Out of the 238 athletes who played a sport this fall, only 10 could claim the coveted title: freshman on varsity.

Although Latin teams typically follow a no-cut policy, over two-thirds of the programs offer JV and/or freshman teams for athletes who aren’t ready for the level of competition that varsity teams play against. The structure makes it even more difficult for underclassmen—especially freshmen—to make varsity, as varsity teams tend to save spots for upperclassmen due to seniority and experience. As a result, usually only one or two Latin freshmen per sport make varsity every year. So when a freshman is placed on a varsity team, it’s a rare accomplishment.

Former Latin varsity soccer coach and Upper School math teacher Andrew Sanchez noted the rarity of a star freshman. “My expectation was that we [would] not have any freshmen,” he said. Mr. Sanchez joked that the only time that he would take a freshman was if they were a “unicorn” or a “freak athlete.”

However, when these expectations are inevitably broken, freshmen who earn a spot on varsity gain a significant advantage over the competition by developing an important quality that will guide them for the rest of their athletic careers—confidence.

Junior and varsity lacrosse captain Stofer Stineman joined the team his freshman year and played for the entirety of most of his matches, developing his skills through meaningful playing time. “Playing that much as a freshman was a big confidence boost and helped me develop much quicker,” he said.

Sophomore Francesca Mora shared a similar experience after making varsity cross country and track and field last year. “It definitely gave me some confidence knowing that I can still be a freshman and compete with other seniors from other schools,” she said. “I think that's really helped me stay confident for the rest of high school.”

The confidence these athletes gained wasn’t limited to only themselves—they became more confident in their team, too. Last year, three of Francesca’s teammates were also freshmen, consisting of one other girl and two boys. “We all can work together, knowing that the next three years of high school, we'll all end up being really good,” she said.

But why does having freshmen on varsity teams matter at all?

Not only do freshmen expand their athletic capabilities, but they also bring a fresh perspective on teamwork and leadership that motivates older players on the team to improve their own skills.

On the varsity girls tennis team, freshman Mary Huff, alongside fellow freshman Serene Alsikafi, brought this necessary perspective. “In some ways, like in a match, I can point out things that [my teammates] don’t see, or I can try to help them get better,” she said. “I think [Serene, another freshman, and I] kind of helped the team move farther along at State, Sectionals, and ISLs.”

In addition, playing with and against more skilled athletes pushes freshmen to become successful leaders later on. Senior and multi-sport captain Ariel Goodman said, “My time on the field and court beginning in my freshman year is the only reason that I have become as good as I have—leadership-wise and my physical abilities.”

The impact they have on their teammates is also evident from an outside perspective. “Sometimes having freshmen on varsity can light a fire under some upperclassmen,” Athletic Director Katie Johnson said. “I think it's kind of impactful to have that sort of … healthiness for the program.”

Even though the process of making the team is difficult, ninth graders can make all the difference. To Mr. Sanchez, freshmen on varsity are the "sprinkling on top."