Piedmont’s in the lead, the audience cheers as they watch the varsity athletes work hard to ensure a victory for the team. While the team is made up of many upperclassmen, the audience in awe watches a few freshmen help guide the team to success.

Experienced and passionate for their sports, freshman Tess Olcott and freshman Kelsey Fennell are each on varsity sports for each sports season at PHS.

Olcott plays on the varsity tennis team, the varsity team soccer, and the varsity softball team.

“I think that being on the teams have really helped me make new friends, and all the coaches have been great,” Olcott said. “Especially my first tennis season, knowing upper classmen and other people who play the sport helped my find my way around the school at the beginning.”

By the time Olcott began to play softball, her third sport in high school, she was more comfortable and confident with her abilities. Olcott said that it has been hard being one of the younger ones on the team, for soccer especially.

“There is also a lot to learn, it is different then club sports,” Olcott said. “It is a lot more intense. The most important lesson that I learned is that regardless of the sport I m playing, I need to keep a team mentality and play for a team not just for myself.”

“I think the fact that I [am] on varsity for three sports really helped me know how to work for something,” Olcott said. “On all the teams I really had to work for my spot, I really had to do a lot of things to improve my skills.”

Olcott said that her family has always been really supportive of her playing sports, always encouraging her to do her best.

“I have had a really awesome time and I hope to continue all three throughout high school,” Olcott said.

Fennell
 plays on Piedmont’s varsity water polo team, varsity basketball team, and varsity swimming team.

Two years of summer practices for water polo, and seven years on basketball teams, and nine years of Piedmont Swim Team experience, Fennell was well prepared for PHS sports.

Fennell already knew most of her teammates when joining the varsity swim team.

“It has not been difficult for me being a freshman on varsity because I knew most of the people on the teams already,” Fennell said. “[However], 
I have definitely made more friends through all of my sports

With each sport having different aspects to them, Fennell does not have a favorite.

“Water polo was the most fun to do for high school,” Fennell said, “but basketball I am the most serious about.”

Fennell said that balancing overlapping sport seasons has been difficult to balance, and finishing school work and getting enough sleep have been difficult with sports.

“The most important lessons that I have learned [from being on varsity teams] are that being a team player is very important and that sports take a lot of dedication,” Fennell said. 
 “First off, it drives me to play these sports because I will always be in shape, also the friendship that I get from my team mates drives me to play these sports.”

Three sport seasons are not enough for either Olcott or Fennell. They would each need five seasons to fit their athletic talents. Olcott also enjoys playing golf and has played basketball, while Fennell also enjoys sailing and playing soccer.