As fall sports come to a close, we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to watch indoor sports at PHS. It has been a long and eventful autumn season, with students consistently supporting the Bulldogs through thick and thin. Now, it’s time to bundle up in our puff jackets and beanies as we shift our focus to winter sports, including boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ wrestling, and girls’ bowling. We need student support to cheer on the Bulldogs!
Some athletes shared their thoughts on their preparation and excitement for the upcoming winter sports season. Junior boys’ wrestler Kamden Boyer said, “Towards the end of my football season, I started to experience some body pain, and immediately I thought about wrestling. You may think it’s hard to transition from one physical sport to another, but when you’re built for this life, nothing can stop you.” Kamden suffered a hamstring injury during an away football game in Hermiston, Oregon, but he assured us that he has healed and is ready to give it his all on the mat. This demonstrates the determination and fighting spirit of Bulldog athletes, even when faced with challenges. He added, “I’ve been waiting for wrestling season for a while. I definitely missed the vibe of wrestling under the lights in the gym and hearing my coaches yelling at me while I’m fighting for my life on the mat. Thank God it’s here, and hopefully, I win state.”
Senior girls’ wrestler Lilly Gross discussed her future plans, saying that after leaving Pasco High School, she wants to be recognized as a hard worker who made it to state despite the odds. She also mentioned, “After high school, I want to join a family member’s business and start my new life out of state.”
On the basketball front, I spoke with sophomore guard Joseph Cole about his thoughts on the upcoming season. He stated, “Shoot, I’m just trying to get through tryouts right now. I’m a little rusty and sore from football, but I’ll get my act together.” He’d better focus because I’m betting on him to have the season of his life! I also interviewed senior guard Sayazetti Andrade about the girls’ basketball team and her goals. She said, “My goal is to become better and, of course, help my teammates.” After a difficult season last year, there have been several changes, including the hiring of a new head coach, Bella Gutierrez, and a new offensive style. Sayazetti recognizes that she needs to work on her shooting, ball handling, and communication, as she faced challenges in those areas last season.
Jay Covington, Pasco High School’s boys’ wrestling coach, is starting his 17th season. Having seen many rosters and groups of aspiring wrestlers, I briefly interviewed him. He expressed his goals for the upcoming season as simply “growth.” He emphasized that while striving for achievements is important, “we’re not always going to win.” Covington shared some wisdom: “You have to carry your achievements through life—even in a job or a marriage. Life kicks you in the teeth, but you still have to get back up. You’ve got to have grit and learn to work through difficult situations, even when it may not seem great at the time.”
The girls’ bowling team is also gearing up for their season after competing in several events and recently celebrating a victory against the Hanford Falcons. Senior bowler Allison Hitt expressed her excitement, saying, “I can’t wait for the cold evenings when my friends and I compete for trophies!”
Boys’ basketball head coach Romaine Smith shared his goals for the upcoming season, both on and off the court. He stated, “My goal is to establish Pasco basketball as a double-digit win program. Off the court, I want to build a program that produces great young men.” When discussing player development, he mentioned, “Through communication with my captains and staff, I want the players to establish personal accountability because we can’t grow as a program if the players themselves don’t care to grow.” Both Coach Covington and Coach Smith are focused on team growth. When asked about their rough season last year and how he plans to bounce back, Smith reflected, “I learned that I have a bunch of tough kids. We need to catch up on our skills. We got better this summer, and I’m looking forward to this season!”
Winter tryouts began on November 17th, so we will soon see the completed teams. We are locked in and ready for winter sports—let’s get started!
