Lowerclassmen in the Varsity Limelight
Prep Osiris Russell-Delano plays varsity water polo. As one of the youngest members on the team, he encountered some difficulties at the start of the fall season, despite the fact that water polo fostered “a close-knit community.” Russell-Delano shared, “It was a little tough at first, but then I realized everyone was going through the same things, everyone was here for me. It got easier.”
"At Exeter, students are immersed in athletics early on; the Academy’s varsity teams are comprised of skilled athletes of different ages, including lowerclassmen."
As a lowerclassman, Russell-Delano said that he often feels like he has “something to prove, a sense of urgency to perform better,” acknowledging that usually lowerclassmen do not get to contribute as much compared to their older teammates. “Upperclassmen are going to get more playing time in games,” he said, though noting that this does not affect how he’s treated.
At Exeter, students are immersed in athletics early on; the Academy’s varsity teams are comprised of skilled athletes of different ages, including lowerclassmen. This winter season alone saw 81 preps and lowers on varsity rosters, excluding track, according to PEA’s website. Many other lowerclassmen also participate in junior varsity (JV) teams.
The Exeter athletic department states in its mission statement that one of its goals is to “Build healthy, enjoyable and supportive team environments based on trust with no tolerance for hazing.” Russell-Delano feels this goal has definitely been met. He said about the upperclassmen on the water polo team, “Everyone is here to watch [lowerclassmen] grow so we can get better as a team. It secures a sense of community within the team, breaking through our age gaps.”
Many lowerclassmen agree that as younger players on a team, they face certain physical difficulties that their older counterparts do not. Prep Matt Ngai, an athlete on the varsity boys’ soccer team, acknowledged that he experiences some pressure as a lowerclassman on a varsity team. “You’re at an age disadvantage, physically and mentally,” Ngai said. Senior Jackson Parell, an athlete on varsity boys’ swimming and varsity boys’ crew, as well as a captain of varsity boys’ water polo, echoed Ngai’s sentiments when reflecting on his prep year. “There was definitely a physical disadvantage that I experienced when facing other water polo teams,” he said. “That was difficult for me because I had come from a place where I was a pretty good water polo player on the eighth grade middle school team. So coming to Exeter where there were players who were 18 years old facing against 13 year olds was definitely difficult.”
Despite this challenge, some athletes at Exeter cite their time playing sports as lowerclassmen as a part of their motivation to triumph over difficulties and grow as a person. Parell added that “the sense of responsibility to the team I feel as someone who has risen through all four years is something really special to me, and has been something I’ve taken into my position as a captain. It teaches you how to lead and how to face adversity [and] overcome it despite certain disadvantages.” Russell-Delano agreed with Parell, noting that knowing his captains were once in the same position as him motivates him to work harder.
As the coach of both JV girls’ soccer and track, which incorporates the boys’ and girls’ varsity and JV groups into one team. Olutoyin (Toyin) Augustus said she definitely sees a difference in the level of team spirit. “Although we do scrimmages for JV girls’ and varsity girls’ [soccer], compared to track where all teams practice together, the [JV and varsity soccer] girls are not as tight,” she said. Toyin also mentioned that during bus rides to the same race, JV and varsity girls would arrange themselves on the bus according to an established trend. “Always, JV sits in the back and varsity sits in the front,” she said. “I want to have a conversation on why we do that [...] It’s not necessarily bad, but I think there’s a manifestation of hierarchies.”
Prep Erin McCann, a varsity volleyball and basketball player, found that despite certain distinctions between upperclassmen and lowerclassmen athletes, the athletic spirit, determination and vigor translates regardless of age or ranking. She said, “I think it’s similar throughout JV and varsity: you want to put in your best effort.”