While Leesville’s football team is still battling through the playoffs, winter sports began their season last week. 

November 2, 2026 marked the official kickoff of the winter sports tryouts at Leesville across basketball, swim and dive, indoor track and field, and wrestling. 

For coaches, these evaluations offer another look — beyond workouts– at incoming talent, alongside returning players and how they work together. 

For athletes, it’s the moment they have been working so hard for, their offseason training and practices will be put to the test. Tryout week quickly proves to be less about raw talent and more about hard work, hustle, teamwork, and focus under pressure.

The end goal across all programs is to make the team. However, how players achieve that goal differs depending if they are jumping in the pool, stepping on the mat, going to the track, or shooting balls in the gym. 

In the main and auxiliary gym, girls and boys basketball tryouts kick off with running, dribbling and shooting. Over in the wrestling gym, the temperature rises fast and athletes are expected to be strong and intentional while doing footwork and defense drills.

Off campus at the Willis R. Casey Aquatic Center located on the NC State campus, swimmers had a 15 minute warmup and then showcased their skills in a 50 free and 100 choice other than free. 

Across every venue, underclassmen face the additional pressure of adjusting to the faster pace and higher expectations of high school sports.

Rowan Santre, freshman trying out for basketball, said, “There were just so many amazing upperclassmen. I enjoy watching their technique because I can learn from it and become better.”

Although there is a lot of pressure, the upperclassmen at Leesville do a good job of teaching and encouraging younger players. 

Joey Pinder, senior basketball player, said, “[I’ve told freshman] trust that your work. It’s not as bad as you imagine and as long as you come with a good attitude and are ready to play, then you’ve got a good chance.”

Beyond physical exhaustion, tryouts bring a lot of mental pressure. Unlike fall sports that have tryouts in August, winter tryouts hit right during the heavy workload of second quarter. Athletes have to balance long hours or tryouts along with projects, labs, AP assignments, and upcoming exams.

Competing against friends further complicates the mental workload. In high school sports, rosters are strictly capped, meaning athletes who hang out during lunch are often fighting for the same spot on Varsity or JV. The ability for athletes to push themselves to stand out while being a supportive teammate requires a high level of maturity.

The anticipation on the day of final cuts is very high. Whether roster choices are posted online or revealed in person, the possibility of being cut hangs over every athlete.

Pinder said, “Nothing’s ever guaranteed, you know, just because you’re a senior doesn’t mean anything. Everyone has the same opportunity. I think just genuinely wanting to be there, diving on the floor, giving it your all and just showing that you want to be a part of the team helps earn your spot on the team.”

When physical talent across all athletes is relatively even, the decision of who earns a jersey often comes down to the intangibles. Coaches evaluate communication, teamwork, body language, and work ethic just as much as players stats and ability to perform.

During an exhausting tryout, the small things stand out on the sidelines. Those small things show up in the person that sprints to huddles, who builds other players up, and can accept constructive criticism with a head on instead of frustration. Demonstrating high energy and coachability signals to a coach that the athlete will bring up the rest of the team once the season begins.

Coach Shingler, who coaches varsity swim, said, “Swimmers who are eager and excited about being on the team, who have put in some work and have knowledge about the sport, help out a lot. High school swimming is super fun. There’s a lot of energy, and that’s where my seniors and my captains really have to step in and help out alot.”

Tryout week does more than just fill roster spots, it represents the hard work ethic that defines Leesville. Whether it is an athlete waking up before five in the morning to swim laps, a wrestler pushing through another conditioning session in a steaming hot room, or a basketball player running sprints, the effort on display mirrors the high standards that are set throughout Leesville. 

High school sports demand discipline and good time management, but winter tryouts require even more resilience. Balancing two hour practices and a heavy academic workload proves that Leesville athletes don’t just want to participate, they will do whatever it takes for their teams success. When these students step on the track, court, mat or pool deck, they carry a tradition and legacy of hard work and dedication that represents the Leesville community.