Briarwood Sports Updates

After a successful first game, the Mustang football team does their chant for the crowd. (Photo: Mike Gregg)

On Aug. 3, all of Briarwood’s athletes woke up bright and early to make it to the school at 8 a.m. for the first practice session for fall sports, football and volleyball. Although they didn’t know it then, these seasons would be different from those in the past. 

The teams dove into practice with determination and commitment to work hard to improve themselves and the team. Many kids tried out at new positions, areas that were outside their comfort zones.

Last year’s seniors had held many positions in the starting line-ups and the coaches were challenged to fill those gaps. Fortunately, many of the underclassmen stepped up to the plate and showed that they were more than capable of filling the large shoes that were left for them. 

As the teams continued to practice together, bonds begin to form between the players and coaches. The teams were no longer a group of athletes, but a family working well together and supporting each other. The football teams were able to execute complex plays and the volleyball team started communicating with each other making it easier to set and spike. The athletes were eager to compete and put what they had been learning into use. 

During a particularly hard game, during halftime, Coach Horn gives words of advice and encouragement to the team. 

The day of the first game came, and the energy in the air was almost tangible. The teams were in their uniforms nervously waiting for the first whistle. Twenty minutes before the game, the volleyball team jogged onto the court and the football team hustled to the field. The young men and women began warming up; the football team passing the ball around and the volleyball team bumping and setting to each other. At the sound of the first whistle, both teams sprang into action serving, throwing and tackling their way through the game towards victory.

In the beginning of the season, many athletes did not believe that they would be able able to carry on the winning tradition that students in the past had set for them. In fact, just the opposite happened. The added challenge of rebuilding the teams motivated them to achieve more. 

Although the teams have been winning many of their games, the season is not over. The football team who placed second overall in their district now has the state tournament to tackle. The volleyball team has been winning many of their games and show no signs of stopping.