For student-athletes, team bonding activities and traditions are very much an important part of being a teammate.
There are many different kinds of traditions held by WHS teams and different ways to do them.
Every other Thursday the football team has a pasta feed and eats with the team before a big game that Friday.
“I love the pasta feed because we get to eat a lot of food and it makes us feel good and always brings us closer,” said senior Jayce Depriest.
“Our annual tradition for cross country is to take a picture of the team holding Coach Banfield during Districts. It is fun because it bonds the team and it gives the team something to look forward to on the day of Districts,” senior Jaxon Deckard said.
The cheer team bonds over team dinners before each game.
“On game days we have a team dinner, and bring our group closer before the big night,” freshman cheerleader Addison Hill said.
Traditions are a powerful way to stay close with teammates, and constantly remain a “team.”
“I think traditions are good because it forms special bonds between players and students,” sophomore volleyball player Maylee Slavens said.
“It’s something to look forward to and gets us all in the right mindset. It grows our bond even more knowing we’re all gonna be together, “ junior Luke Henderson said.
Even in individual sports there traditions and Pre competition rituals keep everyone together.
“Before every meet we try to have a prayer circle with everyone running. This encourages everyone running, and keeps toxic competition to a minimum,” junior Wesley Jackson said.
As many teams have their own annual tradition, athletes also have their own pre game routine to lock them in for the match or race.
“My pre race routine is when we say a team prayer together and then we get all the runners in the race to do one big group prayer,” junior Brayden Henderson said.
“The cheer team typically listens to Rihanna while getting ready for the game,” senior Tatum Bohl said.
“Every bus ride, I look forward to laughing at funny tiktoks with Sara,” junior Hailey Ferguson said.
“I like to sit quietly and listen to my music, so I can get locked in for the game,” senior Dakota Todd said.