For countless student athletes, an end to their regular school season does not mean their time on the court or field is finished. Here on campus, our dedicated athletes pivot to everything from club sports to private training sessions to stay at the top of their sport. Student athletes recognize the importance of staying in shape and at their full potential in an almost year-round setting for the hopes of getting recruited or just the ability to have the thrill of a win. Recently, The Wolf Howl had the pleasure of meeting with and discussing with some of these athletes from across three different sports—volleyball, baseball, and soccer—to get an inside look at what these talented individuals are currently doing for their respective sports.
Boys Volleyball: With Chandler High’s Boys Sand Volleyball season officially over, players from the team have wasted no time getting ready for their on-court appearance this upcoming spring. Volleyball is a sport that requires so much dedication as well as countless hours of early morning to late night practice sessions: hitting drills, grueling workouts, and private club team practices on top of school practices. The Wolf Howl had a chance to catch up with the players recently at a sixth hour workout session at Austin Field, where the Wolves were hard at work running the track, working out up and down the bleachers, and stretching as a team afterward.
Micah Knipmeyer, a junior and Varsity player, explained how his club season builds him up for the student season: “Volleyball is beyond important in my life,” Knipmeyer said. “Getting all the practice I can get provides me with the best opportunity to succeed. Thanks to my court time at Aspire Volleyball Club, I can get all the practice with service and returns I need to help Chandler have a strong Boys Volleyball season.”
Several other players from Chandler like Judah Knipmeyer (junior), Austin Raines (sophomore), and Sebastian Figueroa (junior) also play for Aspire Volleyball Club, while other team members such as Ethan Dye (Junior) play for AZ Fear Volleyball Club.
Dye said, “Both the school team and my personal team helped me constantly have the opportunity to grow it and rise up the ranks in volleyball. I even had an opportunity to try out for the Junior Olympic volleyball team, thanks to my time spent day after day in practice”
With the season for Court volleyball a few months away, the Boys volleyball team has ample time to continue to grow and be ready to dominate game after game.
Girls Volleyball: With their on-court school season wrapped up and Sand season not starting until the spring, the Girls Volleyball team knows exactly what to do with their time: keeping up the hard work. Like most of the Boys Volleyball players, the girls team also has hours of intense hitting and specialized drills, private club team practices on top of school practices, and workouts that take serious dedication.
Reagan Sorenson, a junior and Varsity team libero/defensive specialist, said, “The School season and Club season go hand-in-hand.” Sorenson explained, “Keeping a constant rotation of teams with different skill sets to help keep me prepared for any type of player. Travel in the sport also helps bring about the opportunity to meet players from different states to pick up on their tips and tricks as well.” Sorenson currently plays for Omni Volleyball Club and helps coach there part-time.
Junior Taylor Donnelly, who also plays for Aspire Volleyball Club in addition to the school team, implored other athletes to “broaden your horizons by joining a club or league to help get a feel for how to work with a multitude of different skill levels. Everyone is important and has a role, so learning to work with them is super important.”
With sand season quickly approaching this spring, the Girls Volleyball team is ready to serve up success.
Baseball: With a strong spring season ahead of them, the Varsity Baseball team has been going the extra mile by participating in “fall ball”, hosting workout sessions, and practicing during sixth hour to give them a leg up. Many players also played over the summer in baseball programs similar to the club programs found for volleyball and soccer.
Tillman Patton, junior and outfielder/pitcher, said, “In the offseason, we have occasional team practices, but most of the work is by ourselves. Club ball helps to play in the regular season because it has a level of competitiveness that helps develop our skill to the next level.”
Next week, the Chandler High Baseball team will begin their Chicken Wing World Series, where participants face off against their fellow teammates for a three game series; when the dust settles, the winners get to celebrate their victory with a bite to eat. CHS Baseball is certainly shaping up to have an excellent season, and The Wolf Howl is looking forward to continuing its coverage of the team.
Boys Soccer: Gearing up for the start of their season very soon, the Boys Soccer team is putting in the extra effort to have a successful season. While soccer is traditionally a winter sport at CHS, it is still important to highlight the team’s dedicated members who spend sixth hour until well after the final bell rings running shooting and defense drills, constantly improving.
Varsity Striker and junior Zander Rowling paused for a few moments from a recent team practice during 6th hour at Austin Field: “Practice is the best part of my day. We run drills almost every day, keeping us at our peak performance. I used to play club too, which helped me gain outsider knowledge that I bring with me to the field.” Rowling is confident about the team’s chances this season: “The only thing that could stop us this season is an injury.”
The Boys Soccer team is gearing up for success, and their drive and determination are something the opposition won’t see coming.
