Volleyball and lacrosse tryouts: Cowboys warm up for the coming seasons

BY KAYLA GATES

With winter coming to a close, new sports teams are taking over the fields to prepare for their spring seasons. Tryouts have come to accompany this transition, helping these teams grow and strengthen before the competition commences.

Cooper City High School offers a wide variety of sports in the spring including track, softball, flag football and more. Many offer conditioning, allowing students to stay after school and practice their chosen sport whether it’s in the weight room or on the fields.

While conditioning gives students the opportunity to train, official tryouts allow students to use what they’ve learned and attempt to make the team. Many sports hold tryouts for multiple days, using the time to evaluate potential players and ultimately build a team.

Boys’ volleyball and lacrosse are among those sports currently holding tryouts for the 2019 season. Through weekly meetings, the coaches hope to gain more insight on what the students have to offer. They plan to find talent in the participants and recruit those that stand out.

“I want the team and coaches to see that I have a lot to offer this year.”

The boys’ volleyball season takes place from February until May. With girls’ volleyball taking place earlier in the school year, the boys hope to match the success the girls saw this season and win a district title as well. The team also gained new leadership this year. Head coach Daniel Wallace will be taking over for the boys.

Interested students have the opportunity to practice with the returning members every day after school. The team meets in the gym from 3 to 5 p.m. Coach Wallace encourages any potential players to come out and work on their skills.

“I love volleyball, and I’m excited to play,” freshman Jackson Lahey said. “I want the team and coaches to see that I have a lot to offer this year.”

Another sport set to begin in the coming weeks is lacrosse. The girls’ and boys’ lacrosse season runs from January to April. The team will begin by hosting tryouts in order to recruit new players for the 2019 season.

“I had never played lacrosse before this year, but I’m happy I did,” freshman Mackenzie Segev said. “I met a lot of new people at the practices.”

“I met a lot of new people at the practices.”

The team has met multiple times this year, practicing prior to the start of the season. Students interested in trying out and making the team have been encouraged to attend. However, the official tryouts will be held at the beginning of February.

Students will meet at Cooper City High School on the field. The tryouts are scheduled to run from 5 to 9 p.m. Using all of the required equipment, players will participate in drills and scrimmages to demonstrate their ability.

All in all, both the boys’ volleyball and lacrosse teams have attracted many new players. Some students have already taken to the fields, with the intent of playing their chosen sport for the school. Through the ongoing tryouts, coaches hope to find new talent and strengthen their teams.

“I’m happy that I will be able to prove myself at tryouts,” freshman Tegan Ford said. “I really hope I’ll make the team once the coaches see me play.”

Photo by Cassie Hartmann