As the school year wraps up, athletes begin to leave the fields, courts, and lanes. Taking away the wins, many sports have begun preparing for games beyond the 605 league and into the CIF playoffs.
With the crack of the bat, softball concludes their season with many bases run throughout their games. Going into the season with a growth mindset and the pursuit of fun, the athletes persisted in their practice and played strongly on the field.
“These girls worked so hard and it’s nice to see everyone experiencing new things together,” said team captain and shortstop Daniela Perez. “As the season went on, everyone got the chance to improve and evolve as a player.”
At the same time, baseball has gone 8-2 as of May 4, and the team is hoping to maintain their performance from last season, where they won in their division.
The team has pulled through adversity, reaching second in the 605 League and advancing into the CIF playoffs. The season has served as an opportunity for athletes like Shin to reinforce team bonds that help them work cohesively on the field.
Track-and-field athletes have finished their season with 14 top-5 finishes in the league, with league championships taking place on May 1. The team was able to build strong camaraderie and a tight-knit bond this year.
“My mentality was always to do my best. While I was worried about placing and all that, it was more important to me that I tried to beat my current best time for the season or the time that I was entered for the race,” said junior Maya Diaz, who runs in the 1600M.
Boys volleyball has also wrapped up their season after re-introducing their Frosh team, going 9-1 through the League games and reaching their goal of taking first in the League rankings; senior captain Dawson Nguyen hopes for the team to go far in the CIF playoffs.
“It’s been a great ride and the fact that I’ve been able to have a chance to go back to back champs with the team is amazing,” Nguyen said. “My mentality is to just trust our practice and my teammates. We’ve been together for so many years now and I know what everyone on the team is capable of and that we will do great.”
Through the season, consistent practice has helped the team grow and face their opponents, taking the trust and confidence in their performance into the playoff games as well.
Last but not least, boys tennis has made their way through the season, finishing third with a 6-4 record in League.
“I am feeling confident and optimistic in the team’s ability. I think all the hard work we put in will help us go far in CIF,” said junior tennis captain Neelubh Navaduri. “I would like to shout out our amazing coaches, Coach Taylor, Coach Christian, and Coach Patel…our success would not have been possible without them.”
Though faced with tough opponents, the team took home wins for Oxford. Navaduri continues to cheer his team on and push them to develop their discipline for next season.
Baseball, softball, and boys golf have yet to finish their season as of Apr. 30, but Oxford continues to cheer them on through their last few games. While the spring sports athletes may step off their playing fields, they hold the memories, relationships, and lessons learned throughout their time swinging the bat, spiking the ball, or sinking the putt.
“What I enjoyed most this season was the overall team and the togetherness of our community—it feels like a very lovely and welcoming community,” Diaz said, echoing the sentiments of many Oxford athletes across the spring sports teams.
