But Sports Start Again Soon
By Anna O'Neill and Mary Hachey
Fall sports start two months before the regular season for student-athletes who play soccer, field hockey, football, and run cross country at Mashpee High School.
Even though spring sports have ended and the 2017-18 school year is almost complete, athletes already have their minds on fall sports which will begin to pick up in a few weeks. Most teams have summer training sessions, run by captains, to jump start getting in shape.
Fall sports start two months before the regular season for student-athletes who play soccer, field hockey, football, and run cross country at Mashpee High School.
Even though spring sports have ended and the 2017-18 school year is almost complete, athletes already have their minds on fall sports which will begin to pick up in a few weeks. Most teams have summer training sessions, run by captains, to jump start getting in shape.
The Mashpee Girls Varsity Soccer Team has new coaching staff this season, but does not see it affecting their pre-season practices that start the first week in July. “We will work just as hard as we have in the past, maybe even a little harder,” stated this season’s Senior Captain Kristin Kondracki.
The girl’s team was shy of make the postseason by just a few games the past two seasons. Kristin says, “We need to make sure as many people come to captain’s practices. We will work on footwork and conditioning. Each drill will make us a better team with a better shot at the state tournament.”
Last fall, Mashpee High School did not have a cross country team due to lack of runners. Rising junior, Teresa Hachey, already sees a spike in the sports interest. “I think there’s a few new freshman that will help us get the numbers to construct a team.” Cross country is a team sport, but is based off of individual performances. “This summer a lot of us will run on our own. It’s what we are used to,” Teresa stated.
Mashpee’s football team is the reigning Massachusetts State Champions for their division. This season, they are seeking their fourth title in a row. Devon Hughes, a varsity football player and incoming junior says “The team and I will hit the weights to build muscle mass. We have to be both bigger and stronger than our opponents out on the field. We have to be super quick too.” Mashpee is losing many senior key players and the underclassmen have been told to step up to the challenge of filling their shoes. “I am very excited, and I think that we are going to get a 4-peat.”
For field hockey, the program has grown over the recent years. Each year, the team makes it further in the MIAA State tournament. Kelley Skantz, a varsity field hockey player, says “Along with summer league we usually do 1-2 captains practices a week run by our seniors Cassie Baker, Courtney Story and Kylie Harrington which allows us to develop our skills before preseason along with teaching the new players stick work…It’s definitely going to be a tougher preseason than usual because we are missing our core players Chyla Hendricks, Mackenzie Dutra and Emma Wise.”
Cassie Baker is one of the senior captains this upcoming season for field hockey. “We will practice two days a week until organized preseason starts. To improve, just having a stick in out hands will do so much. Conditioning will be a huge part of our success,” she said.
The boys varsity soccer team had their bid in the postseason but fell short in one of the early rounds. Nathan Perry, who will be a sophomore in the fall, says “I’m hoping that with the growing numbers in the program we’re able to continue to pull the teams together as a sort of family.” Incoming junior CJ Cliff says, “[During preseason] the team is expecting to establish connections and find where new players will blend in with the existing ones.”
The Mashpee Public Schools’ 2018-2019 school year starts on September 4, 2018 however, fall sports start four weeks from now. Each team shares a common ground by seeking a spot in their sport’s postseason.
The girl’s team was shy of make the postseason by just a few games the past two seasons. Kristin says, “We need to make sure as many people come to captain’s practices. We will work on footwork and conditioning. Each drill will make us a better team with a better shot at the state tournament.”
Last fall, Mashpee High School did not have a cross country team due to lack of runners. Rising junior, Teresa Hachey, already sees a spike in the sports interest. “I think there’s a few new freshman that will help us get the numbers to construct a team.” Cross country is a team sport, but is based off of individual performances. “This summer a lot of us will run on our own. It’s what we are used to,” Teresa stated.
Mashpee’s football team is the reigning Massachusetts State Champions for their division. This season, they are seeking their fourth title in a row. Devon Hughes, a varsity football player and incoming junior says “The team and I will hit the weights to build muscle mass. We have to be both bigger and stronger than our opponents out on the field. We have to be super quick too.” Mashpee is losing many senior key players and the underclassmen have been told to step up to the challenge of filling their shoes. “I am very excited, and I think that we are going to get a 4-peat.”
For field hockey, the program has grown over the recent years. Each year, the team makes it further in the MIAA State tournament. Kelley Skantz, a varsity field hockey player, says “Along with summer league we usually do 1-2 captains practices a week run by our seniors Cassie Baker, Courtney Story and Kylie Harrington which allows us to develop our skills before preseason along with teaching the new players stick work…It’s definitely going to be a tougher preseason than usual because we are missing our core players Chyla Hendricks, Mackenzie Dutra and Emma Wise.”
Cassie Baker is one of the senior captains this upcoming season for field hockey. “We will practice two days a week until organized preseason starts. To improve, just having a stick in out hands will do so much. Conditioning will be a huge part of our success,” she said.
The boys varsity soccer team had their bid in the postseason but fell short in one of the early rounds. Nathan Perry, who will be a sophomore in the fall, says “I’m hoping that with the growing numbers in the program we’re able to continue to pull the teams together as a sort of family.” Incoming junior CJ Cliff says, “[During preseason] the team is expecting to establish connections and find where new players will blend in with the existing ones.”
The Mashpee Public Schools’ 2018-2019 school year starts on September 4, 2018 however, fall sports start four weeks from now. Each team shares a common ground by seeking a spot in their sport’s postseason.