Spring sports start as early as February here at PV High, and the 2015 season will start in about a month. However, for one specific spring sport, somethings won’t be the same as they have been the past few years.
Cross country has been a dominant sport at PV High for many years and has achieved many accomplishments in Bay League, and in C.I.F. After the fall season sport of cross country, manny runners gear up for another season to compete in in the Spring . Although the track team builds its program from players who compete in cross country, this year something new is going to happen . Like cross country, track has always been a walk on sport. For those who are not aware of what a walk on sport is, it is a sport where anyone can join without trying out. The football program is also a walk on sport here at PV High. But for the track team, it has become an official rule for the 2015 season that students are required to try out.
For the students that are questioning why the track program is holding tryouts, it is because of one reason. The strive for dominance here at PV High. The track team has never had a tryout scheduled for a season before. However, things are changing this year, and Junior Jacquelyn Smith has the answer. Smith stated, “The main reason why the program is having tryouts this year is not to exclude kids from competing… but to improve the program as a whole.” The cross country program has been winning Bay League constantly, as well as C.I.F. and even state. Smith states, ” We have great runners in the cross country and track program… but we want to have just as a successful program as our Cross Country program, and by having tryouts, that’s how it’s going to happen.” With these tryouts being held, the cross country will pursue to be as dominant as a program as the track team.
Senior Bennet Gagnon explains his opinion saying, ” Track is a such a different sport than cross country… there are obstacles, jumps, and maneuvers to perform.” With track being a more eventful sport than cross country, the program believes that to reach its full potential, it needs to be exclusive. Gagnon says, “I think the tryouts will bring this program to a whole new level, and I’m excited to see what’s going to happen.” With the program doing something completely different than anything it has tried to ever before, it is clear to expect greatness this season.
This upcoming season is Freshman Ian Irish’s first ever, and he thinks the tryouts are a positive change as well. Irish states, “ I think that holding tryouts this year will only make us stronger.” Irish competed on Varsity Cross Country this past fall, and is excited to aim for a spot on varsity this upcoming Spring as well. Irish says, “ I am very excited to try out… I’m going to give it my all, and hopefully, it will work out for me.” With this years program holding an exclusive tryout this Spring, all incoming grades in the future, including freshman, will have to get used to the new system. Irish says, “ I know that there won’t be as many people in track as there are in cross country… but it is the sacrifice we have to make to be the best program we can possibly be.”
After evaluating this Spring’s outcome for the 2015 track season, there are many good changes to look forward to. Even though the track program is becoming more exclusive by holding open tryouts like most sports here at PV High, the outcome will most likely be significantly more enjoyable and dominant. After enjoying this year’s winter sports here at school, don’t forget to stop by the local high schools around the area this Spring to watch this year’s new track team. It will definitely be a season to remember.