Page 142 - 1989

138
IT'S NOT EASY BEING ON A TEAM
Just because he is on a team, he gets to leave the school right after lunch a couple of times a week. If that isn't enough, he gets to ride on a bus to some other school, walk in wearing his C.C.I. jacket and check out the females of the opposing school. He then gets to spend the afternoon playing basket- ball instead of working on a seminar like the others back at school. What's the most un- fair part of all? He gets to stop at McDonald's on the way home. Oh, to live the life of a member of a team!!!
Being on team might seem like a piece of cake, but if you ever watch one of the prac- tices or talk to a team member, you'll see that there's a lot more work involved than just playing during the championship games. Before the players ever see an op- ponent, there are hours and hours of prac- tices, often occurring during the worst weather conditions or at an hour when most of us are still in bed. Ask Rob Brown "Those early morning practices are terrible. They start at 7:30 a.m. and you have to get up at an unreasonable hour to stay awake!" Chris Fischer compares those practices to "a ship in a storm. You get out there, regret it and then eventually sink!"
Before you even get to go to these prac- tices, however, you have to make the team first. Try-outs are "strenuous. Sometimes
you feel like you are going to quit," states Rob. Chris' philosophy is that it's great if you make it, "but if you don't ... 'Don't worry, be happy' and try again next year."
Athletes are often plagued by injury. It could be a slight sprain. It could be a broken bone. In spite of the pain, Jay Grainger says that the worst part of being on the sidelines is "that you feel so inadequate. You feel like you aren't helping out. Mike Boucher finds that the one time you have an injury, "that's the time you feel like playing!"
So next time the person leaves your class early to go play a game, wish her well and remember ... It's not easy being on a team!
TOP AT.: Tony Mcintyre during a gruelling 3 hour football practice. MID. AT.: The Jr. football team loves to jog a few kilometers wearing full gear! BOT. AT.: Marl< Coulombe, a newcomer from London, was in- troduced to C.C.I. football by ripping the tendons in his leg early in the season. BOT. CENTRE: Although Marl< Leroux's broken leg kept him off the football field, it didn't dampen his spirit as he cheered on his fellow players during the Central game. BOT. LT.: Barb Lin- ton too was side-lined because of injuries, but this didn't stop her from cheering on her fellow B.Ball players.