Excitement brews as Winter sports begin

The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.

by Maxwell Lowe

Video Editor

Annabelle Jantonio(10) drives to the net in girls basketball scrimmage. Photo by Sydney Thress

Hilliard Bradley winter sports have begun. From November through March, athletes at Bradley dedicate a lot of their time and energy to the winter sports they love.

Boys Basketball has been preparing since April with a rigorous schedule of “lift, practice, workout, repeat,” says Brett Norris, Head Varsity coach. All of this preparation is for a packed winter schedule. With the short time they have, Norris says he is looking forward most to the competition and “being together with our team and chasing the challenge of trying to be our best.”

From practice to practice and game to game, Norris says, “I really appreciate this group's investment in our program. [I] look forward to seeing them compete.” To see this investment pay off, come to their first home game on Dec. 8 against Upper Arlington High School.

Girls basketball is also eager to get started with Andrew Whitt, Head Varsity coach. He says he cherishes “the everyday grind together that the kids and staff are a part of!” Whitt also mentions he looks forward most to the “growth of our girls every single day in practice [and] games,” which is a consistent goal across Bradley athletics and Bradley High School as a whole.

Wrestling “[has] been working like crazy in the off season… [with] spring, summer, fall workouts,” says Brian Rawlins, Head Varsity coach. All preparation leading to the goal of “beating Darby… the kids have circled it themselves, they are actually counting down the days,” shares Rawlins. The determination to win is driving them through the constant work and struggle.

The bowling team is excited and ready for this upcoming season with Jim Yabroff, Head Varsity coach, saying “we have created opportunities to keep bowlers building skills over the summer.” He also is looking forward to “working with… a great coaching staff and more importantly… great bowlers.” Overall, Yabroff is excited to “see who returns [alongside] meeting new bowlers… [as well as] working with our bowlers.”

Similarly, cheer is busy in the winter from competition cheer to basketball cheer “for both the boys and girls teams this year,” says Carrie Duckworth, Head Varsity Basketball cheer coach. She also adds, “We are hoping for a lot of fans in the stands this year” as a lot of her athletes, breath cheer for the winter months. “At Friday home games, we do the Duck Toss at halftime of the varsity boys game...“[we] would love for students to come out and participate!”

Bradley winter sports have begun! Support your fellow Jaguars!