As the fall sports season is passing and the cold weather is coming in, the Saxons begin their seasons in swimming, basketball, and wrestling in both the boys and the girls divisions. Last season, many student-athletes participated in the OSAA State Playoffs for their respective sports, a goal to look forward to for this season.
The boys and girls basketball teams both lost a few key seniors that graduated, but are ready to have a strong season regardless. The boys team lost a total of three seniors and the girls lost 6 seniors as well, and some of them were starters for their respective teams. Even with those losses, the basketball teams are looking to improve this season with some impactful players still on the team.
For the girls team, point guard Hilary James ‘21 is looking to lead the team this year after a second team all-league selection her freshman year, even though a foot injury that took her out of several league games. Regardless, she is looking to lead the Saxons to a playoff spot and help win a league title.
-Hilary James ’21.
I think we have a lot of potential this year, we are a young team and most of us have played together before,” said James, “The team is super close which will help our chemistry and overall success on the floor.”
Point guard Jaden Nielsen-Skinner ‘19 has started on the varsity team since his freshman year when they went to the Chiles Center and got 3rd Place in the State. Since then, Nielsen-Skinner has been leading the Saxons to back to back playoff appearances.
The swim team is starting their 2018 season after last year’s campaign when the girls team finished in eighth place and the boys team had several state qualifiers. Although the girls team lost many senior swimmers including Anna Despain ‘18, who holds many Saxon swimming records, the Saxons are off to a new start this season with the potential to re qualify for state.
The boys swim team, in a similar situation as the girls, have also suffered the loss of multiple seniors. Even with this, the boys have many young swimmers who are can make an impact this swim season for their team.
Last year, the wrestling team had three state qualifiers including Ashton Adams ‘19, Sangato Letisi ‘20, and Julian Ortiz ‘20 (who goes by the name “Frog”), for their respective weight classes. Although Letisi and Ortiz lost in the first round, former wrestler Adams made it to the semi-finals of the OSAA State Tournament. Besides last years qualifiers, many other wrestlers, new and old, are hoping to make it to the OSAA State Wrestling Tournament as well.
Tryouts for the winter season started on Nov. 12.
