As summer break winds down and the temperature drops, Francis W. Parker student-athletes begin their preseason for an exciting fall season. Fall sports are important to the Parker community, with homecoming games for soccer and field hockey in late September.

“The Parker community looks forward to the fall sports season. It marks the start of a new athletic and school year,” Parker Athletic Director Bobby Stark said. “Our students have been on summer break and it is awesome to see the excitement of all students arriving back on campus.”

While some players are anxiously waiting for the season to begin, many hope to reach sectional games that could potentially lead to a state championship. Pre-season for the Colonels so far has been a success. “Our teams are doing well in this preseason,” Starks said. “Our teams have been working hard in anticipation of the first competitions of the season. Most of our student-athletes have had two-a-day practices so they are looking forward to the competition phase of the season.”

Teams have been practicing since August and are now immersed in competition. One of the best aspects of pre-season is being able to practice with your teammates that you haven’t seen all summer and being able to connect with them. “One of the things I look forward to is getting all the guys together and being able to see everyone first and foremost,” boys soccer coach Neil Curran said, “this thing we call sports is really about relationships and having fun.”

When asked about what aspects of pre-season are important, Curran doesn’t hesitate to mention, “It’s about being able to get the guys in shape and ready to go for the season. We put a huge emphasis on fitness, fitness, fitness.” The boys soccer team has big aspirations this year, according to Curran.

“Last year we ended our season so dreadfully, and we were devastated when we lost to St. Edwards in that way that we did. We want to surpass our accomplishments from last season and go to state. That is the goal the boys have set. We have the talent, certainly.” Curran ended with the questions that will determine where the team places this upcoming season, “Can we stay healthy? Can we continue to trend upward? The hope is we do those things with each day, each practice, and each game.”

The field hockey team is also confident in their season. ”I think we’ll go really far, because you can tell everyone on the team is really passionate,” sophomore Leila Sheridan said. “All of the captains are extremely invested in field hockey in and outside of Parker. I think they’re amazing role models who will lead our team further than we’ve gone in the past.” The field hockey team is hoping that this is their year to break through and go far in the state tournament.

Pre-season is more than just getting in shape for the season ahead. Team chemistry is one of the essential parts to having a fantastic season. Golf coach Tim O’Connor points out that pre-season is more than mastering your stroke like Tiger Woods.

“Having a fun dynamic is key, since we are traveling somewhere every single day. With all of these road trips (sometimes up to 90 minutes each way) it is important to get along with your teammates.” O’Connor also adds, “We like to encourage a fun environment where they can joke around with each other but also be supportive and helpful when they’re at the course.” O’Connor’s coaching is a great example of how playing a sport can help build relationships with your teammates.

The volleyball team looks to go farther than last year and wants to make sure their season doesn’t end without some hardware. “We gained a lot of enthusiastic and hardworking players this year, and I am so excited to see how the season turns out. Because we have such a small group, I am looking forward to having a close knit team,” junior Alex Ori stated. Even with the departure of some key seniors who were a big part of last year’s team, there’s still plenty of talent still to work with.

The tennis team is looking forward to taking another step forward this season, coming off another solid season last year. With challenges last year, there also were valuable experiences that came from playing better competition. Sophomore Grace Conrad is really excited about the potential that the team has this year. “Tennis is super fun and the team is super supportive, which definitely helps me grow as a tennis player and teammate. I think that we as a team overall have some very good singles players, as well as some doubles who can represent us well in conference play and in the state tournament.”

During pre-season, there are many new faces as freshmen start their own athletic careers “As a freshman, my experience on the cross country team has been great! We have accomplished so much in two weeks. The team has been a great way for me to interact with people who are not only freshman but upperclassmen as well,” says freshman cross-country athlete Aidan Young. The team kicks off their season this Tuesday and is hoping to perform well at their meet. Young adds, “The team has progressed a lot this year and we have a young team with a lot of new freshman.”

Next step for the Colonels? Regular season. But for now, it is the end of the beginning for the Colonels’ fall season. Among many, the soccer team has recently played in their first game. The Colonels won 5-1 against Rickover Naval Academy in a great way to start off the season undefeated.