Springing into Sports: Student-athletes discuss feelings on upcoming season

    For many athletes this week was important because it marks the beginning of spring sports. Before making a team, each sport has tryouts to find the best players. For some student-athletes, this will be their first time trying out for a Northwood team. For others, like the seniors, it will be the last season of their high school careers.

    Freshman Parker Martin is trying out for the girls’ softball team for the first time.

    “I am really looking forward to [softball], I just hope I make it. It’s just fun being with your friends and doing what you like,” Martin said.

    Martin hopes to make the team and is focused on bettering her skills.

    “I hope to make JV because it’s more playing time than varsity, if I happen to make either of them,” Martin said.

    Junior Austin Nykamp is trying out for boys’ tennis. He has been playing tennis for six years, and this will be his third year on the Northwood team.

   “I think we are going to do pretty good this year, our top five are pretty solid and I think we can probably make second in the conference,” Nykamp said. “I hope to rank up in the team and probably be like top three or four.”

    Junior Ben Choate is trying out for the golf team for the first time.

    “I tried out for golf because I enjoy it,” Choate said. “It’s laid back and not as high intensity as the other sports. I like the way they did things, it was nice. I hope that I can bring my score down for next season and get some good practice in.”

    Senior Ashley Harris has spent the past four spring seasons on the girls’ soccer team and is looking for to her last.

    “I’ve been on Northwood’s team all four year of high school,” Harris said. “Freshman year I got moved up to varsity on the third game, and I’ve been on varsity ever since.”

    Harris is welcoming of the newcomers and wants to have a good season.

    “I’m excited for it, I think we have some good people coming up; hopefully we will be able to do well this season,” Harris said.

– By Tory Scott