As the snow thaws, Germantown Academy athletes and coaches alike have been hard at work for the upcoming spring season, preparing as early as the end of winter break.
Senior leader Colin Minehan ‘25 acts as a role model to the younger baseball players. He worked on improving the team’s coordination and chemistry during the preseason.
“We’ve had a lot of meetings and a lot of preseason workouts,” Minehan said. “Most of the guys play a lot of summer and fall ball, so by the time we get to winter when preseason hits, I think most of the guys will be ready, and then coming spring time all the guys will be fully ready to go.”
Jack Dillion ‘26 plays lacrosse and is confident in the team’s chances to play well this season.
“We’re actively doing more stuff before the season than we did last year,” Dillon said. “We have a lot of new kids here. We’re excited about the new additions that will help us improve from last year.”
Meanwhile, on the water, crew team captains such as Utsav Mittal ‘25 and Roma Reddy ‘25 are under the guidance of Head Coach Mr. Richard O’Hern. These team members have been preparing through winter workouts. Reddy wants to do well this year and continue the momentum they had from last season.
“Some of the kids are working out with me in the Jordan Center pretty much every day,” Coach O’Hern said. “We’re trying to build a culture where kids know they have to work out in the off-season.”
“One of the biggest improvements from last season has been the addition of the Jordan Center for winter workouts. In past years, our workouts were mostly just erging, which got repetitive and saw declining attendance,” said Reddy. “This new training regime has been really beneficial. Now, there’s a strong emphasis on perfecting individual technique, which is helping us perform better as a team.”
Coach Jonathan Freeman has been guiding the tennis team’s preparation with a focus on offseason workouts and training.
“We’ve got quite a few players that spend a lot of time during the winter season, playing in tournaments and training outside the school,” Mr. Freeman said. “It’s great to have a bunch of student athletes that dedicate themselves beyond the school season, which gets them really prepared for a great season.”
Justin Huang ‘27 described the tennis team’s efforts to stay prepared and connected.
“Some of us have been going to the Jordan Center to lift,” Huang said. “I’ve also been playing tennis outside a lot, and I’m trying to improve my game, to try to win every match.”
As freshmen join the many GA spring sports teams, emphasis on team bonding for newcomers has become more crucial, as having a strong connection with teammates is important to reaching their full potential.
“I’m definitely excited for this season,” Huang said. “We’ve lost some seniors this year. We have some new freshmen coming in, so it’s gonna be a really interesting season, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Senior athletes and coaches alike recognize the importance of fostering strong relationships within the team.
“The bond in school is very important because it creates a dynamic on the field, knowing that you have your guys’ back at all times,” Minehan said. “The team breakfasts after morning practices have been great for building team spirit. It’s a tradition that the seniors started my freshman year, and it has really helped us bond.”
Dillon emphasized the ease of playing with teammates you know well.
“You can’t have a strong team if you don’t know the people around you,” Dillon said. “It’s a lot easier to play with the kids you’re playing with every day at practice.”
Coach Freeman echoes these thoughts.
“I really enjoy when the players work hard to create that team atmosphere both on and off the courts,” Coach Freeman said. “The relationships the players build with each other and with their coaches are super important.”
Overall, GA spring sports teams have been working diligently during the preseason to get athletes prepared.
“Our goal is to win the Inter-Ac,” Huang said. “We didn’t win it last year, so we’re aiming for some revenge this year.”