Freshman football players practice in August. Photo: Xoe Hawkins
From “Blue and White” to “Freshman Football,” leaving 8th grade means a lot of new things. In 8th grade, there are two teams for almost all sports separated into the Blue, which is made of students from Bethel Middle, and the White, made from Bryant Middle students. The students become one team freshman year.
“It’s not much different playing with Bryant Middle. There are just better people on the team and we have better opportunities. I like playing with Bryant on the team more than just Bethel. We are way better now,” Aaron Austin, freshman, said.
As the team grows, so does the competition to be on the team.
“At the beginning during tryouts, if you just showed up you made it on the team so I wasn’t really worried about that. I’m just worried about my spot being taken,” Gabriel Vargas, freshman, said. “At the beginning, there were only six people playing safety but now there’s more so I have to work even harder to keep my spot.”
For most players, this isn’t their first year on the team and so earning their spot was different than 8th grade.
“This is my second year playing for Bryant. There weren’t any tryouts so I wasn’t worried about not making it. Even if there were, I can only control what I can control and do what I can do. I can’t make decisions for other people,” Ian West, freshman, said.
With more players on the team, there is less field time for everyone. But this also means there are more backup players.
“We have more people around if someone gets injured we know someone can step into that spot,” Brenden Murdock, freshman, said.
As there are more players on the team there are also more coaches.
“There’s more talent putting the teams together. The different coaches this year make it more intense and there is more building from what we already knew. This year it’s also more organized,” Logan Lee, freshman, said.
Practices normally are in the morning from six until the first bell and then they work out during first period.
“My favorite part of practice is team offense. We do this pretty much every day,” Rowyn Witherspoon, freshman, said.
In the mornings, players spend the class in the field house working out using different gym equipment.
“I prefer morning practices and we practice for about one and a half to two hours.” AJ Stallman, freshman, said.
When it’s not too hot, the team also practices most afternoons until 5. Despite the long hours, the players look forward to the work.
“My favorite part of practices is hanging out with friends and just getting ready for football,” Stallman, said.