Within the last few weeks, Montgomery County students, families, and coaches have wrapped up their fall sports season; now, everyone is gearing up for the start of the winter one. What was football, volleyball, soccer, cross country, and other fall activities, has transitioned into basketball, indoor track, hockey, and swimming and diving. As teams’ seasons start, the energy has students excited to work their way to the top titles.
For many high school teams in Montgomery County, the winter sports season is already underway, with practices, pre-seasons in full swing, and games just getting them ready to compete. These teams are filled with athletes determined to do their best, whether bouncing back from a hard last season or looking to keep old successes. Richard Montgomery High School sophomore Sasha Goodhart is currently playing on her school’s girls’ varsity basketball team. Despite only having three returning players, Goodhart is optimistic and ready for the upcoming season. “We have really high expectations and really high hopes for this season,” she said, believing the team is just as strong, if not stronger, than last year.
Richard MontgomeryMontgomery County freshman Sofia Guidorizzi recently started her first year participating insportis progressing through indoor track. Guidorizzi is already showing promise, contributing to the excitement that builds as the track season goes on. “I’m really excited for the rest of the season and to continue with this team.” AAs it’s currently her first year participating in a high school winter sport, alongside all the other freshmen and first-timers, she’s still learning to navigate through the start of a fun winter season. “I’m new to track so it’s really nice having upperclassmen on the team who show me how it works,” Guidorizzi said. “We had our first opportunity to compete together in a scrimmage meet and it went really well.”
A sense of community is also a significant part of each sport. Goodhart spoke about liking her teammates and how she is excited to start playing with a new team. Likewise, Guidorizzi expressed her enjoyment of friends on her team. “My favorite part of being on track is being able to practice and compete with my friends. It makes it a lot more fun,” Guidorizzi said. Of course, though, there are components to the winter season that some athletes may not like as much. “I don’t like the weather because when it gets really cold or windy outside, it’s really miserable to be in.” Winter means temperatures drop fast, with wind and snow being risk factors. For teams that have to spend some time outdoors, perhaps practicing, the weather can be brutal and fairly unpredictable.
High school swim, hockey, and wrestling teams across the county are also gearing up for the season, keeping an eye on the 2025 regional and state champion titles. Most teams have had or are currently in pre-season and scrimmages to prepare for the start of the season. Coaches, players, and the entire community are looking forward to a fun and hardworking season.
Article written by Keira Tow