By Cole Klassen
Fall sports are off to a great start this year. Even though the weather is hot, these intrepid athletes continue to practice. They showcase great strength and motivation, and are becoming great athletes.

Soccer
Junior high soccer is off to a furious start this year. Although the team lost their first game against Horizon Honors, they demonstrated great TPA spirit. They kindly thanked the man lining the field at Grace, in a display which Coach Iain Macdonald said “makes Junior High soccer representatives of TPA’s goals as a school”. The soccer team may be young since they lost many eighth graders, but they appear to have true TPA spirit.

Volleyball
The junior high volleyball team has already played two games, and they played extremely well. Coach Mayo said that they “always play their hardest and are improving each practice and game.” The coaches say that they are trying to lead all of the team to their individual goals and form a cohesive team. Coach Mayo says that “Volleyball is representative of TPA’s goals because each of the girls has her own unique talents and, as a community, they lean on each other in order to achieve their collective desired outcomes.” Good luck to the volleyball team as they continue their journey.

Swim
The junior high swim team has been hard at work. They placed third overall in their first swim meet, surpassing most of their expectations and focusing on what Coach Sheperd calls FUNdamentals. On the subject of team goals, Coach Sheperd says, “we will be focused on perfect technique in all four strokes, as well as starts and turns–the fundamentals. Once we have those down, speed is easy to add. Of course, we’ll be putting the yardage in–but no ‘garbage yardage.’ So why, the FUN in fundamental? I truly believe that if you want to retain athletes in any sport, that, as a coach, you must have an element of fun in what you are doing. It isn’t all work; there should be some time for play and getting to know your teammates.” This dedication to the FUNdamentals of swimming will serve to improve the athletes not just on this level, but on the high school level and beyond.
When asked how swimming represents the goals of TPA, he said, “I think most people think of competitive swimming as an individual sport. Meaning that each swimmer competes for first place, a ribbon, a medal, or more importantly, the best time. All that is true, but swimming is very much a team sport; as swimmers compete, they earn team points for the order of finishes. Points are awarded for places 1st to 6th, so you will see team members supporting and cheering for each other. To me, this equates to the typical student at Tempe Prep. Students are usually focused on achieving good grades (the individual). But they are also part of the student body (the team). Is one more important than the other? I don’t think so.” Good luck to you swimmers and keep cool.
Big shout out to all Fall Sports athletes and good luck to you all.