 Story by William Kok
Many Clay students play after school sports, and some students take it above and beyond. Clay student Nishesh Basavareddy, sixth grade, is one of these students that participates in sports after school, and he is a nationally ranked star in the sport he plays. Nishesh is one of the best tennis players in the country for his age group. He practically lives with the sport. He often times faces competition from all over the country, from Florida to Arkansas. Although he is one of the best players, it is not easy. It takes dedication, Nishesh said that for six days a week he has one to two and a half hour practices. “Becoming nationally ranked has proven that my hard work has payed off,” he said. Nishesh started tennis seven years ago after trying out soccer and tennis. He discovered that he liked tennis more. Ever since, he has been working his way up to the top. Another Clay tennis player, seventh grader Broc Fletcher practices with Nishesh, and he said, “We are really good friends, and we cheer for each other at some of our matches.” Broc plays in the same age division as Nishesh which includes 12 and under, and 14 and under. Both of the players say that tennis helps them with more than just physical challenges. “It helps with emotional skills, too, being able to take a tough loss and get back up to keep playing,” Fletcher said. Although tennis is a year-round sport, during the summer there are large tournaments. During this time many of the tennis players travel to matches around the country. Although Nishesh is playing now, he’s gearing up for this summer when most of his major tournaments will be.  Story By Griffin Hadley The whistle blows and the swimmers climb up onto the the starting block. The starter tells them to take their mark, and seconds later the swimmers are soaring off the blocks into the pool. Most, if not all, swimmers love this feeling of competition, and at the Carmel Swim Club they are preparing for these types of moments every single day. Championship season is the most important part of the season for swimmers and coaches at CSC, and everyone on the pool deck knows it. Meets like Age Group State and Divisionals are two of the big meets in championship season. Age Group State is held on March 18 through 20 at the IUPUI Natatorium downtown Indianapolis and is for athletes 14 and under with state meet time standards. Three swimmers in particular love the adrenalin rush that championship season brings. Wyatt Davis, eighth grade, whose favorite events in swimming are the 100 and 200 backstroke, 500 freestyle, and 100 butterfly, is planning to increase resistance in his weight room training and to improve his threshold time in the pool. Davis also said that his goals for Age Group State include breaking records in backstroke and winning his races. "I like them [state team practices] because they bring the state team together, and we get to practice starts and turns which never practice," Davis also said. Another swimmer who attends Clay is William Kok. Kok, seventh grade, who enjoys sprint freestyle, is planning on swimming the Divisional meet this championship season. "I like the championship season because it brings out my best," said Kok. "It also brings out the best in all of my teammates." Kok also said that he is going to try to eat protein-based meals to help maximize training. James Gastineau, seventh grade, whose favorite events swimming are the 100 butterfly and 200 breaststroke, is also planning on swimming the Divisionals. Gastineau plans on training hard and recovering well to try to excel in the championship season. Davis said he likes championship season and being united as a team. “It makes the meets more fun,” Davis said. Championship season should be very exciting for Carmel Swim Club this year. |
Stories byAll stories, photos and video footage by the seventh and eighth grade newspaper students. Archives
October 2019
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