Mauldin High School - Reflections Yearbook (Mauldin, SC)

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Bedtime for Bonzo Varsity football team players sack out before their weekly Friday night game. The players enjoyed the rest period after a hot meal in the school cafeteria. iPhoto by Todd Harshbargerl Deliver me from temptation . . . Members of the Maverick soccer team huddle around second year coach, Gregg Snoad. The team said the I.ord's Prayer before each game to prepare for the upcoming match, iPhoto by Todd Harshbargerj Chow Time Maverick wrestlers chow down before an upcoming match against Eastside. Team members often went on eating binges after each wrestler had weighed in. iPhoto by Todd Harshbargerj Mauldin! Mauldin! Mauldin! The Lady Mavs take a short pause to plan their strategy. Coach George Youstra prepared his team mentally as well as physically before each game. iPhoto by Todd Harshbargerj Feaww 157

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here's A Whole Lot Of Shakin' Goin, n! The buzzer sounded signaling the time out. The clock had run down to its final two seconds. The game was tied. Calmly, he stepped to the foul line. All he had to do was sink it. As the noise of the crowd died, a quiet hush settled over the entire gym. All eyes were focused on him. I've gotta do it, he thought. Lowering his eyes, he bounced the ball. Once. Twice. The sound of the ball hitting the floor echoed through the gym. Then, slowly looking up, the ball left his hands. He stood and watched for what seemed an eternity as the ball sailed through the air to- wards the basket. Pressure situations are encountered in any sport, and Mauldin athletes were no exception. The pressures, the tense moments and the do-or-die situ- ations conditioned student athletes not only physically, but also mental- ly. Maverick athletes had to be ready to perform and being ready meant hours of preparation before hand. The boys' soccer team along with the varsity baseball team prepared for upcoming games by huddling the team and saying the Lord's Prayer. Jimmy Piller, pitcher for the Mav- ericks said, I don't get nervous, I get anxious - I just want to play well. Members of the cross country and track teams found the best way to be sharp for their meets was to be alone. A lot of people go off by them- selves and clear their minds, said Nancy Cason, State Cross Country Champion. It helps calm them before they run. The varsity girls' basketball team also had a quiet time. We go into the team room and sit and think about 156 I-'ealim what we've gotta go out and do, said forward Mary jones. - Unlike teams that sat quietly before their games, some Mauldin teams practiced right up until game time. The softball team took batting and fielding practice and ran sprints up until time for the team cheer. Tabetha Stephens, pitcher for the Lady Mavs said, We always huddle and yell TEAMWORK before we hit the field, it's our team motto. The football team also practiced be- fore their games. They did warm-up drills to prepare physically, then re- tired to the team room for a team talk to psyche them mentally. Through quiet times, gentle re- minders and hard work, coaches trained their athletes to deal with their pre-game jitters. David Sutton, senior tennis player said, I don't feel pressure most of the time, pressure is only when you doubt your own ability. Alicia Brown and Diana Thompson The Thrill of Victory . . . No matter what the sport, Maverick Coaches strived to make play- ers realize that winning was more than just a feeling. iPhoto by Todd Harshbargerj

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