, it is gold. “It’s made me feel good, it helps me work harder, and it makes me want to strive for even more.” 

     It’s truly special when support from your team shines through and becomes a striving for more. “I don’t really know where I’d be without a lot of them. Without them, I think that there would be things in my life I wouldn’t strive for, things I wouldn’t do outside of my comfort zone. They push me to be better,” said Fowler. Stirring up that drive and motivation pushes athletes to achieve their goals. This won’t only improve their performance in their sport, but also strengthen their character. 

     Team support can uplift in ways that sometimes go unnoticed. The support of a team can also create the person that athletes become. The drive, resilience, and passion they gain through hard work and support prepare them for challenges in all areas of life, proving that sports are about more than who wins or loses. 

     “I wouldn’t be the same [person I am today] because my teammates taught me to have the mentality I have in school— for example, to never give up or be positive even when I don’t feel like doing something, and to always do my best in everything,” Romero said. “I feel like without the team, I wouldn’t have the same mindset that I have in life in general. In soccer, we put a lot of passion into the sport, and that has also taught me to put the same passion into most of the areas of my life.” 

     As much as effort is important, passion is equally significant. It doesn’t just teach them to go all in, but it makes room for the team to have fun and make this a truly great experience.    

     “Everyone shares the same passion [and] high levels of energy. Every practice and every game [we] push each other to have [a] positive mindset and to focus on the game,” said Romero.

     In the second set of the volleyball game, the score is now 23-21. It’s getting close, and the gym is full of spirit. Points go back and forth, but the team doesn’t lose its energy. Cheering can be heard from every corner of the gym. They just need one more point. The ball is served, the crowd is loud, the players hit it, and they’ve won! The team gathers together to celebrate, and the crowd goes wild! Everyone is happy at yet another Bulldog win!

This story was featured in the Whirlwind November 2025 issue under the headline “Ties That Bind.”