Athletes “Establish Team Culture” at Preseason
As a new school year begins, athletes are returning to the fields and courts for another fall sports season. While preseason can be challenging, students and coaches see it as an important time to prepare for competition and build connections with their teammates.
For many athletes, preparation begins before preseason. Varsity volleyball player Chase Herwig ’27 trained by attending CorePower classes with teammates, going on runs and focusing on eating well. Varsity tennis coach Mitch Duque also emphasized the importance of summer preparation, especially because early preseason practices can influence team lineups and starting positions.
Preseason is about more than physical exercise, though. “It’s an opportunity to build relationships, establish team culture, set goals and come together as a team,” Athletic Director Graham Westerberg said. Varsity volleyball player Jaida Mostafa ’27 agreed and explained that preseason helps teams “strengthen our skills, build team chemistry and establish our goals.”
Teams also find ways to make the demanding preseason more enjoyable. Varsity volleyball holds
an annual team sleepover, and varsity soccer has team lunches, themed Friday practice, and fun training games. Varsity tennis players enjoy team bonding events such as Starbucks and Yogi Topi trips. Blue-White Night is another favorite tradition, with varsity tennis player Bridget Zimmerman ’28 and varsity soccer player Ella Sanai ’27 both eagerly looking forward to the event.
Varsity field hockey player Merritt Feldner ’27 said she “has cherished the traditions of preseason, including ‘tunches’ in Bethesda Row and spirit week with themes like Wacky Wednesday and Grill Dads.”
JV soccer player Julia Weinstein ’29 commented, "I love preseason because I get to have fun and spend the last part of my summer playing a sport I love with friends that I haven't seen in a while."
Regular-seasons games are already in full swing, with varsity volleyball pulling off wins against the Field School, varsity tennis defeating Bullis 6-1, and varsity soccer shutting out St. Mary's Ryken in a 2-0 victory.
Athletes are anticipating more important matchups. Herwig is excited to face Stone Ridge after last year’s volleyball championship loss while Sanai is looking forward to playing Potomac.
