Fall Sports
Nicole Parker '24 Sports Editor
Fall sports at Howard High School are back where they belong - in the fall! For student athletes, the new season has given them an even greater appreciation for what it means to be part of a team, while fans are happy to be back in the stands cheering on the Howard Lions.
The fall 2020 sports season was shortened and moved to spring 2021 because of the pandemic. With just six months between seasons, athletes say they are very motivated. They practiced hard over the summer and have their sights set on earning some county, and possibly state championship titles for Howard High. Junior Tyler Sabatini is the starting quarterback of the varsity football team and stated, “Over the off-season my team and I took part in workouts as well as early morning practices that didn’t just help us with physical toughness, but mental toughness as well.”
The fall 2020 sports season was shortened and moved to spring 2021 because of the pandemic. With just six months between seasons, athletes say they are very motivated. They practiced hard over the summer and have their sights set on earning some county, and possibly state championship titles for Howard High. Junior Tyler Sabatini is the starting quarterback of the varsity football team and stated, “Over the off-season my team and I took part in workouts as well as early morning practices that didn’t just help us with physical toughness, but mental toughness as well.”
Captain of the junior varsity volleyball team, sophomore Teresa Kim, said the team also worked hard to prepare for the fall season. In addition, she explained that bonding as a team helps with success on the court as well. “We would do a combination of weight training as well as activities to get to know each other so we could feel more comfortable with each other,” Kim stated.
Staying motivated is the key to achieving both individual and team goals. Senior Nimrit Ahuja of the cross country team revealed that the team is setting the bar high. “This season we want to win all of the big invitational meets we go to, win counties, regionals and states, and make a real attempt to qualify for nationals and Nike Cross regionals,” Ahuja says. Howard’s cross country team has already made a mark in the state. The defending state champion for the third straight year, the team is ranked number one in Maryland, but Ahuja is ready to “put our team’s name on a national level and go to more out-of-state meets.” |
The boys junior varsity soccer team had a perfect (though shortened) season last spring. Sophomore defender Ben Svoboda is looking for a repeat this fall. Svoboda shared that the team is “trying to carry on the legacy of last year with an 8-0 record again.” A perfect record this season would mean going 12-0.
Student athletes say participating in sports at Howard is about more than just the competition; it’s about the camaraderie. Junior Avery Hayden plays field hockey and says she joined because “I’ve been playing since second grade and I love the team vibes at Howard.” Sports is not only a great way to get active, but as Anthony Negron, a senior on the varsity cheerleading team said, “It’s an amazing way to meet new people and make friends along the way. My reason for doing cheer is it just seemed like something fun to do and an amazing experience to have. And I heard super amazing things from my friend, so I figured I would give it a try.” Sabatini sums up the importance of sports for young athletes by saying, “football really welcomes you into a brotherhood and helps teach you lessons that you’ll remember and cherish for the rest of your life.”
Student athletes say participating in sports at Howard is about more than just the competition; it’s about the camaraderie. Junior Avery Hayden plays field hockey and says she joined because “I’ve been playing since second grade and I love the team vibes at Howard.” Sports is not only a great way to get active, but as Anthony Negron, a senior on the varsity cheerleading team said, “It’s an amazing way to meet new people and make friends along the way. My reason for doing cheer is it just seemed like something fun to do and an amazing experience to have. And I heard super amazing things from my friend, so I figured I would give it a try.” Sabatini sums up the importance of sports for young athletes by saying, “football really welcomes you into a brotherhood and helps teach you lessons that you’ll remember and cherish for the rest of your life.”
ELLICOTT CITY, MARYLAND, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 - Junior quarterback, Tyler Sabatini (left), senior Tyler Baruch (middle) and junior Ty Gore (right) at practice preparing for the season. Z. SCOTT/@TRUEBLURRYPHOTOS