Every close-knit team requires trust, support, and loyalty, much like families do. An example of a team like this is the Lady Colonels Softball Team at Cass High. Their similar experiences from being on a team result in a unique bond that can be hard to find in reality. The Lady Colonels trust each other, share common goals, and communicate well with each other. These girls work hard to make sure everyone is heard and valued. Sophomore, Rainey Parham says, “My favorite part is most definitely the girls that I have gotten close to and the bonds that were formed.” The Lady Colonels find it pretty easy to get along. Although they are their own people, they know how to work together to accomplish any goal. Freshman Kylie Gentry agrees that the team was very welcoming when she joined the team. When asked if the high school team was different from the middle school team, Kylie Gentry says, “The high school team is more for the team, and on the middle school team, everyone acted for themselves. The high school team is playing for something bigger than themselves.” As the deep connections formed between the Lady Colonels were noticed, it is important that the highs and lows are highlighted.
Of course, being a part of a team means experiencing ups and downs on the journey together. Among these factors that shape the team’s journey, there is often a main impact. Gentry says, “I feel like losing Coach Woods would be the biggest impact on the team because I feel like we already had a connection there and Campbell coming in, not a ton of people knew her but now that we are starting to make connections and learn more about her, I feel like everybody is starting to warm up to her.” Even after facing the major impact of a coach stepping back from her position, the Lady Colonels were able to come together and welcome a new coach and form connections just as they had before. Although the Lady Colonels definitely miss Coach Woods, they have embraced Coach Campbell with open arms and are excited for her coaching this season. On another note, over the summer many players on the team attended the FCA summer camp. Parham says that this had a positive impact on the team. “That all drew us close together,” she says. Parham sees their bonding time at FCA camp together as a big effect on the team, showing that the Lady Colonels cherish their time spent together. However, a good time isn’t always what it seems. Rainey said, “A win affects the team by being a negative thing or a positive thing. We can go into the next game thinking that we’re all that, and we’re going to win everything. But really this thinking makes us too confident.” When Parham says this, it appears that the team has experienced a win as a disadvantage but pushed through it by not allowing it to get to their heads and keeping a level-mind. Doing this helped them stay humble. This represents how the softball team moves past their imperfections and allows it to better them. After considering the highs and lows the players experience as a team, it is also important to note how each teammate has their individual ambitions.
Even though being a part of a team means sharing experiences, wins, and losses, teammates tend to have their own goals. Gentry says, “My goal is to make it to Columbus.” Her plan to accomplish this is, “As long as we work together as a team and just give everything we’ve got I think we can make it.” Following up with this answer, Gentry adds that she believes her teammates share this goal. While her goal focuses on the accomplishments she wants to make with the team, others are more personal. Rainey said her goal was, “To become a better person inside the game and outside the game.” When asked how she plans to accomplish this goal Rainey says, “Having an open mind to anything the coaches say. Also, to not be so negative.” Her perspective highlights the importance of focusing and believing in yourself. Rainey says she hopes her teammates share this same goal with her.
The bond of a team lies in not only the individual talents each teammate has but also in the deep connections formed through mutual support and their conjoined experiences. These relationships that The Lady Colonels created have formed a foundation that helps them celebrate success, navigate through challenges, and overall thrive as an accomplished team.
