As school is back in session, players and coaches are eager to compete and fans are ready to support them.

Football:

  The 5-peat Jefferson District Champions are looking for more this year after

seeing their 38-game regular season and 31-game district win streak come to an end. 

  “Last year we didn’t get the outcome we wanted so it’s amazing to be back because we’ve got something to prove,” senior Qwenton Spellman said. 

  The Lions have the advantage of returning 4-year starters: Landon Wilson, Elijah Brooks, and Qwenton Spellman. Transfer Cameron Hawkins and a promising freshman class will be bringing positive aspects to the team.

  “I think we are gonna throw the ball a little bit more this year,” senior Landon Wilson said. “We’ve got a few new options this year that should make us pretty strong and diverse offensively.”

  The team has been diligent in the off-season to help them reach their goals for this year.

  “We’ve all been working harder and longer than usual,” Wilson said. “5 days a week since January.”

  “The goal this year is a state championship,” Spellman said.

  The team is ready to hit the field and hear all the excitement roaring from the stands.

  “To all the students, staff, and community members please come support us,” Coach William Patrick said. “These boys work hard year round to represent the best of what we have to offer in this county.”

Gallery • 4 Photos

Chloe's Media, Katelynn Jones, Jacob Capozella and Sarah Marshall

Fall sports prepare to head into their seasons. Pictured are football, volleyball, golf and sideline cheer.

Volleyball:

  This year’s volleyball team is full of new talent after losing six seniors last year. As a result of this, some players have had to step up into the leadership position. 

  “This year I am captain of the court which is something I’ve worked really hard for and puts me in a position to step up as a leader for the team,” senior Jordan Atwell Purcell said. 

  The team has also added two new valuable players to the program, Genevieve Nelson and Abby Mullen. 

   “I was nervous to come in because I didn’t know anyone but it’s been great because everyone really works together and it was easy to gel with everyone,” said senior Abby Mullen.

  Head coach Rachel Green and her players are thrilled to begin the season and feel that they have the ability to perform better than previous years.

  “We continue to play in one of the most competitive districts with some very good teams,” Green said. “I am very excited to see how we stack up against them and I think we have the potential to do as well as if not better than last season.”

  The team says they have a different approach coming into this season. They want to focus more on the mental aspect and strategy of the game.

  “What makes us so strong this year is we have a high IQ of the game,” sophomore Alyssa Hopkins said. “It’s not all about the physical part of the game for us. We are trying to be smart and intentional with everything we do in the game.”

Golf:

  This year’s golf team is full of young players and new faces.With three returners and six new players the new head coach, John Pearson thinks… 

  “The team, as a whole, is young, and everyone can return next year,” Pearson said. “If we build a strong foundation this year and work hard, we will be formidable.”

  Top performers so far this season have been Emma Zelaski, Connor Downey, and Gabi Mcgehee. The returners feel they have a responsibility to set the standard for incoming players.

  “I want to be a strong leader for some of the newer players and bring the team together,” junior Zelaski said.

Field Hockey:

  Head coach Meredith Williamson and her players are excited to see how this season goes.

  “It feels good to be back in season, I am excited to see where this team will go,” Williamson said “I am hopeful that we will have a really great season and surprise quite a few teams.”

  Junior Mallory Greslick is stepping up as a leader to help mentor her new teammates.

  “We have a bunch of new players this year and I am looking forward to getting to know everybody and creating new friendships,” Greslick said.

  Along with new players, there are many experienced leaders with a variety of skills who will help improve the team.

  “Laurelei Choi has awesome stick skills that she brings to the team, Mallory Greslick has such a great work ethic and leadership that will pull the team together, and Alexis Fickes will give her all at every practice and in games which is going to have a major impact on our abilities to maintain and have continued endurance,” Williamson said

Competition Cheer:

  After losing the district title last year, the competition cheer team is determined to bring home the district trophy.

  “My goal is to get our district title back,” senior captain Dallas Sprouse said. “We are gonna learn from last year’s mistakes, work hard, and keep pushing through even when things get hard.” 

  Players are looking forward to this season because it is the first completely normal season they’ve had since Covid began.

  “It feels good that everything is normal this year,” senior captain Taylor Blount said. “For a long time it was just taken away and it was really hard to make things look good with the restrictions that we had.” 

  This year, the team will be hosting regionals on October 22nd.

  “I am looking forward to hosting regionals this year and hopefully bringing home the regional title as well,” Sprouse said.

Sideline Cheer:

  This year, sideline cheer is bringing experience and leadership to football games, with over half over the team being seniors.

  The team is thrilled to come together after the past two years of uncertainty.

  “I am looking forward to the entire school and community coming together to support each other as we all emerge from the past two years of uncertainty,” head coach Sarah Marshall said. “We are all-in to make this the best season and year.”

  Spirits, this year, are high as the fall season begins.

  “There is nothing like stepping in the Jungle stadium and feeling the roar from our lion nation,” senior captain Jayden Duck said. 

  The cheerleaders want the Loonies to bring as much energy as possible.

  “We want the students to represent,” Duck said. “The student section should be packed.”

Cross country: 

This year’s cross country team is composed of senior leaders and new talent with the goal of bettering their scores from last year.

“I would like us to stay in a pact during races so we are able to get as few points as possible,” junior Taylen Soriano said.

Many of the seniors have known their fellow teammates since they started running cross country in middle school, so playing one last season together is one full of emotions. 

“I started running with Caroline Compton in sixth grade and then Kennedy Harris joined us for cross country in seventh grade. Running alongside them gives me motivation to keep pushing even on days when I feel bad,” senior Maeve Myers said. “I can’t believe that chapter is closing on my life but I’m so grateful to get to finish out with the wonderful girls we have this year.”