Heads up everyone, it’s that time again! And by that time again, I mean the weird stretch between Halloween and Christmas when everyone forgets about Thanksgiving and Mariah Carey seems to dominate the radio…

…but it also marks the beginning of winter sports here at Lafayette High School: basketball (boys and girls), wrestling, swim, and indoor track and field.

Winter sports are a great way to get into shape and keep yourself busy while making friends and memories. In addition, many athletes that participate in fall sports also do winter sports, so if you have a friend or two that have done fall sports, there’s a good chance that they’re on a winter team–time to get out there and cheer them on!

Basketball

Basketball is a very popular sport amongst just about the entire population. A high-paced and exciting activity to not only play but watch as well, basketball has easily become a fan favorite. Players do their best to dribble a ball down a court in attempts to shoot it into an elevated hoop. Many students are excited for basketball as it is the biggest sport in Winter, commonly drawing in large crowds of spectators. Fortunately, this year Lafayette has both a Varsity and Junior Varsity team which might not have been able to happened no thanks to COVID. Boys’ basketball games will be commonly held on Wednesdays and Fridays and girls’ basketball games on Tuesdays and Thursdays, quite the exciting week!

Wrestling

Yes! Wrestling is a high school sport! Understandably, many people are oblivious to the fact that wrestling is a nationwide sport offered by most high schools. The mat, their equivalent of a court or field, is where all the action happens. Players grapple with each other in attempts to pin each other to the ground. Although a dangerous sport, most players can get up after a tough match just fine. Wrestling has also been seen as a male dominated sport, but it is also popular amongst girls as well which can make for some pretty interesting matches. Matches work kind of like cross country or track and field where multiple schools compete at once rather than just one on one. The majority of these tournaments are held on Saturdays and Tuesdays although the Ram Rumble, a massive wrestling event held at our very own school, spans several days in late January.

Swim Team

Swim team is yet another very popular sport here at Lafayette. Swimming is a great way to stay in shape while having fun with friends. Once again, swim meets are held like cross country meets with multiple schools competing at one time. It’s a great opportunity to say hi to friends at different schools while also gunning for the gold medal, now that’s some friendly competition. Although very early in the morning, practices are a great way to spend some time with friends and take some time to destress before school, it’s also a great excuse to come into school late.

Indoor Track and Field

Once again, track and field is done in meets where multiple schools compete. Again, it’s a great way to stay in shape while also meeting up with friends that may be at different schools. Track and field consists of many events including various meter dashes, long runs, relays, high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put, and weight throw. As you can see, there’s an event for just about everyone. Unlike outdoor track, indoor track is done in a controlled environment, so you never need to worry about a rainy day cancelling your event of choice!

Winter sports are exhilarating, fun, and physical. Even if you ultimately decide that sports aren’t necessarily for you, going out to watch with friends or even by yourself is a great way to spend a potentially boring night.