A pre-season glance at spring sports

By: Krissy Hetherington

For the past few months, spring sports have been preparing both mentally and physically for their upcoming seasons. As most of Redwood’s spring sports teams have already kicked off their 2020 season, many athletes share common goals and expectations.

For some, this is the beginning of the end. Their last time lacing up their track spikes. Last team bonding events, chance at a league championship and even a Valley title.

And for others, it’s their first time at the next level and a chance to prove their talent and hard work put in over the past few years.

Swim

Coming off a school record breaking season last year, the girls team will return as strong as ever and are led by Sofia Mora, ’21, Skylar Ford, ’20, and Alex Roberts, ’20.

The girls share a common goal of winning WYL (again) and focus on individual achievements such as placing in Valley and State.

Recent San Diego State signee, Roberts, plans to achieve these goals by “going to the gym, lifting more, eating healthier, and getting more sleep.” She explains that as a team they have already began mapping their goals and work on their relays.

Roberts placed first in two events at Valley and was a part of the medley relay that got second at valley and went on to compete at State.

Ford said she believes “as a team, we need to have everyone put in their full effort everyday at practice and attend as many practices as possible..”

On the boys side, some swimmers to look out for this season are Josh Peters, ’20, Nathan Thompson, ’20, Nate Bettencourt, ’22, and Gage Walker, ’21.

Some goals for the team include winning WYL, and for each swimmer individually to focus “on improving times and placing on the podium at Valley,” Thompson said.

Boys Swim has won WYL nine years in a row and plan to bring another Championship home by “always pushing each other at practice, making sure everybody is getting the most out of each set…it really is a team effort to make sure the team is disciplined,” Bettencourt said.

Baseball

Being a junior-heavy team this year, the team, coached by Dan Hydash, has had a rough start to their season so far. Being 0-6 after facing five teams from the TRAC and back to back DII Valley Champions, San Joaquin Memorial, there is still plenty of time to change it up.

“We have to come together as a team and just execute with runners in scoring position and keep the bad innings to a minimum,” said Oregon State verbal commit and shortstop, Diego Alvarado, ’21.

Goals for the team include more team bonding, which will also help them next year, and to outright win WYL and make it into the post-season in Division 1. Although they may be underestimated, this season calls for lots of growth and trying out things that will benefit the whole team in the future.

Softball

After losing eight senior starters last year, Softball is also looking at a young group of girls but with strength to contend for a WYL title.

Coached by Bob Rooney, some players to look out for this season is three-year varsity player, Sydnee Weber, ’21, and newcomers, Audrey Hillan, ’22, and Morgan Bradford, ’23.

After a consecutive successful seasons, including a D2 Valley title two years ago and making it to Semifinals last year, Redwood Softball was admitted to D1 for this season.

Weber’s personal goal for the season is “to step into the leadership shoes that I was left by great leaders that came before me like Emilie Hernandez, Jordyn Montoya, Emma Ruth and the people that I’ve looked too this far in my high school career.

“I want the younger girls to look up to me the same way I looked up to those girls,” Weber said.

She believes in this year’s team and said, “I think that we can 100% achieve our goals as a team by coming together and learning and growing as a unit instead of individuals and working hard together and really being there for each other because in the long run the teams with the most chemistry beat the teams that are full of individuals, but I’m not worried because all of the girls are already becoming super close friends and everyone has a strong work ethic.”

Track

Track has been preparing for their 2020 season since fall and carried their conditioning over into the winter. They are hoping to seal their 5th consecutive WYL Championship this season.

Returning this year, is Brandon Andrade, ’20, who will lead the team in the hurdle events and Lionel Inhphom, ’21, and Ryan Hemphill, ’20, who specialize in the long distance events. The Boys team won WYL and also D2 Central Valley Championship. Only three seniors graduated from that Valley Championship team of 13 total athletes.

“We got to work hard, show up to practice and stay hydrated…I’m really looking forward to spending time with friends and going to overnight trips for meets like Arcadia and Mt. Sac Relays,” said Inhphom.

On the girls side, the long distance group is underclassmen heavy but has fresh, strong legs for this season.

“The squad is loaded with runners that are highly committed to the program. They’re just really coachable and they’re awesome teammates too,” said Long Distance Coach Tony Ramirez.

Some athletes to look out for this season would include Sophia Dominguez (captain), Victoria Nino, Jaden Hydash, Zoe Matlock, and Mia Maciel.

Both teams put up some impressive times at their inner-squad meet last week and had the chance to run some indoor events before the season starts.

Boys Tennis

This year’s team will be led by Tristen Schieferle, ’20, Tony Kim, ’20, Ian Moritse, and Nolan Yang, ’22.

The team has already faced off against Buchanan and Clovis and was able to sweep Immanuel just this past week.

Boys Tennis has won WYL 7 years in a row and plan to bring home another title.

“I think if everyone puts their hearts into each match and refuse to give up even when we’re down in a match, then we can pull in another year of league and really do some damage at Valley,” Schieferle said.

Boys Golf

Although golf tends to be a quiet sport on campus, the team dominates year after year as a strong contender in WYL and Central Section overall.

The team, coached by Lonnie DeAsis, will be led by Logan Parsley, ’21, Jack Peters, ’21, and Zach Hildago, ’21, Justin Johnson, ’21, and Zane Wilson, ’20.

The team’s goal is to sweep WYL and potentially have everyone qualify for Valley, but this depends on each player on the team, their personal goals and the time they put in every day.

Tags: Baseball, CIF, preseason, Redwood, redwood baseball, redwood golf, redwood high school, redwood rangers, redwood swim, redwood tennis, swim, Track & Field