During the fall semester, Uni offers a variety of no-cut sports to students across grade levels, including volleyball, soccer, and cross country.
Below, coaches and athletes reflect on the start of the season and what to expect as the semester progresses.
Girls Volleyball
Uni’s girls volleyball team started the season with a home game against Salt Fork High School on Aug. 26.
Although the match resulted in a 2-0 loss, head coach Steve Ashwill says the game allowed him to see where the team can improve.
“We want the girls to have fun, learn as much volleyball as they can,” Ashwill says. “Enjoy the season, and hopefully win a few games.”
The team has a major tournament on the horizon, with four games in one day. Ashwill says these games, along with senior night, will be the most anticipated games of the season.
Ashwill says the new Kenney Gym floor is one of the biggest changes this season.
“It’s just nice to have something to be proud of when your opponents come in,” says Ashwill.
Uni volleyball’s next home game is against Calvary Christian Academy on Sept. 9.
Subfreshmen Co-ed Cross Country
The only fall sport offered to subfreshmen is Co-ed Cross Country. The team is coached by Cynthia Smyser, the freshman biology teacher.
Smyser says she wants her students to win but to also have fun at practice and enjoy being a part of the team.
Daniel Lawrence, a subfreshman, finished first at the Uni time trial at the Arboretum. He was faster than his subfreshmen teammates and also faster than all of the high school cross country boys.
Smyser says it’s a pleasure to see the kids go from being kind of timid and feeling they can’t do things to gaining confidence and stamina, and really killing it by the end of the season.
Subfreshman cross country’s next meet is away against Jefferson Middle School on Sept. 10.
High School Co-ed Cross Country
Uni’s high school co-ed cross country team is coached by Kyle Hummel, Uni’s Athletic Director.
Hummel says the best way to support the team is to come out to the two home meets hosted at the Arboretum on Sept. 18 and Oct. 7.
This year the boys side lost the top seven runners who were all seniors last year; however, things are looking up with new freshmen coming into the team, he says.
The girls side missed state last year just by a little bit; however, they look promising for this year, he says.
The first of the two home meets is on Sept. 18 at the Arboretum, which is a potluck meet and senior night.
Girls Swim
Uni’s girls swim team kicked off the season with a meet on Aug. 23.
Carol Hartman, assistant coach, says in an email that her goals for the season are helping Uni’s swimmers “improve their technique, conditioning, strength, and race times.”
On Sept. 3, Uni had a meet against Central High School, where Uni senior Annika Deschler placed second in the 50-meter freestyle, senior Citlali Rundall Madrigal placed second in the 500-meter freestyle, freshman Rissah Kumar placed fourth in the 200-meter freestyle, and Lena Miller placed fourth in the 100-meter freestyle.
Both Hartman and head coach Meghan Mansfield are new to coaching Uni’s swim team. Hartman says the swimmers have “done a great job adjusting to new coaches and settling into a new routine.”
Hartman says she’s most excited for Uni’s home meet at the Activities and Recreation Center on Oct. 18.
“The season is still young, so I’m sure there will be many more memories both in and out of the pool,” Hartman says.
Boys Soccer
Uni’s boys soccer team, coached by Joe Krehbiel and James Krehbiel, opened the season off with a huge 6-1 win against Calvary Christian Academy.
Joe Krehbiel says they had 15 seniors graduate last year, making the team pretty new; the main goal for this season is to start fresh and focus on rebuilding while still remaining competitive.
On the field, the team is led by seniors Aldo Zepeda and Robert Tu. Zepeda says the main goal is to win regionals this year and collect all the “infinity stones,” meaning beat all the teams in the surrounding area.
Both Joe Krehbiel and Tu encourage people to come out to the games against local high schools such as Champaign Central High School and Centennial High School.
Boys soccer’s next home game is on Sept. 11 against Arthur Christian School.
