Sterling High School’s fall sports selected captains are expected to represent their respective teams and possess leadership skills that can help guide their team throughout the season. See what they have to say about their seasons.

Senior Kathryn Rowzee

What adjustments have you made from the beginning of the season to now? 

“We have had to try a lot of people in a lot of different places in order to figure out what is going to work for us and make us successful. We have also had to make mindset adjustments as well.” 

What are you hoping to happen for the rest of the season? 

“I am hoping to have fun for the rest of my senior year and continue the regional championship streak because it’s very important to me that my team does not break it.”

What did you do this year as a captain to make it like no other? 

“I have tried to really connect everyone together since we have been through a lot this season.”

 Sophomore Merrick Amankwa 

What adjustments have you made from the beginning of the season to now? 

“A lot of adjustment and change came after Grace’s injury, so adjusting my sets to new hitters, and figuring out new rotations and adjusting what I need to for my team”

What are you hoping to happen for the rest of the season? 

“As a captain it is for us to improve and play better as a team and start winning again.”

What did you do this year as a captain to make it like no other? 

“Try my best to keep the team spirits up and keep everyone positive when we are down.”

   Seniors AJ Kested, Antonio Tablante, Christian Beasley, JP Schilling, Kael Ryan, and Lance Wren are the football captains this year. I asked them all some questions: 

Senior Anthony Kested

Is a team dinner a good way for the team to bond before game days?

  “Yes, it is a great way to spend time with your teammates before the big game.”

Do you prefer a loud or laid back student section?

 “Loud, it is so cool being able to look up and see no seats left open, and to hear the crowd roar after someone scores a touchdown is really something special.”

What did you do this year as a captain to make it like no other? 

“Looking up to fellow captains these past three years, I really wanna make sure that we carry on what they left behind.”

 Senior Antonio Tablante 

Is a team dinner a good way for the team to bond before game days?

 “It’s a great way for the team to all be together and spend quality time before games. It helps create great bonds and enjoy some great food.”

Do you prefer a loud or laid back student section? 

“Definitely louder student sections. It’s a great way to get the fans and of course the team pumped up.”

Senior Christian Beasley 

Is a team dinner a good way for the team to bond before game days? 

“Yeah because it’s a great way to have some down time before game day.”

Do you prefer a loud or laid back student section? 

“Loud because being pumped up gets us pumped up.”

What did you do this year as a captain to make it like no other? 

“Being a senior and always lifting each other up just helping out the team.” 

Senior John Paul Schilling 

Is a team dinner a good way for the team to bond before game days? 

“A team dinner is a great way to bond with your teammates and gain trust off the field because in some ways that might help you on the field.”

Do you prefer a loud or laid back student section?

“Loud student sections, it is always intimidating to other teams when student sections are big and loud.”

Senior Kael Ryan 

Is a team dinner a good way for the team to bond before game days?

 “Absolutely, it’s a great way to spend time with your team without having to be serious and locked in.”

Do you prefer a loud or laid back student section? 

“Loud, get that thing bumpin and it makes it feel like the stakes are high and we have the city on our back”

What did you do this year as a captain to make it like no other?

 “Just being a senior and making sure we have a huge positive impact on the culture in the weight room and all the time.”

Senior Lance Wren   

Is a team dinner a good way for the team to bond before game days? 

“Yes, it’s a great way for all of us to bond and have a great time with each other before playing a big game.”

Do you prefer a loud or laid back student section? 

“Loud student sections. It makes the adrenaline in us go crazy hearing the crowd.”  

What did you do this year as a captain to make it like no other?

 “Pushing everyone the way I know they can be pushed to not only make them better but make the team better.”

  Juniors Hailey Bielema and Macie Brady are this year’s cheer captains. To learn more about their season I asked them each three questions:

Junior Hailey Bielema 

What makes it easy to master a cheer? 

“I think the best strategy in mastering a cheer would be taking a video of it and continuing to practice it over and over again. Eventually it becomes muscle memory making it easy to master.”

How have you adjusted with losing Maggie as a coach?

 “Since last season we all knew that we were going to lose Maggie. I then knew it would be important to learn as much as I could from the seniors before they left so I was prepared for the next season and a new coach.”

What did you do this year as a captain to make it like no other? 

“This year as a captain I have tried my best to push these girls so we look good but are still able to have fun. We have tried lots of new and challenging stunts making things different from years before!”

Junior Macie Brady  

What makes it easy to master a cheer? 

“Personally, in order to master a cheer, I watch a video of someone doing it over and over and practice until I get it.”

How have you adjusted with losing Maggie as a coach? 

“We knew she wasn’t coaching in the future so we kind of applied ourselves for her to be gone this season.”

What did you do this year as a captain to make it like no other?

 “This year as a captain I have tried as many new things and learned as many new skills I possibly could as well as taking the opportunity that has been given to me.” 

  The captains for this year’s boys golf team are seniors Braden Hartman, Cameron O’Brien, Carter Morris, and Trevor Dir. I asked them all three questions: 

Senior Braden Hartman 

What is the best course in the Western Big 6 Conference?

 “Emerald Hill”

How do you guys work together in a golf meet?

 “In practices, diving range, golf is an individual sport but at the end of the day it was a team sport because of adding scores together.”

What did you do this year as a captain to make it like no other?

 “Hold each other accountable, and then if we had an off meet we would all come together at the driving range or course to work together and get better together.”

Senior Cameron O’brien 

What is the best course in the Western Big 6 Conference? 

“TPC Deere Run”

How do you guys work together in a golf meet? 

“Golf is an individual sport but the top 4 scorers combine for the team score, the goal is to beat the other 2 guys in your group.”

What did you do this year as a captain to make it like no other? 

“The bus rides were the best part of the season.”

Senior Carter Morris 

What is the best course in the Western Big 6 Conference? 

“TPC Deere Run”

How do you guys work together in a golf meet? 

“We would mostly try to understand the greens before going out and playing so that our putting would help us if we were having trouble actually getting to the green” 

What did you do this year as a captain to make it like no other?

 “My favorite part was when i hooked a shot into the water and then dropped got into the green and made a pretty long putt”

Senior Trevor Dir 

What is the best course in the Western Big 6 Conference?

 “Emerald Hill”

How do you guys work together in a golf meet?

 “We would play in the meet individually and our top 4 scores from the team would be added together at the end.”

What did you do this year as a captain to make it like no other?

  “Probably the bus rides. It was very fun going to meets with all your teammates.”