Posted by By Loyal Goodermote, Staff Writer
Worried about Winter Weather? What about Winter Sports? Tis’ the season of cold temperatures, snowy fields, and the sun setting before 5. Safe to say there are factors limiting the activity that can go on outside. But, what about inside? Inside, you’ll find many sports going on that our NPHS students play and compete in. Find out what the seniors and captains of our winter sports teams have to say about their upcoming season and their favorite songs to jam to before a game.
Girls Varsity Basketball
Lily Sturgis
How do you think your team will do this year?
I think our team will do well, we get along really well together and I think we just have a really good morale.
What will your team’s greatest challenge be?
We’re a really young team and we have a lot of girls who are new to basketball so I think just learning all the fundamentals will be challenging but I think we can do it and be a strong team.
What do you like most about Basketball?
I love being part of a team and bonding together and playing a sport we all love.
What are your pregame tunes?
Jimmy Cooks by Drake, Uproar by Lil Wayne
Liv Burda
How do you think the team will do this year?
We’re a developing team but I think that once we have more practices and games eventually we will start doing well and winning.
What will your team’s greatest challenge be?
At the moment putting up points, but we are a new team all together and a lot of us haven’t played with each other at all and most of us haven’t played basketball since middle school so I think that we dust all the cobwebs off that won’t be an issue anymore.
What do you like about basketball?
I love everybody on our team, I think everybody is pretty funny. Basketball wise, I like the competitiveness of it.
What are your pregame tunes?
Also Jimmy Cooks by Drake, Uproar by Lil Wayne
Boys Varsity Basketball
Tony Drewnowski
How do you think your team will do this year?
I think we will be a very solid team, the goals to win a section championship and were very capable of doing that
What will your team’s greatest challenge be?
Either Goshen or Lourdes, 2 tough teams returning a lot of people, Goshen just won the title last year and they got their whole team back. It’s gonna be tough but we got the guys to do it
What do you like most about Basketball?
I like the bonds you form with your teammates, outside the court you make new friends, new people and that bond is like a brotherhood that will last forever
What are your pregame tunes?
MJ by Big Scarr
Coming off of an injury, do you think the team will improve from last year?
Yeah, we were solid last year too. When I went down, there was a lot to fix up, we lost 6 games. But, coming back we have all the guys back from last year so we’re gonna be good.
Beckett Weires
How do you think your team will do this year?
I think we’re gonna do pretty good. I’m hoping we get a championship, but we’ll do as good as we can do.
What will your team’s greatest challenge be?
Getting over the fact that we think we’re good and most other teams don’t think the same. We just gotta get past the fact that people are doubting us.
What do you like most about Basketball?
I like how fast paced it is, and I like playing with my friends cause I’ve been playing with them since, as long as I can remember.
What are your pregame tunes?
Big Scarr
Any personal goals?
Making the all section team. That’d be pretty cool. I’m going to try my best and help our team win.
Boys Swim
Campbell Heiz
How do you think your team will do this year?
I think everyone will put up good times and everyone, especially new swimmers, will see major improvements
What will your team’s greatest challenge be?
Probably the numbers deficit we face when it comes to our team only having 12 swimmers. It will be tough to compete against schools with bigger squads.
What do you like most about Swim?
I love that it’s an individual sport with a very supportive team. The team environment is incredible and drives the independent portions.
What are your pregame tunes?
Jump Around by House of Pain, Rap God by Eminem
What is your favorite stroke?
Well I like breast and free. But I love breaststroke so my favorite race has got to be the 100 breast.
Roy Wilms
How do you think your team will do this year?
I think we’re going to do exceptional, the team is a great stellar group of guys and we’re really going to succeed this year
What will your team’s greatest challenge be?
I’m not really sure to be honest. There’s not really a challenge. I believe in my guys that we’re going to be great this year
What do you like most about Swim?
The fact that it’s a full body exercise, it’s really really good for your body and for your overall health so I think that’s the important part of it.
What are your pregame tunes?
Benny the Butcher, Pooh Shiesty
What’s your favorite swim stroke?
Either the freestyle or breaststroke
Nordic Ski
Beckett Evans
Will there be a repeat of a section 9 title?
I hope so, but I’m not as confident as last year. I think a personal section win is in the cards for this season.
Will the team be affected after losing many strong seniors last year?
Yes definitely, both morally and performance wise. The team was pulled together by seniors last year but he thinks the seniors this year will step up.
What do you like most about Nordic ski?
I love the snow and have always liked to ski. I do like the racing but mostly it’s just fun to be in the beautiful locations. The team really becomes a family and grows together throughout the season.
What are your pregame tunes?
The team listens to Love Sosa by Chief Keef, or 20 min by Lil Uzi on the bus to a race
Harry Weinstein
Will there be a repeat of a section 9 title?
Absolutely. We win every year. No question
Will the team be affected after losing many strong seniors last year?
Yeah, we did lose 5 of our best members but we have more people joining so I’m confident
What do you like most about Nordic ski?
I love how it brings the best out of winter, it’s fun that you can do something really fun and competitive during this season. When its snowing outside there’s nothing really better to do.
What are your pregame tunes?
Put on by Jeezy
Gymnastics
Claire Coiteux
Do you have any goals this season?
I would like to upgrade my skills and make some friends.
Yeah because you practice with another school right?
Yeah as the only New Paltz gymnast I practice with the Kingston girls. They kinda have their own cliques but hopefully I can get in with them.
What do you like most about Gymnastics?
I like feeling strong and in control of my body when I’m doing my routines.
And what would you say is your favorite event?
I would say I have the most fun when I’m on the floor. I can be the most expressive and show my true self. My best event is probably bars so I enjoy that too.
Are you going to pursue a career in Gymnastics?
I think highschool will be the end of my gymnastics career but I could see myself coaching in the future. I feel like I could also transfer these skills into something like rock climbing.
What are your pregame tunes?
Lose yourself by Eminem
What would you say to someone who is on the fence about joining gymnastics?
I would say you should just show up and learn some cool party tricks
Wrestling
Cole Cuppett
Placement goals in Sectionals?
Yeah, I’m looking to win sectionals and go to states as a senior and hopefully place in states.
What is your opinion on having to cut weight to make a weight class:
Usually in wrestling you get the choice to cut weight and the weightclass you want to go to. In my circumstance, I don’t really have to cut much weight, so it’s not that bad for me.
What do you like most about Wrestling?
I like the ability to overcome obstacles, like my opponents, especially when they’re ranked above you. It might scare you away, but when you do wrestle them and beat them it feels great. I also like the mental part of it, It’s really draining, and it’s nice to be able to push through that and have a good perseverance about it.
What are your pregame tunes?
Lunatic Fringe and Superstition
Tomasz Zaborowski
Placement goals in Sectionals?
First, hopefully. First is definitely the goal.
What is your opinion on having to cut weight to make a weight class?
I think it’s fine, obviously we don’t push it too hard here, it’s really what you want to do. I personally cut weight because it is good for me, I feel like it makes me succeed later on. But, I’m glad the old ways of cutting weight are gone.
What do you like most about Wrestling?
My team, my boys around cause it’s pretty miserable in itself to just kill yourself this much but, everyone around makes it much easier.
What are your pregame tunes?
Any relaxing music, anything that chills me out. I don’t listen to music that screams in my ears. Anything that I would fall asleep too.
Girls Track
Veda Keon
How do you think the team will do this year?
I think individually people will do well, however I think because the team is so small it will be difficult for us to score that it was last year, but still doable.
What do you like most about Track?
I like that it’s a very individual sport, so the only person I have to rely on to do better is myself.
What will be your greatest challenge?
I’m getting to the point where its small techniques changes i need to make to get better and they can be challenging to remember.
What are your pregame tunes?
A mix of Bastille, The Arctic Monkeys, and classic rock
Sofia Carucci
How do you think the team will do this year?
I think our team is doing great so far and we are on track to win in major meets. Everyone has really put the work in and have been willing to try out new events. We have a division meet coming up and we are hoping to be the division champs!
What do you like most about Track?
For me, track has been a great way to meet new people while also doing what I love, which is playing sports. I enjoy working hard towards a new PR and I love a good long run which is why I prefer long distance.
What will be your greatest challenge?
Our greatest challenge is definitely going to be withstanding the cold. Even though it’s technically indoor track, we practice outdoors most of the time. It is definitely an obstacle but we try to work through it.
What are your pregame tunes?
I start the bus ride off with chill music and as we get closer I start listening to rap. Kendrick Lamar is definitely a go-to.
Boys Track
Isait Flores
How do you think the team will do this year?
We are going to be a good team, we have a chance of winning divisions.
What do you like most about Track?
I enjoy being with my teammates.
What will be your greatest challenge?
As a team our challenge would be competing against big teams
What are your pregame tunes?
Latin rap
Max Hawkins
How do you think the team will do this year?
We are very small this year but we’re all pretty good. Hopefully some school records are broken and we can win divisions.
What do you like most about Track?
I like zoning out during long runs
What will be your greatest challenge?
Probably trying to bear the 1600m record.
What are your pregame tunes?
Chopin
The Maroon 