As the fall sports season comes to an end, winter sports season is beginning to start up. With tryouts around the corner, each winter sports team looks to get ready and achieve their goals this season.
A team that’s looking to perform at a high level this season is atoms wrestling team. The team is hoping to perform better than they did last season.
“Last year we did not do as well as I would’ve wanted. We barely had any wrestlers. We only had six wrestlers out of 13 weight classes by the end of last season,” junior Maher Khalid said.
“I was dissatisfied with our results from the district and regional tournaments, but being so shorthanded we got better faster because we had training more tailored to us. We will be much better this year since we will have almost a full line up,” Khalid said.
After a disappointing season last year, affected heavily by COVID-19, the team is looking to bounce back.
With key wrestlers returning this year, the team is as hungry as ever to win districts.
“I am looking forward to having a successful season with my teammates,” Khalid said. “I want to hopefully win districts and place high enough in the region to make it to states alongside my teammates.”
The Atoms track and field teams are also looking to perform at a high level.
Both the boys and girls track team did subpar last year, placing in the bottom half of the district. Having very few seniors on both teams really hurt their performances, but now with more experience, boys and girls track should have an improved season.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to work towards helping the team go to regionals and perform well,” sophomore Pamela Moura said.
Moura, along with many other track athletes, share the common goal of winning districts and regionals, along with meeting personal goals.
“My goals are getting a personal record in all my races,” Moura said.
A winter sport that’s looking to build off a great performance last year is the boys varsity basketball team.
The team had a record of 9-3 last year, and made it to the second round of regionals.
The team featured four first team all district members last year, but lost two first team all district members going into this year.
The team also went through multiple coaching changes during the offseason.
Despite these challenges, the team still looks to build off of last season’s success.
With many key guys returning, the sky’s the limit for the basketball team.
“This upcoming season I’m looking forward to winning districts and playing basketball with friends I grew up with,” junior Danish Naveed said.
Just like the basketball team, the atoms swim and dive team is also looking to build off of their success last season.
The team placed second in the district last year, but looks to take a step forward this year.
With some key swimmers from last year’s team returning, they look to aim for the number one spot in the district.
“I am looking forward to meeting all of the new team members,” sophomore Colin McGee said.
The addition of the new freshmen and swimmers who didn’t compete last year should make this season special.”