The Avon Pirate football season began last Friday, August 22, when the Pirates defeated Coleman-Egan; the final score was 38-0! We took the time to interview two of our football players, Grayson Ratzlaff and Braylon Fathke. They are both juniors this school year.

Grayson Ratzlaff, who is number 2, has been playing football for six years. Grayson is playing running back this season. His game day hype up song is “Low Down.” His favorite thing about football is playing in the games under the Friday night lights.

Braylon Fathke, number 27, has been playing football for six years. Braylon's positions are “safety” and “tight end'. His game day hype song is “Champion.” Braylon's favorite thing about football is getting to talk to everyone.

Cross Country - Interview Conducted by Nic Brandt and Alex Chaisson

Cross Country is in full swing. We asked Rance Kuhlman, a junior at AHS, some questions about the sport. When we asked about his favorite part about cross country, he said that traveling to and running at meets is the best part. While attending meets is his favorite, “waking up early for practice” is Rance’s least favorite part of the season. He most looks forward to the region meet.

Volleyball – Interview by Anna Lupi and Jeanah Ratzlaff

Three members of the lady pirates volleyball team – a senior, a sophomore, and a freshman – shared their thoughts ahead of the new season. They all expressed high hopes, expecting success, stronger team bonding, and more effort during both practice and matches. Compared to last year, they noticed an improvement in team attitude and physical condition. One of them, experiencing high school volleyball for the first time, highlighted the change in team dynamics with older players and a new balance between school and sports.

All three athletes have been playing volleyball since middle school, with favorite positions ranging from outside hitter to libero and right front. When it comes to pre-game rituals, listening to music is a common habit, though not everyone follows a specific routine. One of their favorite memories was a fun team sleepover in the gym, while another recalled a perfect spike during a match..

As for drills, each player enjoys something different: from deep hit tips to 15 touches and footwork exercises. During practice, they each have a preferred teammate who helps push them to do their best. Overall, their answers reflected enthusiasm, growth, and strong team spirit as the new season begins. So, let’s get ready for the new season and wish good luck to our girls!