There will be a major change in practicing this season for the indoor track team. Because Beaver Area High School has track members interested in running the indoor season, but no indoor track team of their own, they will be joining Freedom this year. There is a twist; even though the two teams will be coached together, they will be competing separately. This seems to be unfair logically, because if a team is coached the same, they will compete the same. It is just as if half of the Freedom indoor track team ran, threw or jumped against the other half of the team. Even though this is odd, this change is making some of the Beaver athletes excited for this season. “I’m really looking forward to have the opportunity to train with and compete against Freedom in winter track this season because I know Freedom is good competition,” Senior Zeesha Braslawsce from Beaver Area High School said. On another note, the cold weather plays a big part in practicing. The pole vaulting mat is all covered up. Because of this, they have to practice in the gym at Geneva College along with some kids from other schools. All of the other events are practiced outside. This is mostly because running can be done easily outdoors. Hurdlers, sprinters, throwers and long-distance runners stay after school until approximately 4 p.m. The throwers usually go outside, depending on wind. If it isn’t an outside practice, they go inside for technique. Unlike outdoor track, the only throwing event is shot put. For someone like Senior Richelle Fuller, it is different because she usually competes in shot put and discus. “Only doing one event for indoor is really rough because there are so many throwers, so you could either be throwing first or waiting for hours to throw,” Fuller said. Losing one of her events leaves her with a single one, but it doesn’t faze her. Working hard at practice makes the meets worthwhile. Fuller enjoys “seeing her throw go farther than what she has thrown before.” Even though this is a time for work and focus, fun is not illegal. “During practices we usually talk and joke around about the different exercises that we have to do, and at the meets we cheer for our teammates and eat food,” Senior Kelsie Matlick said. She said that meeting new friends and seeing them during the outdoor season “makes the competition less stressful.” Matlick enjoys going to meets and meeting new people, as do a few of the other members, including Sophomore Nate Lewis, who is excited to see his friends and pole vault with his fellow teammates.