Thursday B1 The Perspective October 31 2019 Sports Rocks defeat Cats, win title of Park Champs With both teams snagging victo- sity and pressure when playing Park rivals, compared to other by Amanda Radke ries over Canton, Plymouth 3-0 and teams in the district, conference, and even state. Plymouth Sports Editor & Salem 2-1, it all came down to Sept. senior Kyle Pahl credited the change in stakes to the schools’ Business Manager 24, where Plymouth and Salem’s student sections. boys varsity soccer teams would “They get everyone going. As soon as you do anything, battle it out for the title of Park Champs. body slam someone, meg someone, as soon as [you] score [the The two teams had already played each other once prior to student section] go[es] crazy, and it gets your energy going. It’s Sept. 24 with Salem edging out a 2-1 win. But with a month insane” Pahl said. to practice and build team chemistry, Plymouth was hopeful During the second half, neither team wanted to give the about evening the score. other any advantage and each fought hard to take control of the Luke Winters, Plymouth senior captain said,“We had a field. After 15 minutes, a foul was called against Salem in their rough start, but we’ve changed things up and now we’ve been 18-yard box, giving Plymouth a penalty shot on goal. Winters playing really well.” stepped up to take the kick and was able to sink it in past Sa- The game started off slow, with both teams sharing posses- lem’s senior goalie Chris Pohl. sion. Salem’s offense was able to get a few shots on goal that As the clock ticked down to 12 minutes left in the were saved by Plymouth’s senior goalie Jack Reed. At 29 min- game, the score was tied at 2-2, and both teams were scram- utes left in the first half, Salem sophomore Jacob Grieb was able bling to seize the lead. Salem did so through sophomore to hit the back of the net, giving Salem a 1-0 lead. Anthony Deruvo’s goal. Making the final score of the game 3-2 However, Salem’s lead didn’t last for long. With newfound and rewarding Salem with the title of Park Champs. adrenaline, Plymouth’s offense was able to tie the score less than “I think we played really well today. [We] kept the ball six minutes later. movement quick. Every time they scored a goal, we scored one “We did well going forward, playing through the wings and back.” said Salem senior Ethan Lakatos. Photo by Amanda Radke then looking for balls in,” said Winters. Having achieved Park Champs, first in the district and first After gaining possession of the ball, Ryan Doyle, Salem senior, passes With only two minutes left in the first half, and the game still in the region, the Rocks are now looking forward to the chal- the ball to fellow teammate Tanner Locke, Salem junior, giving Salem an tied 1-1, Salem junior Nolan Chaput scored giving Salem a one lenge of becoming state champions. Salem is slated to play Troy offensive advantage. goal lead going into the second half. Athens in the state semi-finals Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. It’s common among P-CEP athletes to feel a different inten- Student athletes benefit from Pigtails and Pigskin playing multiple sports by Amanda Radke commitment to playing soccer and her parents. Sports Editor & Business Manger However, support on the team was not hard to find. by Isabelle Fessler sport.” Emerson Voss, Plymouth Girls and football; “Guys and Dolls”, both “Everyone was super supportive of it and Vernon Crump, Canton junior, who plays football and go against the status quo. One made a fantastic Editor-in-Chief they are all super nice, “ Says Voss. “I know APAA and Brian Samul- soccer said, “It helps me man- musical, and the other is still in its early stages they’re gonna have my back if I ever need any- Administration and stu- of possibly changing a beloved American sport ski Salem’s former APAA, age my time better because thing.” dents alike agree that playing forever. echoed that sentiment in I know that I have to get my For both the guys on the team and the girls multiple sports is beneficial Brie McNabb, kicker and Emerson Voss, wide their respective interviews. homework done before each joining, this could have made for a very uncom- and helps to make students receiver currently play for Plymouth’s varsity “You get more benefits from practice.” fortable situation. But Plymouth football has well-rounded athletes and football team. They join a small group of girls playing more than one sport.” The research backs up seemed to normalize the circumstances more people in general. The who have appeared on P-CEP football teams. Said Crump, “Colleges like these claims. According to the than anyone could have expected. school’s value of multi-sport This year will be both girls first year ever playing seeing athletes play more than USA Baseball Sport Develop- “Our staff did a great job welcoming football. athletes is clear through one sport. It’s better for our ment team, playing multiple them in and treating them like one of the guys. ¨I wanted to play since freshman year, but my things like the three-sport athletes physically in terms of sports can reduce burnout, Hats off to our coaches for doing that,” says mom originally said girls weren’t really allowed athlete board that’s up in training different muscles and reduce the risk of overuse quarterback Nick Downs, Plymouth senior. to play on the team,” says Voss, Plymouth junior. Salem and patches for varsity “They are just two more players on our team, it gives them the opportunity injuries, and make students “Last year my friend played for Salem and was jackets. nothing special,” says wide receiver and defen- to have a more broad range of better, more well-rounded the kicker, so my mom eventually was like, ‘You Raymond Miller, Plym- sive back Mike Mathias, Plymouth senior. friends.” athletes. can play this year.’” outh Assistant Principal Both Voss and McNabb are currently juniors Samantha Foster, Plym- Overall, administration Voss explained that although no one of Activities and Athletics and plan on playing football during their senior outh junior, agreed saying, and students agree that the ever told her that she couldn’t or shouldn’t play, (APAA said, “Research has years and Voss is looking to continue football “It’s so rewarding to play a benefits of playing multiple still there were many who were doubtful of her shown that playing more than sport that you love and also sports are plenty and both decision to join the team. into college. one sport helps limit burnout do it with people you care would encourage the act of “There were people who doubted that I was Voss talked about playing her first foot- since the student-athlete has a b out .” joining a team or trying out a actually serious about playing football and were ball game ever saying, “That was honestly prob- a season or two to focus on Many students say it helps new sport. like ‘Oh, it’s not gonna last,’“ says Voss. ably one of the scariest moments.” But obviously their in season sport and not make them a well rounded McNabb says that the only thing keeping not scary enough to dull her love for the game. just specialize in one specific person as well as athlete. her from playing football up until now was her A novice fan tackles the game of the gridiron by Isabelle Fessler My dad tried to explain student section. So, I hope any football players reading this don’t football to me once, but I wasn’t pull a “Glee” and slushie me in the hallway. Editor-in-Chief listening, so don’t worry, this is One of the coaches was literally screaming “Good job 3” right 100 % authentic. in a player’s face which further supports my theory that they Amanda, my friend and per- can’t hear anything through those helmets. sonal photographer, and I arrived to the varsity field at 6:55 p.m., Somehow, someone got blood on their shorts, but it was five minutes before the Canton football game against Brighton okay because they have this very helpful lady at the game who is was scheduled to start, but the game had already started which meant to help with stuff like that. She fixed him right up and he I didn’t appreciate because it meant I started the evening con- just went right back out there. fused. The first thing I noticed was that there was approximately A guy dropped the ball and the student section started chant- 50,000 coaches and even more players; I don’t know how they ing “butterfingers!” which seems like bullying. I wouldn’t be get anything done. I also noticed that it was massively unclear surprised if this kid never played again his feelings were so hurt. what qualifies as out-of-bounds, or if anything is out-of-bounds. A coach started yelling and the other coaches had to hold him I heard the announcer say that someone didn’t complete a pass, back; he was getting too excited. This guy had the ball, so some- but I really don’t understand how it’s possible to not finish mak- one swan dived to the ground and grabbed his ankle.