As spring makes its entrance and the goal posts and basketball hoops are placed in storage, Oxford’s spring sports teams are welcomed into the upcoming season with an impressive set of new arrivals. Equipped with bats, golf clubs, tennis rackets, volleyballs, and track spikes, these athletes have swiftly launched into their season.
For girls’ softball, the team’s community has played a big part in their performance and skill development throughout the season. “I’m so happy with our team this season. I made a lot of new friends with upperclassmen, and I became closer to the freshmen on the team as well. I think our team communicates well.” Freshman softball player Kaylee Rebutoc said.
“My favorite part of the season would be our Loara game, where we took home the win. I feel like the game could have gone either way at any moment, and I think our team really pulled through to win that.” Rebutoc said. Since the softball season started with the first pitch on Feb. 24, the team has played through various games, with three wins against Samueli Academy, Century High School, and Loara High School.
Another sport that has begun at the call of the umpire’s “play ball” is Oxford’s baseball team. “I feel like we’ve started getting our identity as a team together recently. I know we lost to Cerritos on Tuesday, but we really battled it out and just picked each other up after mistakes. You know, in the end, we didn’t get the result we wanted, but we were able to still put up a good fight,” Elliot Chung said, a freshman player on the baseball team. The start of the baseball season on Feb. 20 has revealed their first win against Century High School. As the season continues, the baseball team will continue to collaborate to improve as a team.
Oxford Academy’s boys tennis team has also been focusing on communication and connection with each other as a team. “I think that the team communicates really well with each other. I would say that we hit a lot more shots in, and most scored shots are faster now. [One goal I have is to] beat Cerritos and win my games.” Freshman tennis player Matthew Harrer said.
Charging into the season with batons, hurdles, and tightly tied running shoes, track athletes prepare for their upcoming meets. “[Track and field] has pretty much given me my community for all of high school, and it’s meant a lot to me, built a lot of discipline into my life, and I think it’s also given me something to look forward to every day after school, having practice and seeing my friends,” Trina So said, a senior runner on the track team.
Within the 605 League, the Oxford Academy Track and Field team has progressed through the season with many rankings: senior Bryon Brown and junior Isa Siddiq placing third and fourth place in the 100 Meters, junior Hara Seyoum placing second in the 800 Meters, and freshman Krish Arora placing second in the 3200 Meters.
With a thunderous spike across the net, boys’ volleyball has commenced this season, their first game on Feb. 17. Their season has proceeded with 11 total victories and only five reported losses so far.
“Our team’s chemistry is gradually improving, making us a better team, and understanding each other’s playing styles,” Sophomore volleyball player Max Valdivia said. “My favorite part of this season so far was our first game against Bolsa Grande, playing my first game with the new team.”
Working together to finish each round with the least amount of strokes, Oxford’s boys golf team has a total of four wins and two losses for this season. “Our season is looking brighter and brighter every year as more people join, so I think if you’re interested in golf, you should definitely join. It’s a great opportunity to bond with your upperclassmen [and] get involved in sports as well.” Junior golf player Daniel Lee said.
“I still have a really long way to go, but I’ve improved a lot. I’ve seen my improvement throughout every game. And, [as] I said, there’s still a long way to go, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come and how much farther I still have to improve.” Rebutoc said, enunciating the message of bettering oneself in their sport with consistency.
With the support of friends, family, and teammates, these teams will focus on improving their skills and working together to give it their all, make memories, and finish the season strong.
