Younger student-athletes finding time on JV, Varsity teams

Post date: Jan 26, 2017 9:14:51 PM

Kylie Francis

Sports Editor

Moorhead High School has a very talented athletics department. Although many are students at the high school, some students attend Horizon Middle School.

Many of the students who were moved up felt nervous and scared, but overall they felt like all of their hard work has paid off. One athlete is Samantha Hulst, now a freshman at the high school. She was moved up as an 8th grader last year for basketball and track. “It feels amazing when you are pulled up because you know that your are working hard.” Hulst stated.

Another student that was moved up last year is Natania Arpero, currently an 8th grader at Horizon Middle school. She was moved up for softball last year. Arpero was really nervous at first when she was trying out because she really didn’t know any of the upperclassmen and and she felt like she wasn’t going to be able to play at the level of the high schoolers.

For both Hulst and Arpero they both agree that it is much easier playing with the upperclassmen if you know someone on the team. “You feel better about yourself knowing that you know some of the upperclassmen because you are coming in late for practice and you feel bad because you missed the warm ups and other drills, but the people you know there make you feel better because they are more welcoming to you and then you don’t feel so bad,” Hulst said. Some of the challenges for middle schoolers was adjusting to how hard the coaches make you work.

“It’s so much different than play at middle school level, you have more conditioning, you have to do 100% every practice,” said Arpero. “If you're not paying attention or working hard you won’t get any playing time.” Overall the experience really helped the younger girls get better at the sport they are involved in. They loved being with the the team and making memories throughout the season.

Still, while this is a good opportunity for young athletes to earn exposure at the JV or varsity level, some high school players have voiced concerns. Emma Stuhaug, an MHS sophomore, says she doesn’t like it when younger players move up.

“I felt like I wasn’t good enough for the coaches. We had enough girls to fill spots,” said Stuhaug. “I felt very pressured and that I was over looked. That’s why I quit basketball, because I felt they had taken over and I wasn't even looked at anymore.” Another sophomore at MHS who didn't want to be named also feels the same way. “It’s unfair how kids that don’t even go to our school get to play varsity sports.

Many of the seniors last year didn’t get to play because of this.” While some upperclassmen think that younger players should have to “wait their turn,” those younger athletes are simply trying to adjust.