Courtesy of BSM’s Marketing and Communications Interns

BSM’s winter sports teams are preparing for their upcoming season during the off-season.

As high school fall sports are concluding their regular season, winter sports are beginning. Whether getting in the gym or on the ice, BSM student-athletes are ready for their winter season. From individual training to team activities, many winter sports teams approach preparation in different ways. Athletes say it’s always beneficial to practice before the season starts, mentally and physically preparing not only yourself, but also your team.

BSM boys’ basketball senior captain Cameron Best explains how his team has been using various methods to prepare for the upcoming season. “We have summer workouts in June through July, and then we have fall league stuff [where] we have games, and then we have workouts at school, and we just get shots up before school, as a team we all do,” Best said.

While they have team activities, Best also says they do individual work when they don’t have their summer and fall training. “I’ll go to lifetime by myself or with a few of my other teammates, and we will try to get as many shots in as possible,” Best said.

In contrast to basketball, BSM boys’ hockey has not had as much activity. The team has spent the summer working to improve its strength and size. “We haven’t done too much stuff as a team, obviously, guys kind of do what they want… But mostly, I just go to a place called Fortis to work out. We try not to be on the ice too much, because summer is about trying to get bigger and put on some weight,” senior captain Keegan Davis said.

Hockey can be challenging to practice as a team, especially since many people are busy with their own training or have other prearranged events, so players often work individually. However, wrestling is the complete opposite; they mainly do team practices. “We have some summer practices twice a week, mostly skill work, keep practices light and fun,” senior Will Krusemark said.

There aren’t many factors that prohibit winter sports, except for the weather. Since skiing is primarily practiced in the winter, it is challenging to do so outside of that season. Most of the preseason practice is held indoors. “We do dryland and then go to the hills right before the season starts. But since there isn’t any snow, it’s harder to get an excellent practice in,” junior Grier Julkowski said.

Overall, while winter athletes at BSM prepare for their seasons in different ways, they all have a common goal: to improve individual skills and build team chemistry. Whether it’s going to the gym, getting on the ice, training on the mats, or shooting on the court, each sport has its own way of getting ready for its season.