Spartans return back from spring break with just over two months left of the year. Although the school year is nearing its end, spring sports seasons are just beginning. Spring sports include: girls golf, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls tennis, and boys and girls track and field.
The girls golf team finished last year’s season as MAC champions, regional runners-up, and placed 6th in the state with a season low 18 hole total. With four of their six varsity members graduated, seniors Madeline Patramanus and Brooke Harris and the only returning members to the varsity team. They are looking for some underclassman to step up into the remaining varsity positions to defend their state title this season.
Pleasant Valley boy’s soccer is looking forward to some friendly competition this season. With a completely new coaching staff, the men’s soccer team is welcoming a new goalie coach and a new assistant coach, as well as new head coach, Wayne Ward, former PV girls soccer coach. In addition, they are seeking a new goalie after four year goalie Josh Stivers graduated last year. The team is definitely motivated to make a comeback this season. “We lost in the final substate game last year, but this year we are hoping to make it to state,” Senior Collin Kuebrich said. “We’ve never made it to state, so it’s been a working progress.” The team has some ambitious goals ahead of them and are eager to begin the competition.
The girls soccer team is taking on a drastic change with their third coach in the past four years. Although this is not ideal, they are making the best of it and continue to adapt to each obstacle thrown their way. “I think it has given all of the players a new perspective on the game,” senior Kelsie Foltz said. “Every coach has something different to offer and they teach you different lessons throughout the season.” In addition to the new coaching staff, the girls soccer team lost their entire back line of graduated seniors last year. Foltz said, “It will be interesting to see who steps up and what position everyone ends up in.”
Last year was full of highs and lows for the girls soccer team. “We lost some games that we should have won but in the end we had a successful season and some really amazing wins,” Foltz said. One of their biggest goals this season and every season is to make it back to the state tournament and take home a championship trophy. “ I think this might be our year,” Foltz stated. However, there are more important things than winning the state tournament. “The team and I are looking forward to competing for our school while making even more memories together. We have such a great group of girls and I can’t wait to see what this season holds for us,” Foltz said.
Girls tennis took home PV’s first girls tennis state championship! Returning from this outstanding accomplishment, the girls will be welcoming some new members to the varsity team since half of their varsity team graduated. Senior Roshni Penmatcha is looking forward to seeing who will take over those three remaining varsity positions. “I am looking forward to the team improving as the season goes on,” Penmatcha said. Strategizing for the season, the girls have an end goal of making it to the top four teams in the state.
The boys tennis team made it far last season as district champions and placed fourth at the state meet. In addition to this team placement, they placed in many doubles and singles matches at the state meet, just falling short of the title. Like the girls team, the boys only have two of their six varsity members, junior Nathan Wong and sophomore Kiran Marla returning. They will be having individual matches to determine rankings and see who will make it to the top.
The girls track and field teams had MAC season individual records in the 100 meter dash, 100 meter hurdles, 400 meter hurdles, and the 4×100 meter shuttle hurdle relay. With these season best records, the girls won MAC champions and placed eighth in the state meet. Hoping to make a impact this year, the girls have been training in practice for over a month now and have participated in multiple indoor meets already. With head coaches, Kenny and Jane Wheeler, leading the team to multiple championships, the girls are in good hands and are determined to break previous records.
Last year, PV’s boys track and field team placed thirteenth at state. New addition to the coaching staff, Devin Allbaugh, who is a PV alumni of 2008 will really help the distance crew make a comeback at state. Allbaugh has a lot of experience with distance running and competed at the state meet, winning three individual state titles, was a part of two state championship cross country teams and one state championship track and field team. “HIs track record is really impressive,” says Junior Michael Souhrada. Like most other spring sports, many members on the boys track and field team are anxious to see where they stand as far as their events for meets. “We have a lot of young talent coming in, especially sophomore distance runners.” Junior Ely Adams said. The boys have been training for several indoor meets that they competed in earlier this season, and are incredibly excited for one of their first outdoor meets, the Spartan Invite on Thursday, March 29.
