Each year, Archie Williams athletics welcomes new talent, with incoming freshmen occasionally earning spots on varsity teams. Although being selected for these teams is an impressive accomplishment, it also comes with high expectations. Overcoming the challenges of joining varsity sports can play a key role in these freshmen’s path to success.
Archie Williams freshman Taylor Fahy was one of two freshmen on the varsity girls water polo team in the 2024 season. Throughout the season, Taylor experienced some difficulties competing against older players but ultimately found comfort in support from her teammates.
“Having to play with older players at first was intimidating, but the girls on [my] team were super supportive and super helpful. I just felt inspired and motivated by them, and they really helped me in games,” Taylor said.
The age difference between freshmen and seniors is substantial, and for younger players, this can be difficult to overcome when older players have had more experience and skill development. Archie Williams freshman and member of the girls varsity soccer team Katie Haskell noticed the difficulties of being younger than most of her teammates and opponents.
“It is kind of hard to play with [older players], because they are way better, way older, and have a lot more experience,” Katie said.
Playing against older and more experienced players as freshmen is often a significant challenge. However, Taylor believes the support and guidance of coaches and teammates influences her ability to handle these difficulties. Taylor recognized her coach, Todd Duplanty, as an inspirational figure for her team and for her, especially after hard losses during the season.
“One of my favorite memories was when we lost to Redwood [High School] in the semi-finals of MCALs because of something Todd said. He said we win as a team but also lose as a team, and that was really inspiring to me,” Taylor said.
Like Taylor, Katie also expresses the importance of teammate and coach support for her during the season, and how this support has helped her improve as a player, especially the help from her older teammates.
“[My teammates] are all really nice and really good [players], and it’s great to play with better people,” Katie said.
Playing on varsity is a major achievement, but being on the junior varsity (JV) team as a freshman also has its benefits. While on JV, players often get more playing time and opportunities to score, which can lead to increased confidence in their skills. Some athletes even receive the opportunity to move up to the varsity team with enough training.
However, some students feel that being the best on a JV team doesn’t always give you the resources to grow as a player. Junior Brian Wright began his season on the JV basketball team, but moved up to varsity for the second half of the season.
“My overall experience was mixed. Playing the whole game on JV and averaging 30 points was definitely fun, and it kind of sucked to sit on the bench a lot of the time on varsity. However, it made me feel special and I got great experience that helped me become a better player,” Brian said.
Playing on varsity teams can be a triumph, but it often comes with the pressure to meet high expectations. However, as Brian experienced when playing in a game during his freshman season, the higher skill level of varsity games can be an opportunity for players to grow and improve their skills.
“One game when multiple players were out, versus Tam [Tamalpais High School], I played 20 minutes and scored 10 points, which was my season high. I rose to the occasion to continue to [help] the team with multiple of our starters out,” Brian said.
For freshmen, the opportunity to play varsity sports can result in differing experiences, while JV offers more playing time, varsity provides exposure to higher competition and valuable learning experiences. With both offering unique benefits, students are bound to find a range of experiences in the Archie Williams sports careers.
