Outside snow is falling and cars with Christmas trees strapped atop them pass by. The air smells clean and is refreshing. Inside, however, the bright fluorescent lights illuminate the sweat-scented gym where wrestlers are sprawled on mats practicing for upcoming matches. While most students will spend the break recovering from exams and enjoying quality time with their families, winter athletes will be working hard at their sports.
The men’s varsity basketball team will compete in the Benedictine Capital Classic in Richmond, Virginia. According to varsity basketball coach Tony Martin, this kind of national event gives the basketball players exposure to college opportunities and provides them with lasting memories.
The basketball players manage their studies while they travel. “Every time we go away we have mandatory proctored study halls overseen by Kathleen Landers, who is a teacher at Cathedral and wife of assistant varsity coach Rick Landers,” Martin said.
Also, at some tournaments there are other events for the players. For example, two years ago the basketball team participated in a drunk driving workshop at the Stop-DWI Classic tournament in New York.
“There are no problems in arranging activities over the break and no one misses [them] as they and their families are excited for them to participate,” Martin said.
The indoor track team will compete in two track meets over winter break and will most likely practice four times. According to indoor track coach Robert Torres, there are two main reasons why the track team meets infrequently over the winter break. “One, a lot of kids go on vacation, or don’t have rides to school, so they end up missing. Two, we all need a break, so we lighten the load for all our sake.”
On the other hand, the wrestling team will be working almost non-stop over break. The team will practice nearly every day and it will compete at three events. On the first day of Christmas vacation, Dec. 20, the team has a match at Loyola Blakefield. Five returning All-Americans are going to the Beast of the East tournament at the University of Delaware on Dec. 22 and 23.
According to Wrestling Coach Keith Watson, it’s not hard to get wrestlers to show up and work hard over the vacation. “I don’t have to make them [go to practice]. They want this. My problem is getting them to take a break when they need to,” Watson said.
“They just want to go, go, go all the time. I won’t organize a practice on Christmas Eve, but I’m sure somebody will. Even on Christmas Day some will find a way to work out whether it’s running or lifting.”
The women’s indoor soccer team takes a more relaxed approach to the winter break. They do not have any games or practices scheduled over break.
The swim team will have two voluntary practices over break, but they will not have any meets. According to senior Rebecca Kotula, they might have a Christmas party. “We didn’t have one last year, but before that it was a tradition for Mr. Dukes [swim coach] to have a Christmas bonfire. So far I haven’t heard anything about it though,” Kotula said.
Mary Kate Luft is an A&E Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.