As the air gets chilly, students start to bundle up, and with winter break peaking around the corner, it’s only reasonable for the sports teams to enjoy celebrating the 2025 year closing with holiday traditions while bonding as a team. After working hard all season, girls’ sports need some time to relax and have fun without focusing on their sport. Whether that’s doing gift exchanging or a potluck, each sport does these events a little differently to help pull the team closer together, inside and outside their sport.
In cheer, sophomore Sarah Davis says, “Cheer has a feast during 6th period where we all eat, do secret Santa, and play fun holiday games as a team.” Being a team means making new, fun memories as well. The cheer girls find it fun practicing for the winter rally and jamming along to the jolly Christmas music. Gift exchanging is also common during these holidays, as it can be seen as a test of how well you know someone, or to show someone your appreciation of them, since Christmas is about giving to those you love. Grace Rodriguez adds to that by saying, “Our team loves fidget toys and squishes, so we love giving some of them to Coach Lala for her birthday or for fun.”
In girls’ wrestling, sophomore Izzy Gomez says, “We have a secret Santa amongst our team to try to bring people closer.” Secret Santa is another form of gift exchange and is exciting for the reason of revealing that curious feeling of wondering what gift you’ll give and the gift you will get in return.
Engaging in fun games and activities is an entertaining way to bond with teammates, as shown by the girls’ water polo. Senior Maddison Luna remarks on what the team did last year, “We like to build gingerbread houses or do scavenger hunts around the pool.” These activities display the team’s sportsmanship and how well they work together to complete tasks at hand. These activities are enjoyable to do, but there is a deeper meaning to them. “This is a great opportunity for team bonding and to get closer to each other outside of the pool,” says sophomore Chloe Coe. These bonds outside the sport can be important for character growth and bringing differences together. As well as just getting to know one another more, especially if someone is new to the sport.
As we come to a close of 2025, these athletes can look back at all the never-ending laughs, unforgettable memories, and all the hard work they’ve put into making their season shine. The traditions they are doing bring them not only closer as friends, but closer as family, which they will cherish these moments forever, even after they graduate.
