The countdown to winter sports tryouts has begun. Tryout dates range from Nov. 10 to 22. Boys basketball, Girls Basketball, Gymnastics, Rifle, Swim and Dive, Track and Field, Boys Wrestling, Girls Wrestling, and Sideline Cheer are available here at West Po for students to try out for.
As the winter sports season approaches, Sports Director Matthew Macdonald encourages students to always have a positive attitude and display their best effort every practice and game. Making an impact on the team is a goal he thinks every athlete should have going into the new season.
“Trying out for a sport for the first time, especially if you are a freshman, can be nerve-racking,” said MacDonald. “You just have to practice hard and do whatever your coach asks you to do, then a little bit more. Always find a way to stand out.”
There are a lot of details student athletes need to focus on in order to stay healthy and perform well throughout the season. Staying hydrated, eating healthy, stretching and warming up before practice will help students maximize athletic performance.
“A lot of times, athletes do not pay a lot of attention to their warm-ups, but they should. Warm-up is probably the most important part of practice. But if you ever have an injury, pay a visit to the athletic trainer,” said MacDonald.
During the winter season, Jon Thompson, the athletic trainer, helps many students with their injuries. The most common injuries students have are lower leg strains, knee bruises, and ankle sprains. To prevent these injuries from occurring, Thompson recommends focusing on your footwear and a proper warm-up.
“I see a lot of athletes from a lot of sports, but primarily from sports with contact,” said Thompson. “So mainly wrestling.”
Freshman, Lulu Fisher, is excited to try out for her favorite sport, indoor track.
“I’ve been running track for a while now and I’m actually starting to like it. It’s fun to run and have a team,” she said.
When asked how she had been preparing for tryouts, Fisher explained that she ran cross country in the fall and plans to continue to run during her off season to stay in shape.
“I used to tell my athletes you can control two things. Your attitude and your effort,” said MacDonald. “Have a good attitude always and let everything else work its way out.”
Tryout Schedule:
Boys Basketball
VARSITY – November 10-14
6:30-7:45 am
Main Gym
FRESHMAN/JV – November 10-14
7:00-8:45pm
Main Gym
Girls Basketball
ALL LEVELS – November 10-14
3:30-5:30pm
Main Gym
Gymnastics
November 12-13
5:30-7:30pm
MVHS Gymnastics Room (Use door 6)
Riflery
No tryout date yet
Swim and Dive
November 10-13
3:30-4:30
Mount Vernon Rec Center Pool
Track and Field
November 10-13
3:15-5:00pm
Track
Wrestling
November 10-14
3:15pm
Wrestling Room
Sideline Cheer
November 21-22
9-11am
