By Tyler Curtiss and Matt Lipp

Football:
The football players this year are in full rush. Following a huge win over River Hill during the second week of the season, the Gladiators seem primed to have a great year. Running back Wande Owens is a key part of the team’s game plan because of how well he executes the “run heavy scheme” that Coach Butch Schaffer loves. When asked about the the team’s chemistry, Syracuse commit and team captain Dakota Davis said, “All of us (seniors) this year are really focusing on keeping the team close and creating a family.” Even though the Gladiators lost to Wilde Lake and Long Reach, the team is working together to build connections and regain their winning spirit. Additionally, when Coach Schaffer described the pure talent that the team has this year he said, “We’ve got a really great group of guys. We should be very successful and be able to make a long run into the playoffs.” The entire school is excited because of the football team’s great success this year, and the Gladiators are looking to finally reach their goal of a state championship.

Field Hockey:
The field hockey players this year are in full swing. Junior, Emily Bacon said, “We have conditioning pretty much every day.” Although the field hockey girls aren’t huge fans of conditioning, it is a vital key to increasing their endurance. Due to their high fitness level, the team is able to have success throughout their season. With their undefeated streak, they plan to keep up the intensity level and work for a whole season full of wins. Their win over Marriotts Ridge was a huge confidence booster because they are consistently one of the top teams in the county. They hope to keep their undefeated season rolling through playoffs.


Cheerleading:
The cheerleaders this year are in full spirit. The team is preparing for their first competition of the year on November 2nd at Marriotts Ridge. Alex Fleece, the head cheer captain and vocal leader this year, has the big responsibility of having all the girls look up to her. Their catchy cheers get all of the fans rallied up. Taking their tumbling and stunts to extreme levels goes to show how much they are working towards their competitions. The cheer team this year hopes to not only get fans excited at football games, but also to succeed in their team competitions.

Boys Soccer:
The boys soccer team this year are in full speed. The team is off to a great start this season behind the leadership and skills of captains Guy Mobeka, Ramzy Ahmed, and Brady Brajaz. They are ending their season being a top team in the county due to their strong offensive and defensive skills. Coach Osborne pushes them to their best ability, which always pays off. Senior, Ramzy Ahmed, stated that, “The team couldn’t do it without all his support.” Hughes also gave credit to his coaches for keeping them in great shape so they are prepared physically for their games. The player’s endurance has helped them win their close games by being able to outlast their opponents. With nine Seniors on the team, the boys hope to continue on the pace that have started on and finish out the remainder of the season strong.


Girls Soccer:
The girls soccer team this year is in full attack. After losing eleven Seniors last year, the team consists of mostly Sophomores and Juniors. The team captains this year are Anna Callahan, Bethany Stewart, Courtney Renehan, and Kendall Anderson. With talented middies to back the strikers, the offense of the Gladiators team seems nearly unstoppable. Reflecting on the first few weeks, Anna Callahan stated, “The team seems to have great chemistry this year.” With their team pasta parties and get togethers, they have connected on a higher level which has helped their communication on the field.  The Gladiator girls are glad to have a strong team to finish out their challenging season.


Golf:
The Glenelg golfers this year are in full stroke. With many key players coming back to the team this year, they hope to continue their success from the previous season. When asked about the team’s relationship, Senior Hayden Mikk said, “The team this year has great chemistry. It’s more than friendship. We are a really close group of guys and girls.” Michael Forester, whose teammates say has the best swing on the team, hit the school’s first hole in one at Cattail Creek Country Club. When asked about sinking a put, Tony Mobley said, “Right when it goes in, it’s a feeling of satisfaction.” All the boys and girls are confident that they can win many titles.


Cross Country:
The runners of cross country this year are in full stride. They have been running and training everyday to prepare for their upcoming meets. Along with improving their personal record, they also have been working towards defeating other teams in races. Sydney O’Rourke, one of the strongest runners on the Varsity team stated, “The team is working towards more unity.” It appears that the Cross Country team has a lot of talent this year but is lacking the teamwork to maximize their high potential. This year the team captains are Molly Swartz, Cole Lahman, Nate Coburn, and Nick Preece. It is obvious that the team has been running since workouts this summer to cross the finish line with unbeatable times.


Volleyball:
The volleyball players this year are in full strike. It is obvious to anyone who watches, they have been practicing hard and it is paying off. Senior, Maria Twigg  said, “Our team bond has made our season so much more enjoyable. We won our Senior match in five sets. It was the best our team has ever played and was the most exciting game of our volleyball careers.” The girls practice hard everyday after school to perfect their bumps, sets, and serves. The team is proud to be coached by Jason Monjes, who has been by their side, encouraging them to do their best throughout the season. With this win, the team hopes to take that momentum into playoffs.


Allied-Soccer:
The allied-soccer players this year are in full goal. One of the stars, Nick Boxell, is already playing very well by leading the team in goals scored. Drew Palmer also sees a lot of action on the field and he gets the fans very excited. The girls and boys soccer teams show their support by attending every home game that the Allied players have. Varsity football head coach, Butch Schaffer, said, “ I love having the football guys attend allied games because you can see the excitement on the players faces to be playing in front of a big crowd.”  The allied soccer team goes to show how much the community supports Glenelg.