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The Piedmont Highlander

Freshmen fly through soccer tryouts for varsity spots

Varsity+soccer+players+dress+up+in+preparation+for+a+match.+%28Daniella+Mohazab%29
Varsity soccer players dress up in preparation for a match. (Daniella Mohazab)
Varsity soccer players dress up in preparation for a match. (Daniella Mohazab)
Varsity soccer players dress up in preparation for a match. (Daniella Mohazab)

This year three freshmen girls and three freshman boys are playing on the varsity soccer teams: Tess Olcott, Grace Sanford, Maeve Sullivan, Julien Orban, Alex Papachristopoulos, and Josh Landheer.

Varsity soccer player freshman Tess Olcott has been playing soccer since she was three years old in San Francisco. When she moved to Piedmont, Olcott played on recreational teams. In fourth grade, Olcott joined the Piedmont Highlanders.

“I didn’t have much time to prepare for [high school] soccer because I was involved in a fall sport,” Olcott said, “but I had been playing club soccer in the fall
.”

Olcott said she is very good friends with the other freshmen on the varsity soccer team.

“We often pair up together for drills and other games,” Olcott said.

Olcott said being an underclassman on varsity is overwhelming at first, but the upperclassmen are very welcoming
.

“My favorite thing about being on a varsity sport is getting to know upperclassmen and making new friends,” Olcott said. “Everyone on the team is very nice and they treat me very well.”

Olcott said she hopes to become a better soccer player and teammate
, as well as score a goal this year.

“Both Markus and Dan have been helping me improve my game since day one,” Olcott said. “They are great coaches. I look forward to a great year of soccer.”

Varsity soccer player freshman Grace Sanford has played soccer for eight years. She started out on a Rockridge recreational team for four years, then played on the Clippers for three years and now plays for the Bay Oaks.

“It is nice to be playing with experienced players. [The upper classmen] are very nice,” Sanford said. “We hang out, and we can just talk to each other. We have been doing a lot of team bonding.”

Varsity soccer player freshman Maeve Sullivan
 has played soccer for nine years, playing for the Piedmont Highlanders and switching to play for the Bay Oaks last year.

“It is a lot of work, but I am really grateful I made it
,” Sullivan said. “All the girls are really nice and supportive. They do not care that I am younger.”

Girls’ varsity soccer co-captain junior Kesy Platt said the team always makes sure every teammate is involved in conversations.

“We pretty much love our freshmen this year,” Platt said.

Varsity soccer player freshman Julien Orban has played soccer for eight years, playing for the Piedmont Highlanders then the Bay Oaks.

“[Being an underclassman on varsity] feels pretty good
,” Orban said.

Orban said the freshmen on the varsity soccer team support each other by being positive and encouraging each other.

“Besides having to pick up pinnies and chase balls all the time, everyone [on the team] is pretty friendly
,” Orban said.

Varsity soccer player freshman Alex Papachristopoulos said he has played soccer for eight years, playing in Greece.

“It feels awesome to be on varsity,” Papachristopoulos said. “It is competitive and a nice level.”

Varsity soccer player freshman Josh Landheer said he played soccer for the Highlanders and more recently Bay Oaks. To prepare for high school soccer, Landheer did a lot of conditioning and worked on his skills whenever he could.

“It feels great [to be on varsity],” Landheer said. “It is really cool to work hard towards something and finally achieve it.”

Landheer said he likes to play with the upperclassmen because it is a challenge.

“Everyone treats me with respect which is really cool,” Landheer said. “The upper classmen help me feel like part of the team.
”

Landheer said the freshmen get along well and respect each other.

“We are all grateful to be on the team,” Landheer said.

Men’s varsity soccer co-captain senior Justin Roach said the freshmen get along well with the rest of the team. “[The upperclassmen] treat them like everyone else on the team,” Roach said.

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