West Anchorage High School is an athletic powerhouse. The Eagles ball out year-round bringing home wins and championships on the daily, and training hard in the off-season is an integral part of maintaining their success.

This new year the Eagle’s baseball and softball teams have been working incredibly hard during the off-season in the weight room, in the gym, and of course, the classroom. Both these teams have experienced players, and have built experience of the game these last few years.

Captain of the softball team, Rebecca Syrup, thinks the Eagles are set up for one of their best seasons yet. The Lady Eagles softball team are led by senior captains, Syrup, and Beverly Larson.

Syrup was available for comment on the life of a student athlete. “I think it’s a lot of time management, you’ve got to do a lot extra, focusing on school, homework, and practice, it takes a lot, but if you work hard and focus you can accomplish your goals.”

Larson commented on the upcoming softball season. “We’ve got a young team, but at practices so far we’re looking good for the coming year,” she says.

A few of the captains and senior returners of the West High Baseball team are Thomas Zettler, Sterling Wanamaker, and Sam Joling. Joling will be returning for his third year on varsity, and his second year as a starter.

Zettler has been on West’s varsity since his freshman year, and he has been a starter since sophomore year. Zettler says, “We’ve got some experienced coaches and players, looking to build of momentum last year that took us to the semi’s and make it to the championship game.”

Wanamaker has been on varsity since sophomore year, and started for his entire junior season. “I’ve played with these boys the last few years, some since little league, and I think this is our year, ready to bring home the title,” says Wanamaker.

Another sport that requires a lot of off-season training is football. Led by coach Tim Davis, the Eagles are looking to come back to the state championship and bringing home the state title for the fall season.

The football team works hard in the off-season in a 7th hour class led by the football coaches where they hit the weight room four times a week. In the football off-season the Eagles also focus on success in the classroom, and have study hall led by football coaches and teachers two times a week.

The last two football seasons the Eagles battled from a tough start back to state championship game, and lost by one score both games. The Eagles are looking to build on this momentum this year in the offseason through their seventh hour workouts, and after school study hall, and bring home that state title.