A winning team is built by something more than talent; it is built by trust. For high school athletes, the bonds they build with teammates often determine how a team performs during games and specifically under pressure. Regardless of the sport, the effort players put in off the field matters just as much as what they put forward during games.
For the football team, that process begins before the season starts. Head coach Chad Hepner mentions the importance of off-season training because it gives players a chance to see all of the hard work their teammates are putting in and how they can rely on and trust one another during games.
“When we start our off-season training and when these guys see the work that each of them is putting in in the off-season and how hard they’re working, I think it’s motivating,” Hepner said. “I think that they understand they need to depend on each other.”
Kooper Richards ’27, a varsity basketball player, said that the connection becomes most noticeable in high-pressure situations. Richards believes that having a strong relationship with his teammates has made a difference on the court, as it has helped the team stand out against the competition.
“Having a strong connection with them definitely builds confidence,” Richards said. “In late or tight games with other good teams, our chemistry can be that thing that puts us above the other team.”
Through shared effort and challenges, teammates learn how to find their own roles and how to best support the team. The sense of responsibility that comes with being a team player often carries over into friendships, which South Athletic Director Andy Rishmawi, who coached at the college level, said can motivate athletes to push a little harder.
“When you’re friends with people, you always try to be the best version of yourself,” Rishmawi said. “You’re trying to go the extra mile for them, to show them that they’re important, and you want to work together to succeed.”
Strong leadership and friendships are both key to team chemistry. Upperclassmen who lead by example and hold themselves accountable set the tone for the team, showing the younger players what it looks like to give their all.
“If we have great senior and upperclassmen leadership, then they can set an example and show the younger guys, or the lower levels, that we have high expectations,” Hepner said. “This is just the Blue Devil way we go about things.”
