It’s that time of year again, and fall sports at Oakmont are in full swing. Athletes and coaches are beyond excited as the fall season begins; schedules fill up with tough practices and games.
This year, our fall sports remain football, field hockey, cheerleading, soccer, cross country, and golf. Although meets and games have just begun for some teams, early success is clear to see.
Recently, field hockey scored a shocking 5-0 win against Auburn, and both girls and boys cross country beat Marlborough on September 10th. Our football team won the first two games of the season, and on September 18th, our golf team beat Fitchburg 43.5 – 10.5.
But what helps our teams gain such success?
When asked for his thoughts on the beginning of the fall season, Oakmont’s Athletic Director Mr. Eric Dawley discusses crucial aspects of our athletics like coaching and athlete dedication. Dawley states, “What I see more than anything is commitment. Not only during the season but in the offseason. The time, effort, and energy that athletes now put into training, crosstraining, and playing other sports, seeing our athletes do that year after year is pretty special.”
In addition to the unwavering commitment shown at Oakmont, a key part of our athletic success is the team’s perspective. Junior soccer player Mikaela Groncki states that mindset is the most important part of a successful season. “A lot of the time, if you think you’re going to lose going into the season or going into a game, you will lose because you’re not playing your best. If you have a good mindset, try to win, run hard to every ball, and do your best, it’ll make a good season.”
If you have played a team sport before, you know the little moments make up the season. For many athletes, it’s the teammates themselves that make the hard work worthwhile. Football quarterback and captain David Roy says brotherhood fuels the best season. His keys to success are, “Brotherhood, being close to the teammates, and trying to have the best year you can.”
Junior cross-country runner Maggie Hubbard agrees with that idea. Despite the small size of her team, she remarks, “What makes the season good is the people, and then your mindset. Anyone can run; you just have to put your mind to it.”
As the season gets more demanding, it’s important to remember what really matters. Instead of defining a season by wins and losses, prioritize the improvement of the team and the experiences made. At Oakmont, our athletes know there’s much more to a sport than the scores at the end of the game. Because of that, we will continue to see success.
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