Spring sports tryouts started on Monday, March 17, and UPrep students are giving previews about their expectations and goals, while Jonathan Kim, the UPrep associate athletic director, shares an overall view on spring sports.
Kim shares the high amounts of spring sports participants this season.
He said that UPrep has 150 students playing spring sports this season and 50 baseball players coming to play.
Rowan Belcher, a seventh grader who is playing baseball this season, thinks about his goals for the upcoming baseball season.
He shared that he is going to get “probably at least one [home run],” and he said that he wants to “become better at pitching and batting and become closer with my teammates.”
Hudson Meyer, a sixth grader, shared more baseball goals about individual accomplishments and team goals
When asked how many home runs he would get, Meyer said “probably none.”
Cameron Watt, a seventh grader who does track, shares some of his goals.
“I think [my goals are to] just get better as a runner myself and just try it out,” Watt said
Seventh grader Mersan Namera shares his opinions on how teammates affect ultimate.
“They really make your options larger. Because without teammates, you have no options, and it’s very limited because you can’t move with the Frisbee,” Namera said.
Seventh grader Charley Rolfe, who runs on track, agrees with Namera.
“I think it’s good to have somebody supporting me,” Rolfe said
Belcher also agrees.
“If you have a pitcher who can’t throw a strike, well, then you can’t win, and it impacts the game,” Belcher said.
Watt says that teammates are important, while also instilling goals for his team
“I want to have a lot of respect within the team, and just be together,” Watt said.
Watt, while giving his goals, also shared why he wanted to play track
“My mom used to do it…it’s really fun, and also, I like trying lots of new sports,” Watt said.
Inspirations are not student exclusive, as Kim has some for coaching.
“I decided that I wanted to work at University Prep because I love working with students and kids,”Kim said. “Athletics is a great way to get in the middle of both of those things.”