Sports
O Come, All Ye Athletes to holiday practices
Olivia Raymond
Mar 18, 2008 - 11:59:54 AM

With Winter Break just days away, relaxation and the thought of no school are prevalent on many students’ minds.
 For athletes, however, Winter Break signifies long days of strenuous practices. Though coaches’ generosity shows when athletes are off both Christmas and New Year’s Day, most student athletes practice every day throughout the holiday break.
Boys’ Basketball, with their Final Four run last year, returns with high expectations this year. To repeat their appearance at state, the Boys’ step up the competition. Though practices depend on their tournaments, the team will have practice almost every day, excluding Dec. 23 and Christmas Day.
“We play in one of the most competitive Christmas tournaments around. Because of that, we have to prepare for our opponents as well as get ready to play when we come back from break,” said Jason Wolfard, head coach.
Applying to all sports, the key to success is practice. In order to again be competitive, Boys’ Basketball plans on hitting the courts throughout break.
Training during the holidays helps teams to get ahead of their rivalries and prepare themselves for the intense competition which faces them at the return after break. The Varsity Boys’ Basketball team’s first game after break is on Jan. 4 at Lafayette.
“It helps us while other teams are on vacation we are practicing to improve our skills,” said John Lane (12), varsity basketball.
Girls’ Swimming also plans to step up during the holidays. Known for their demanding practices, the swim team plans to intensify their practices during Winter Break. Their break from meets during the holiday season pressures swimmers to stay in shape.
“It is important to maintain conditioning, particularly yardage over the break.  Because we don’t have a meet from Dec. 15 until Jan. 17, we use this month as a very intense, rigorous training period,” said Eric Means, head coach.
Athletes are also able to recognize the importance of rigorous practicing through break. Not only do winter practices keep the team’s skills going strong but they also keep team spirit up.  
“Winter sports practices are good because they keep everyone in shape and they keep the team together over the holidays,” said Kathryn Hagerty (10), swimmer.
The Girls’ Swim team has their first meet after break on Jan. 17 against Parkway at the LHS pool.
Varsity Girls’ Basketball, however, is competing in a competitive holiday tournament on Dec. 26, 27, and 28.
“We play in a holiday tournament, so the remainder of break I give the Girls’ Basketball team off,” said Bill Thoele, head coach.
Because of their tournament full of rigorous playing, being exempt from practices throughout the rest of Winter break could be beneficial to the success of the Girls’ varsity team.         
Having already competed in numerous games, the Girls’ Basketball team looks forward to the short break from rigorous training at the end of holiday break.
The first game after the holidays for Girls’ Basketball is a home game on Jan. 4 against the West Plains Zizzlers.  
For hockey, their winter break schedule consists of many games including Dec. 28 against Oakville, Dec. 29 against Parkway South, and even a game on New Years day against Fort Zumwalt West.
To prepare for these games, Varsity Hockey will practice on Dec. 23, 27, and 30, having one hour practices. In addition to varsity games, both the JV and C teams have practices and games.
“You have to practice over winter break to keep your form so you can still play well in the games,” said Robby Schroell (12), varsity hockey player.
Flyers Wrestling plans to use the break as a time to rest up and prepare for their duels resuming at the recommencement of school on Jan. 3.
“We’re obviously going to be working hard over the break but going a little lighter because we have no duel. We are going to be focusing on technique and will focus on healing injuries and resting up,” said Josh Hansel, head coach.
This practice theory will hopefully aid the wrestling team in completing a successful season.
Whatever the intensity of practices be, each team will be working hard over winter break to prepare for the competition that resumes after the holidays. 


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