When athletes join high school teams, they often rely on upperclassmen to help guide and lead them. However, this year Oakville’s varsity softball team did not have any seniors.
“It has never happened before to my knowledge. I have been the head baseball coach since 2004,” softball coach Richard Sturm said. “I’ve never had a senior-less baseball team. I’ve never been a part of a senior-less softball team…”
Having no seniors on a varsity-level team is a very rare occurrence. Seniors can bring a lot to the team and can be some of the most motivated athletes.
“The advantages of having seniors on your team is it’s their fourth year in the program and a lot of the times they have been prepped to be in that leadership position,” Sturm said. “And when you’re a senior you know that you are down to the last few months of your high school career, so there is a push there knowing that this is your last season — last go around.”
The team had to overcome having no seniors by developing leadership skills. Sturm believes that being a leader is difficult and requires you to hold yourself even more accountable than the people around you.
“…In a very short period of time, the girls that were on the team assumed responsibilities that maybe they didn’t think that they were going to have to have this year…” Sturm said. “By the end of the season, I thought their leadership was just as good as any senior class that we’ve had before.”
The varsity softball team ended up going 13-18 this season. However, Sturm believes the team is better than what the record ended up showing. He also believes that there is a high chance of the team majorly improving this record next year.
“We have softball talent. Obviously, you’re not going to win softball games unless you have talent…” Sturm said. “I think the biggest key is gonna be…picking up where we left off with that bond and that togetherness and really just becoming one, you know, for that entire season and just continuing to play for one another and fight for one another and be good teammates.”
With the team developing strong leadership and bonds, they are believed to be set up on the right path for next year.
“I really do believe in this group. I really do believe that whatever struggles we had made us better towards the end of the season, and I think you’re going to see another jump. And I think you’re going to see this team get even better as we get into next season,” Sturm said. “You know what they say is everything happens for a reason — there’s purposes behind everything. And maybe we had to take a couple of steps back this year to take a huge leap forward next year.”
