As fall sports around Oviedo High School reach their peak and go into late season or playoffs, the stakes get higher for the athletes. During this important time in the season, two of OHS’ fall sports teams, cross country and bowling, will lean on their captains for leadership.
On the cross country team, the three athletes tasked with the captainship are juniors Aiden and Colin Aysun for the boys team, as well as senior Courtney Calhoun for the girls team.
When C. Aysun started to run cross country in middle school, they did not think it would become the most important sport to them.
“I started running because I wanted to cross-train cardio for soccer,” said C. Aysun.
But C. Aysun eventually stopped playing soccer in favor of cross country after starting their freshman year.
Now no longer a freshman, C. Aysun is a leader of the cross country team. The experience they have accrued from the past two years on the varsity lineup has helped them gain knowledge about the sport.
“[I] try to guide the runners through training and races,” said C. Aysun.
Aysun has attempted to aid the team by creating an image to follow. As the joint-oldest returning starter to the varsity team, his experience and example can help lead the younger athletes.
“As a captain, I am organized [and] set a positive example,” said A. Aysun.
The boys captains will attempt to lead the team back to the state championships, where they ran the previous year.
Calhoun will captain the girls team and look to help by keeping a positive attitude around her teammates and help them during trying times.
“I’m really grateful to be in the position as a captain to be there for others, whether it’s working through the worst of days,” said Calhoun.
Calhoun wants to see the team grow as individuals, so they can come together and achieve their ultimate goal: making it to and winning the 4A state championship. This is the biggest cross country meet of the season, and they intend to dominate it.
“I want our team to make it to states this year,” said Calhoun.
On the OHS bowling team, the captains are Tayler Henessy for the girls and Spencer Wainwright for the boys.
Wainwright believes an important aspect in being a leader to the team is having their voice heard.
“Just being loud helps everything, it’s actually kind of surprising. Just the noise and everything can really make a team come together,” said Wainwright.
Wainwright hopes this season can be the first since their freshman year, where the bowling team makes the state championship, similar to Calhoun’s ambitions.
“My goal for this season… would definitely be to make it to states,” said Wainwright.
Wainwright believes this year’s team is good enough to make the state championship and create a fun and memorable experience, just like his last trip to it.
“The whole state experience has definitely been my favorite part of the four years,” said Wainwright.
Meanwhile, on the girls team, Hennessy is in her fourth year on the team. She joined the team out of pure chance, but it eventually led to Hennessy finding great success.
“I didn’t really know anyone, and my mom saw the bowling team needed more girls, so I just joined,” said Hennessy.
Despite the unique beginnings of their bowling career, Hennessy enjoyed bowling quickly and has stayed on through to her senior season. Now as the captain of the team, Hennessy has additional responsibilities that are important to team success.
“I coordinate things for the team, like time and jerseys, so everyone is prepared… and then help them with what they are struggling with,” said Hennessy.
Hennessy helps with everything on the team, from technique to scheduling, but that’s not all. Hennessy also puts emphasis on the need to keep a positive atmosphere for their teammates.
“I try to stay positive… and keep the energy up, because whenever I get upset, the other girls get upset, and then we all start performing worse,” said Hennessy.
But the most important thing for captains to stress to their teammates is that the sport they compete in does not define the person they are.
“I try to tell everyone not to get too down, bowling is important, but there are other things that matter too,” said Wainwright.
