A new season has begun, which means new sports are starting across West Albany High School. Not only are there baseball, softball, track, tennis, and golf, but there are also many more sports, including rugby, equestrian, and lacrosse. The process for trying out for each team varies by program.
For sophomore Bailey Blevin, trying out for her second year of softball has been different from her first year. Each day, athletes focus on a different aspect of the sport, which means that some days look a lot different from others.
“Last year, my mindset was always, [that] ‘there’s always going to be opportunity for other people to learn, even if they’re a junior, they’re still going to learn stuff,’” Blevin said, “Even if they’re a brand-new freshman, they’re going to learn so much. And so I kind of took those as opportunities to help someone if they needed help, especially [a] first-year girl.”
For Blevin, it’s not just about playing the sport, but more so the things you learn and the people you meet during your time playing that sport.
“I think playing high school softball here was the best decision I ever made,” Blevin said.
Junior Jaiken Bryant had a different experience with baseball.
“I think student[s] come before athlete[s], and I try to put my grades before athletics,” Bryant said.
For Bryant, as much as being an athlete is important to your future, being a student comes first. The sport you are hoping to do in college or pursue when you are older can be fun, but it can also be a challenge to keep up with while doing schoolwork and balancing life. Baseball can be harmful to one’s body and mind, even with the thrill of playing. A person trying out for the first time gets nervous and scared to try out with people who have been playing longer or have made high-level teams. Just trying out for a team can be hard or scary, but playing the sport can be very influential on a person’s life.
“Just have fun. Enjoy every little moment of it because it does go by quick[ly],” Bryant said.
Playing a new sport as a freshman can bring new opportunities along with new challenges. Playing a new sport can also be seen differently by those who play the sport versus those who watch the sport.
“Most people think that it’s easy, but it’s more so techniques, like doing things correctly and understand[ing] the rules,” freshman Landon
Stimpson said. 
For him, playing men’s volleyball isn’t just about playing the sport; it’s the skills you learn and the memories you make along the way. He uses the sport to stay active and have fun. Playing a spring sport can open up a whole new world, especially to someone trying out for the first time or trying a new sport. Playing men’s volleyball can be challenging for people to learn, and just a little bit of advice could be helpful. “Just learn the basics,” said Stimpson. He uses these words to keep trying and evolving in the sport and getting more educated about volleyball.
The spring sports at West Albany are an opportunity to try something new or do something you find enjoyable, whether that involves a new sport or continuing a sport they have done for a long time.
