2008 Woodie Awards
Freshmen players are making a big splash
Hayden Bird '09
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Sports
In a year when Wheaton athletics has maintained its customarily high level of success, the interesting theme has been the vast number of freshmen who have contributed to the winning. As has been a common denominator across college athletics around the country, young players are getting a chance at proving themselves right away. For Wheaton, this has been a trend that has become synonymous with success.
With over 140 first year student athletes, some may have looked to this season as a down year for several of Wheaton's teams. This logic was based on the long standing theory that freshmen and underclassmen aren't capable of winning right away in a college league.
"I know that a lot of people think that relying on freshmen is a bad strategy" said men's soccer player Josh Solomon '11, "and I can see their point in certain ways, because freshmen aren't always used to the speed or intensity."
As Wheaton competes in the highly competitive New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference, any early year prognostication of failure based on the gluttony of freshmen would have difficult to refute. Yet many of the teams answered their questions about experience emphatically.
The confidence which many coaches have shown in their freshmen has been rewarded in many cases with wins. Men's soccer and women's soccer (both of whom won NEWMAC titles) achieved great results despite relying on many members of the class of 2011. The top three scorers for the men's team were all freshmen. On top of this, every minute of every game last season saw a freshmen goalie employed by Coach Matt Cushing.
"Coming in we knew we had big shoes to fill" noted freshmen goalie Chris Smart, "we just tried not to think about it too much. If you do that, then the pressure can effect your play."
Women's soccer also saw many of their spots occupied by freshmen. Leading scorer Melida Alvarez, who notched an astounding 23 goals in 24 games played, was a classic example of a freshman who made the leap into the college scene without any trouble. For the women, who dazzled from the season's start and eventually wound up 22-1-1, there was no question that the younger players could mix with a formidable group of upperclassmen to achieve great success.
With over 140 first year student athletes, some may have looked to this season as a down year for several of Wheaton's teams. This logic was based on the long standing theory that freshmen and underclassmen aren't capable of winning right away in a college league.
"I know that a lot of people think that relying on freshmen is a bad strategy" said men's soccer player Josh Solomon '11, "and I can see their point in certain ways, because freshmen aren't always used to the speed or intensity."
As Wheaton competes in the highly competitive New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference, any early year prognostication of failure based on the gluttony of freshmen would have difficult to refute. Yet many of the teams answered their questions about experience emphatically.
The confidence which many coaches have shown in their freshmen has been rewarded in many cases with wins. Men's soccer and women's soccer (both of whom won NEWMAC titles) achieved great results despite relying on many members of the class of 2011. The top three scorers for the men's team were all freshmen. On top of this, every minute of every game last season saw a freshmen goalie employed by Coach Matt Cushing.
"Coming in we knew we had big shoes to fill" noted freshmen goalie Chris Smart, "we just tried not to think about it too much. If you do that, then the pressure can effect your play."
Women's soccer also saw many of their spots occupied by freshmen. Leading scorer Melida Alvarez, who notched an astounding 23 goals in 24 games played, was a classic example of a freshman who made the leap into the college scene without any trouble. For the women, who dazzled from the season's start and eventually wound up 22-1-1, there was no question that the younger players could mix with a formidable group of upperclassmen to achieve great success.
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