As the snow begins to melt and the weather gets a little warmer, spring shows clear signs of approaching Tabor. The end of winter means the start of one of the prettiest and most exciting times of year at Tabor. Spring, to students, means swimming or sunning by the waterfront, discarding tights and boots in favor of sandals, dining outside and, of course, the start of the spring sports season.
Before this season kick off at Tabor, however, the teams gather all across the country – and the world – to bond as teams and begin practicing together. They learn how to work together, hone their skills, and have a lot of fun together as they practice far away from their usual fields.
Baseball plays in Florida, and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse takes on Disney, practicing and playing against other teams. On their off days, they got the chance to explore the theme park and relive some childhood fun together.
“Having done the Florida trip all four of my years at Tabor, I feel like it helps the team bond,” says Molly Little, a captain. “I remember coming as a freshman. I was really scared going in to lacrosse season, so the Florida trip really helped me calm my nerves and get used to playing with a high school team.”
A real benefit of the trip, she says, are the games that they play in Florida.
“It’s great that the team gets to play together before some tough games in the regular season,” Little said. “So we can all figure out how to play together.”
In Clemson, South Carolina, the boys’ and girls’ crew teams gathered to row together. The teams each rowed twice a day, once in the morning and once in late afternoon.
“The conditions were amazing,” said senior Ellen Park. “It was so warm and so great rowing in the calm water. We all bonded, too. On the last night, we had a cookout for both the girls’ and boys’ program, and the whole trip was really fun.”
Senior Theo Warren agrees, saying that “the cookout was a great way to end the trip.” He loved spending six days with his teammates.
“The best part is spending time with the team and really getting to know the new kids,” said Warren. “The rowing was incredible, too.”
The sailing team spent their spring break across the Atlantic, in Ireland.
“It was an amazing time in an amazing place,” said team captain Nathalie Cavallo. “The top four teams (two from Ireland and two from U.S.A. – including us) were neck and neck for the most part.”
While this was the beginning of Tabor’s sailing season, the Irish and British teams sail all year around and were finishing up their season.
“It was a super exciting start to the season and a great way to test our skill,” said Cavallo. “They’re at their peaks, so we definitely had a lot of competition.”
Every team had a rewarding trip during which they created a strong team dynamic while playing the sport they love. As spring break winds to a close, the athletes are incredibly excited to head back to campus, ready to put into practice the new skills they learned. Equally important, they’re returning as teams, ready to tackle the season together.
By Madeleine Gregory