Student-athletes participate in two or more hours a day, 6 days a week, with their ever-changing, competitive sports. Sports are a prevalent part of a majority of students lives, and has been for years, especially for high school students Rolly Vasquez, athletic director, said.

“I want to say we have over 1,200 kids participating in athletics and other after school activities, which is a majority of our school,” Vasquez said.

Certain programs like girls’ golf, wrestling, and boys’ volleyball, have developed greatly just in the last few years. Not only have these sports grow in size, but also in competitiveness, according to Vasquez.

“A lot more girls are joining the team, which is fantastic. When I started, we just had enough [to play] and now we had 14 this year.” Julie Brynczka, assistant girls’ golf coach, said.

The wrestling team has seen much improvement in participation and in the quality of the team, starting at the middle school level, before the students even start on the high school team, according to Dan Strickler, varsity wrestling coach.

“When I started here, there were 17 kids on the team. This year it was over 50. It’s getting bigger and getting better,” Strickler said.

“There’s been a lot of state qualifiers and the team is getting much bigger,” Tommy Clancy, senior and varsity wrestler, said.

Yet, the largest advancement in a program in recent years has been boys volleyball. Less than a decade ago, a junior varsity and freshman team began. Since then, the program has grown to allow three teams, with much interest from the middle school teams for more future players, according to  Lesly Ravenscraft, varsity boys volleyball coach.

“We’ve had the most players come and try out this year at all levels. There’s more interest now, and we had a really successful season last year,” Ravenscraft said.

Not only have programs at the school changed, but also how coaches manage sports teams have evolved over the years.

“Sports are a lot more competitive now, in the sense that [when I was in high school] a lot of students played three sports. But now a lot of students pick one sport and play it year round,” Brynczka said.

The weight and pressures on student athletes has increased, along with the competitiveness. Students are now expected to excel and one sport and play it year round, and with more parent involvement than ever before, according to Strickler.

Parent involvement in sports has added on more pressure to student athletes as well, Ravenscraft said. With parents, coaches, and athletes themselves adding the pressure of succeeding to their sports.

“I tend to put pressure on myself. I really want to win,” Brett Rothas, freshman, said.

Some sports including wrestling, that focus on individual performance tend to be more competitive, according to Clancy.

“I’m really competitive and Losing is the worst feeling to me. There’s no one else to blame but yourself when it comes to wrestling,” Clancy said.

While sports may be increasing in size, competitiveness, and stress, it is still important to enjoy the game, according to Kaitlin Vages, sophomore varsity golfer.

“I just do [golf] for fun,” Vagas said. “[I like] to learn how to get better.”