Sports
Basketball Team 2022-2023
Basketball is a sport where teamwork is crucial to winning games. When a player is off their game, that can negatively affect the entire team. The Von Basketball teams are no different. Every single player brings their own unique abilities to the game and to their team.
Like all other sports teams, the basketball teams have gone against many different schools, bringing out only their absolute best each time. They worked together and even if the end result was not what they hope, they still represent Von Steuben in a positive way, making every Panther proud.
Many of the Von Steuben Panthers who joined the basketball team all have previous experiences playing the sport, prior to trying out for the team. They all join to create friendships and to stay active during the winter season. Every team went through a week/ a week and a half of strength training and conditioning for 2 hours every day after school or before school.
In conclusion, all the basketball teams have made us proud and we should all wish them a great season!
Girls Swim Team 2022-2023
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Although the swim team has had a late start to their season they have had many accomplishments during this time.
We were able to win against schools like Senn, Curie, and CHSAS.
During the weekend of 10/22, they swam at the city championships meet at UIC.
They placed 13th out of 27 schools, and we are so proud of them for this accomplishment.
Special thanks to our coaches!!
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We have interviewed a fellow swimmer,
What did you look forward to when joining the swim team?
“I looked forward to joining a community that is welcoming. I also wanted to be in an environment that understood my goals as a swimmer. I personally wanted to get better at certain parts of my swim teaching and this was a great environment to do so.”
Since joining the swim team how has your life been affected?
“My life has been affected by the swim team by better improving my goals as a swimmer and also within School parameters. I have better learned time management and work better with others. Because of that, every year I look forward to the swim season!”
What would I say to those joining the swim team?
“100% do it! It was a great learning experience, even if you don't know how to swim you can learn that when you join! I would say make sure to stay on top of your grades too, and always remember that you are a student before an athlete!!”
Cheerleading Squad and Poms Team
By: Katelyn Robles
With every battle the Panther’s football team has endured, the one thing that has always stayed constant is the enthusiasm from the Cheerleading Squad and the Poms team. No matter the condition, whether it's rainy and cold at the homecoming game or scorching hot in September, both teams have cheered throughout the season.
Those of us who went to the homecoming game can see the hard work and dedication both teams showed with their complicated dances and loud cheers. The Poms team performs at every home game whereas the Cheerleading Squad performs at every game. That means both teams have to learn multiple dances at once, to prepare for game day. Especially for homecoming season, both teams have to practice dances for the pep rally, and the homecoming game where the most school spirit is ever shown. Even with all the eyes, both teams never fail to show Panther Pride.
I am not a good dancer and get nervous when too many people watch me, so I fall in awe as I see the cheerleaders and the Poms team perform. Every time they do, they make what they do seem so easy and they do it with such ease. After speaking with Lessandra Rodriguez, a senior, who is one of the Poms team captains, she told me that performing can be nerve-wracking but practicing 3 times a week, sometimes more always helps the pre-performance jitters, which explains how they always do amazing job performing. But what makes them execute those great performances has less to do with the practice and more to do with the sisterhood and the bond these girls have with each other. Lauryn Barnett, a sophomore, told me that not all girls on the Poms team have experience with dance prior to joining Poms, but the relationship they have with each other makes these performances and being a part of Poms, worth it.
Being a cheerleader is not easy either. They practice 2 times a week with every practice for almost 3 hours, and no matter the weather conditions, they still show up to the games and do their best. At the homecoming game, it was really cold and it was raining the entire time, but the cheerleaders still cheered the entire game and gave a great performance at halftime. They have to memorize regular cheers and battle cheers since cheerleading is an interactive sport. In total, they have to memorize about 15-20 cheers. Leading up to the great homecoming performance, the cheerleaders practiced every day that week and they learned about 2-3 dances. According to Luna Benitez, a freshman, the best thing about cheerleading is the friendships and bonds that have been created because of it.
To conclude this article, after speaking with both Poms and Cheerleaders, I have even more respect for these two teams, and I think as a school, we should do a better job to show our appreciation for them. What they do may seem easy but it is far from it and it should be acknowledged.
