With winter weather comes winter sports at Jamesville-DeWitt High School. Student athletes across the school plunge into the intense practice schedules their coaches have ready for them. Although the seven sports offered are very different, they all have the same goal: winning.
Varsity Boys Basketball takes the court once again, trying to avenge their late loss to Bishop Ludden in the Carrier Dome that ended last year’s season too soon. The team returns many of its starting players but lacks Jafar Kinsey, a 2014 graduate. “We are going to be running plays more strictly now, especially without Jafar,” said senior Jacob Eich. With the absence of Kinsey and his fellow seniors comes new leaders who are anxious to go further than last season. “We want to win a state title,” said Eich, “we work really well together as a unit so if we can do that each game, we can go far.” The boys kicked off their season with a 74-59 win against Utica Notre Dame at Onondaga Community College on Nov. 29.
The Varsity Girls Basketball team fell short of a New York State title at the end of their 2013-2014 season. Making it to the Final Four was quite an accomplishment, but the girls are looking to go further this year. The girl’s team returns with many of its key players, including co-captains Alyssa Robens and Maddy Frank. “We are all more experienced players this year and although we are still young and have three freshmen, we will be a hard team to stop.” Driven by their chemistry and skills, they hope to find their way back to the final four and this time, take home the ‘ship. The girls are ready get back what they had previous lost, with their first game on Dec. 10 against Nottingham.
The combined Boys and Girls Indoor Track team has high hopes this season. Coming back from a sectional championship, the team aims to repeat their success. Senior runner Austin Philleo hopes “to be personally successful in the 600 meter run and make it to states.” Philleo credits the team’s success to their ability to perform well as a team. Many of those who led the team to sectionals last year were older, more experienced runners who have gone on to college. Because of the lack of these strong teammates who graduated, Philleo feels it will be difficult to be sectional champions once more. The team begins their journey to sectionals starting on Dec. 17 at OCC.
The CBA/J-D Boys Ice Hockey team returns, ready to fulfill their goal of a second NYS title in three years. The boys take on many competitive teams on their journey back to states. “Skaneateles is our biggest competitor this season,” says senior captain Ryan Durkin. One thing the team needs to work on, says Durkin, is being able to “gel” well as a team. Because the team consists of both CBA and J-D student athletes, it can be challenging to get to know your teammates when you don’t go to school with one another. Even with the stress of a difficult season, there is always the enjoyable Hockey Night to look forward to, though it has yet to be scheduled. “Hopefully we will find a good night and play a good game for the fans,” said Durkin. The boys have started their 2014-2015 with a 2-0 record, beating Liverpool High School, 8-2, and Whitesboro High School, 3-2.
JD/CBA Boys Wrestling has “tough competition” this coming season. Junior Tyler Muller talked about how they lost some key players due to last year’s graduating class, such as two-time Section III champion Ben Honis. The team will be greatly effected because of their absence. “ We have a very young team this year so we have to get a lot of practice in,” said Muller. The boys are hoping to improve from last year’s 9-9 record, beginning Dec. 3 against Mexico at Mexico High School.
Check back next week for our expanded article covering Boy’s Swimming and Diving.
With several different teams to watch, the winter season should be anything but dull. Whether it is a track meet, basketball game, hockey game, swim meet, or wrestling match, make sure to go support the Red Rams as they make their way towards a championship.