For most sports at Carlmont, it is difficult to make a varsity team even as a senior. But when a freshman is selected to play on varsity, a whole new situation presents itself.

For freshmen, being on a varsity team definitely has its perks, including the excitement of playing alongside experienced upperclassmen and at a competitive level.

Sophomore Kirra Loucks, who played varsity softball as a freshman, commented, “It was exciting to be on varsity because I was the only freshman to be selected. Everyone was really nice and accepting and I was very comfortable with the playing level because I play travel ball.”

Most upperclassmen embrace the idea of skilled freshmen on varsity. This case is true for the 2012 Scots varsity volleyball team. Whenever freshmen Alex Lay and Elena Mateus get a kill, the whole bench gets up and shouts, “She’s a freshman!”

Senior volleyball player, Monica Chin, said, “I liked our freshmen a lot. It was a great experience for them and they are great players. Varsity should not just be reserved for upperclassmen if a freshman deserves it.”

Freshman acceptance seems to be conveyed all the way across the board for male sports as well.

Sophomore Peter Brydon, who played goalie for varsity lacrosse as a freshman said, “I’ve been playing with kids that are older than me for a long time, so I wasn’t that intimidated. I knew almost everyone on the team before and they were all really cool.”

Although most upperclassmen greet freshmen with open arms, the whole overall morale of a team is important to them. For seniors, this is their last chance to be on their high school varsity team and most want to make the most of it. Team chemistry, being one of the keys to success for a team, can sometimes be ruptured when a freshman is brought into the mix.

Jim Liggett, the current varsity softball head coach, commented on the topic, “In some instances I have taken freshmen who turned out to be some of the greatest athletes on the team and they described our chemistry. But I can recall other instances where there were girls who weren’t well accepted and didn’t fit in quite as well because of the dominant senior leadership. It all depends on the freshman and the personalities of the other upperclassmen.”

Along with team chemistry, playtime can also be important to the individuals on a team. In instances where an upperclassman is protective of their playing time, a freshman coming in and taking their spot can be offending.

Sophomore soccer player Kaitlyn Sanders said, “If I were a senior and a freshman was getting more playing time than I was, I would be pretty upset because it’s my last year.”

As much as athletes have conflicts about playing time, that decision is primarily decided by the coach.

Liggett continued, “When you’re trying to put the best players in the game, their ability ultimately dictates their playtime. As long as they abide by the school rules and they keep up with their studies, they deserve to play no matter what year they are.”

[media-credit name=”Chris Lay” align=”aligncenter” width=”201″][/media-credit]