With the closure of fall sports at Cascade High School, student athletes leap into the winter sports: wrestling, girls' basketball, boys' basketball, and cheer. While many kids in the Leavenworth area are out hitting the Mission Ridge slopes which opened Saturday, November 23rd in the snow, rain, and cold, student athletes are practicing and playing in the warm confines of the school with cheerleaders and many fans on the sidelines.
Many student athletes have been preparing for their sport to start long before the cold weather hit by attending open gyms for basketball and starting training on their own time. One such student is wrestling team captain, Damian Sandoval (12). “I started drilling by myself for the last month and a half before the season so when I came into the season, I didn’t have to work myself into shape,” said Sandoval.
Basketball open gyms were held every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm and gave the returning or newcoming athletes the opportunity to get back into playing before the season began. For Maizy Groff (12) basketball practice began in the heat of the summer. “I had been doing a lot of practice over the summer and a few tourneys. The week before basketball started, I was in the gym shooting and working out in the weight room every day,” said Groff.
“I like that it gives me something to do during the winter, so I’m not bored and sad all winter,” said Slatta.
Officially, the girls’ and boys' basketball seasons started on Monday, the 18th of November. Players spend practice conditioning, running and shooting hoops after school in preparation for the season's first game. The boys’ team is anticipating their very first home game on Thursday, December 3rd against Thorp High School. The girls are equally as excited with their first game fast approaching on Tuesday, December 3rd an away game against the Wenatchee Panthers. Audrey Slatta (10) has been playing basketball since 7th grade and is excited to see her skills develop more this season. “I like that it gives me something to do during the winter, so I’m not bored and sad all winter,” said Slatta.
Wrestling at Cascade High School will feature a team of nineteen students who just finished their first eleven practices. These practices were called GRIT week and consisted of tough conditioning and practicing, but the wrestlers showed true Kodiak spirit by showing up and not giving up. The team will start the new year off on a strong foot with their first home match on Saturday, January 4th.
“This year I’m looking forward to winning state but placing is good too,” said Sandoval.
Cheerleading doesn’t stop when the football field is covered with snow, they show up for Cascade winter sports with just as much energy and excitement. They help students get ready for the season ahead with well-planned pep rallies that take place during the school day. “This is my first year doing cheer. I really liked football, but I think basketball cheer is going to be better though, because there’s more people and they're more fun,” Yasmi Torres (11) said.
The winter sports season is only just beginning but there is a promising season ahead. With open gyms and early season training building anticipation, the athletes are excited to finally be able to participate in their sport. Come support these student athletes at their games and matches throughout the season.
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