AJ Salz
How long have you been playing?
“My parents signed me up for Kidball, but I kept playing because I just really enjoyed it. I got to do it with my friends … and it’s [a] really fun sport to play.”
What’s the biggest difference between the middle school and high school sports teams?
“I think it’s a bigger deal, and it’s more competitive. When I was in eighth grade, I was the oldest guy. Now I’m the youngest guy, so that’s another big difference. But in terms [of] the skill level, it’s a step up from middle school.”
How have the captains supported you as an athlete?
“They’ve taught me a lot and really helped me … If they ever see me doing something wrong, they’ll let me know … They’re always willing to help.”
What is the [9th grade] experience?
“You’re kind of seeing what it’s all about, seeing the differences in high school, and kind of getting to know what it’s going to be like for you for the next few years … [I am] taking it all in as a ninth grader.”
What is one goal you have for yourself this season?
“Be confident in my game and be consistent with it. Being able to show up on any given day and perform definitely is a goal for me.”
Sam Olin
How long have you been playing?
“I’ve been playing basketball for 10 years, and I was drawn to it because my dad has always loved basketball, and so he just introduced me to the game. And so I just kept playing.”
What’s the biggest difference between the middle school and high school sports teams?
“Size, athleticism, physicality and just overall quickness.”
How have the captains supported you as an athlete?
“I think they all know that in order for the team to be successful in the upcoming years, they’re going to have to … rely on us new players to play a strong supporting role in the team. And so they want to help develop us up as much as they possibly can.”
Describe your relationship with the captains on your team.
“[We] are really just trying to listen and learn everything we can, and trying to pick up as much as possible.”
What is one goal you have for yourself this season?
“Just get as comfortable as I can with the new team and play with these better, stronger, bigger kids.”
Zach Berman
How long have you been playing?
“I’ve been playing volleyball since the beginning of the volleyball season … I play because my brother, who is on the team, said … ‘it’s really fun,’ and he’s the main reason why I’m playing volleyball.”
What’s the biggest difference between the middle school and high school sports teams?
“It’s a lot more practices, [the schedule is] a lot more intense…, so there’s just gonna be more times where you’re practicing the sport.”
How have the captains supported you as an athlete?
“Helping us become better at volleyball, because there are a lot of new kids, so since they know how to play and basically they already know about the game, they teach us about the game.”
Describe your relationship with the captains on your team.
“There’s older people, and they kind of tell the freshmen and other people what to do … It’s more being told what to do by older people who know what this took.”
What is one goal you have for yourself this season?
“Get one really good hit, just have one really nice kill. That’d be very, very fun.”
Yarden Wilkenfeld
What motivates you to continue
playing every year?
“I have friends that join each year, and really that’s the biggest pull, because … for softball, I’d say it’s more about the people that I do it with.”
What has changed from the previous years, now that you’re a captain?
“I’d say a lot of it is the leadership … I have to be more of a vocal teammate, lifting people up when they’re down, giving some pointers to people when they need it and also just … setting the right tone for the team so everyone else follows.”
What is do you wish you knew as a rookie on the team?
“It’s okay to have fun, the coach won’t get mad at you and the players won’t get mad at you.”
How do you try to engage freshmen on the team as captain?
“Truthfully, just talking to them, … creating a fun environment at practice and during the games, so they feel calm and at peace when they’re playing, because then they’re better … Just reinforcing the idea that just because it’s their first time playing at the high school level, they’re able to do it, and they’re capable.”
How do you want to make your mark?
“I want to make my mark on the team by how many bases I’ve stolen, and by just bringing the smiles and the laughs.”
Ryan Klepper
What motivates you to continue
playing every year?
“I have so much fun doing the team that I just wanted to continue. And also, last year, [we] were so close to winning the PVAC that I really want to just give it another go.”
What has changed from the previous years, now that you’re a captain?
“I see myself running drills and teaching the new kids how to play more so than just practicing myself … So I think there’s a huge shift … [to] becoming one of the teachers.”
What is do you wish you knew as a rookie on the team?
“Tennis is a really mental game … you can get so in your head, so frustrated [and] nervous that you’re going to miss because you’re playing by yourself, you have nobody [to] talk to or encourage you during the match … I think the game is 70% mental and 30% physical. Because keeping your mind in the right, positive mode is extremely important.”
How do you try to engage freshmen on the team as captain?
“I see myself running drills and teaching the new kids how to play more.”
How do you want to make your mark?
“I’m really hoping we can win this year. We were really close last year … I think it’d be really cool to just win the PVAC as singles one on the team and leave my mark.”
Eve Sharp
What motivates you to continue
running every year?
“It’s just really fun to see yourself grow and to see how far you’ve come from. There is just so much growth [that] happens. That work really pays off a lot of the time, … you just really learn hard work, and I think it’s just a really valuable thing, which has kept me coming back.”
What has changed from the previous years, now that you’re a captain?
“I think becoming a captain, I’ve just taken a lot more responsibility on, and just definitely taken a larger leadership role on the team.”
What do you wish you knew as a rookie on the team?
“I think it’s really important to not get discouraged if you are an older runner and you’re having trouble getting back to your times, or if you’re a younger runner … but you can’t get as good of a time.”
How do you try to engage freshmen on the team as captain?
“On a personal level, try and, especially as older runners, [have] close relationships with younger runners, because I think having a role model on the team is super significant.”
How do you want to make your mark?
“I just think I want to be remembered as a good leader and someone who is just a genuine person that people can look to as a role model.”
