Over the next week, stress levels will be through the roof for many Crusader athletes with the start of spring sports tryouts on February 26. The pressure to persevere through tests of athletic strength, endurance and dedication will be in full force. Fret not, newcomers—the head coaches have gifted some helpful advice.

Soccer: Coach Koeller
Preparation is key for Coach Greg Koeller. He expects athletes to show up for tryouts not only in physical, but mental, shape. Coach Koeller wants to see athletes taking on a larger responsibility by showing up on time, actively participating in drills and knowing their needs as a player. In order to earn a spot on the varsity squad, athletes must put forth the extra effort to act professionally.

“We expect that every student athlete arrive at every training session and competition knowing what aspects of performance they want to improve upon to facilitate the learning process,” said Coach Koeller.

Baseball: Coach Schlenke
Coach Frank Schlenke is a firm believer that practice makes perfect. He will not only be looking for athletic talent, but also a positive attitude and hard work. In order to impress this coach, players will have to hustle harder and show a passion for the game.

“You want to be ready before tryouts even start. Practice everything. Start throwing, hitting and running early,” said Coach Schlenke.

Lacrosse: Coach Hancock
Physical fitness is monumental in the fast-paced sport of lacrosse. Coach Daniel Hancock stresses that an athlete who is in shape and has the drive to win will stand out. Pushing oneself to be the very best in order to benefit the team will help separate athletes from the pack.

“Come to tryouts in shape. We have so much to work on and the season starts so quickly, we don’t have time to stop and wait for people to get in shape,” said Coach Hancock.

Track and Field: Coach Markway and Coach Kuebler
Track and Field forces athletes to push both their physical and mental limits. From grueling races to vaulting one’s body into the air, the tests never stop. Frustration can easily build after failures, and Coach Blake Markway understands the struggles of young athletes. When asked about how athletes should prepare, Coach Markway emphasized the importance of keeping a level head.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. The biggest mistake an athlete can make is beating themselves mentally by getting too worked up after a mistake,” said Coach Markway.

Golf: Coach Matusiak
Coach Daniel Matusiak is on the lookout for golfers who want to play at a competitive level. It takes solid commitment to play five days a week from the first day of tryouts up until the end of the season. Similar to Coach Markway, Coach Matusiak does not want his players to be too hard on themselves.

“Do not get discouraged when you shoot a bad round. There is always the next hole,” said Coach Matusiak.

Volleyball: Coach Allen
The trend of hard work earning brownie points continues with Coach Maggie Allen. She looks for her players to come out strong, aggressive and determined to win. Coach Allen understands that male volleyball players at St. Dominic are a rare breed, and offered some words of encouragement for newcomers to the sport.

“A lot of these guys might have never played volleyball before, so as long as they work hard on techniques and drills, they have a good shot,” said Coach Allen.

Tennis: Coach Duncan
Athletic ability is more important than one may think when it comes to Coach Noah Duncan’s tennis squad. Physical preparedness will help athletes gain an edge during tryouts and competitions. Training prior to the start of tryouts obviously helps, and Coach Duncan takes notice of players with an athletic advantage.

“We want to see an athletic edge, no matter who we’re playing,” said Coach Duncan.

We hope these tidbits will be helpful over the course of tryouts. Best of luck to all the athletes hoping to participate in spring sports!