Now that fall sports have reached the playoffs, varsity teams are making a lot of changes to their rosters. Players are being brought up from junior varsity, and are getting the chance to play in a playoff game, on the varsity team. Chris Durant, a sophomore offensive lineman, is one of those lucky players.
Being a sophomore on a predominantly upperclassman team can be exciting for a young player like Durant.
“It feels good dressing for the first eight games, and then starting for the last three,” said Durant.
Even though he is only a sophomore, Durant doesn’t feel like he is any different than the upperclassman because they all treat each other like they are family, “they [the upperclassman] treat me very good, were all like brothers on the team,” Durant said, and it showed as the football team once again made it to the playoffs.
When underclassmen are brought up to play varsity, they are getting extra preparation for when the seniors leave or when they are asked to start.
“Playing on varsity gave me experience, and they [the seniors] taught me good things to prepare for when they leave,” Durant said.
“The upperclassmen on the team taught me just to have no regrets when playing,” Durant said. He, as well as other young players on the team, gained much knowledge from playing with these older and more experienced players, and it shows up on the playing field. Durant got to play in eleven games this year, and he even started in three of them.
While most players would feel a new pressure when called up to varsity, Durant doesn’t seem to see any difference between the two.
“I don’t really feel any pressure change because I had so much experience working with the upperclassman that I was used to it when it came time for me to start,” Durant said.
by Conner Dick
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