Winni Jiang, Jingmiao Liu, Guang Yue Su, Guang Liang Su (All 287)

Everyone should try out for sports at least once in their lifetime. In the 2025-26 school year, fall sports such as field hockey, tennis, soccer, and cross country have taken off. While these sports have already started, it’s never too late to join — play the next season these sports come around! 

“Chip” is the biggest upcoming championship game for the Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey team and takes place in October. Recently, the field hockey team’s coach, Ms. Whittle, has been splitting the team up into groups with other players of their same position to work on a specific skill. For example, if you play defense, you would practice with other defense players and the goalie. Afterwards, the groups come together to use their new skills as a team. Nina Mathews (286) is happy to report that “[They’re] a very supportive team… and [they’re] always trying to give each other advice because [they] generally want everyone to do well.” 

If you’re a beginner in tennis and are interested in Girls’ Tennis, have no worries because there’s always someone to warm up with, even if you’re at a lower skill level. The Girls’ Tennis team is coached by Mr. Graham, who is described as “really energetic [and] very supportive of the team” by Lucy Devore (287). Tournament matches consist of three singles (1v1) and two doubles (2v2) and include exhibition matches with extra teams that play. If you’re a newcomer, don’t be shy, the team is really supportive and beginner-friendly.

Central’s soccer teams include JV Boys’, Boys’ Varsity, and Girls’ Varsity. Competing in tryouts for a spot on a soccer team at Central  was tough this year. According to Rafael Kim (287), a player on the Boys’ Soccer team, “There were so many more incoming freshmen this year at tryouts that we actually had people cut [from the team], as opposed to last year [when] we didn’t have anyone cut.” Rafael suggests that new players continue trying to improve, even if they didn’t make the team. Central participates in the Philadelphia Public League, and because of this, JV’s practice schedule per week runs as late as 5:30 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, while Varsity has practices every day. They all practice in the lacrosse field by the parking lot, and even though practice is “usually really tiring… It’s fun,” Rafael comments.

While the ultimate goal of sports is to win, we need to remember that the experience is just as important, especially in cross country. On the week of September 15, Morgan Treubig (287), a new member of cross country, reached tenth place in her very first competition at Belmont Plateau. There, the terrain was filled with natural obstacles like hills. Her first competition was very scary to her, but she wasn’t alone, with many others giving her advice. Joining sports impacted many aspects of Morgan’s life. “[Cross country was] really cool, it improves [one’s] stamina and [traveling] distances,” she expresses that what makes Cross Country so special is, “how far you can go by improving your stamina.”

All of these perspectives are fascinating. They prove that exploring sports certainly brings new opportunities to improve yourself. Here at Central, we encourage all of the students to try new things, including sports! So how about it? Are you interested in our fall sports after reading about them?