As fall sports kick off Fair Grove’s athletics department is preparing for a brand new season, and with that comes a brand new set of players, including all the freshmen trying to master their domain. Being new to a team or sport is a challenge every athlete has to face at one point in their life, but it is those who prove themselves to be hardworking early on who are typically the most successful. This season many freshmen have already demonstrated their skills and knowledge of their sport, earning them respect and a spot on the varsity team. Head Football Coach Bill Voorhis has 5 freshmen playing varsity football this season, “I would like to see more of our freshman class make the travel list, and compete at a high level on the JV team,” said Voorhis.

Kyle Fritts, a freshman on the varsity football team, has been playing football since Kindergarten. “I joined football because I love football and the people around it,” stated Fritts. Fritts was inspired to play football by his older brother and has had a love for the sport since. “I play football because of the brotherhood,” Fritts stated, “When we face adversity I just look at my brothers beside me and they inspire me to keep going,” he added. Aside from being an athlete involved in football, baseball, and track, Fritts is also apart of Student Council and the president of the freshmen class. “I look up to many upper classmen and I feel like if they know I am out there putting all I got for them, they will go all out for me,” Fritts added, “Sure I’m not as big and strong, but I will put out as much effort as possible.”

For our Fair Grove Eagle boys soccer team there are three freshman playing varsity spots, Andrew Shurtz, Josh Orr, and Tyler Padgett. All three players are somewhat experienced and have some knowledge in the sports, Andrew and Josh grew up playing soccer at a competitive level. “Andrew is very defensive minded, as well as a good passer, and Josh plays an attacking role for us and is very good in the air,” stated Head Coach Joseph Florez, “Tyler, frankly, has some skill, but really is out there because he outworks people – he just hustles on the field at all times,” Florez added. Josh Orr is approaching his 10th year in competitive soccer, “I think what led me to join soccer in the first place was my sisters, because they all played soccer so I wanted to be like them,” Josh said. Josh prepared for this season by playing club soccer and participating in summer practices and camps at Fair Grove.

On this year’s Cheerleading Squad there are three freshman girls on varsity, Chloe Reynaud, Audrey Williams, and Mckenzie Chandler. The varsity cheerleaders perform at all varsity football games and this year will be going to competition for the first time since 2013, “The tryouts are based on a point system on how well you can perform the cheers, chants, fight song, and a dance routine, the Freshman scored high enough to placed on the Varsity squad,” said Head Cheer Coach Tiffany Hill. Hill said that she hopes to see these freshmen take on “more active leadership roles”. Everyone in the athletics department is hard at work to make this season one for the books, for game schedules for all sports and activities you can access the district calendar through Fair Grove Schools web page.