WOODBURY — Coming into a new school not knowing many people can be intimidating for underclassmen who play sports, but sports are also helping underclassmen make new friends. 

“It was a little nerve wracking because I left all of my good friends, but coming here to Nonnewaug, everybody was welcoming, and I got to meet a lot of new friends,” says freshman Gianna DeLorenzo. “And sports definitely helped with making friends.”  

Although it was scary coming to a new school, sports helped DeLorenzo feel welcome.

“I feel like the upperclassmen have made me feel more comfortable on the softball team,” says DeLorenzo. “Especially coming up as a freshman, and our captains have been a good role model, especially Jade Rinaldi. She’s very kind. She loves to help others.”

“It was a little intimidating, but once you got to know them and liked to know their personalities and stuff,” says freshman Maryn Heinrich. “It really wasn’t that bad and you made a lot of new friends, which were really nice.”

Captains are especially important in this role.

“Our captains made me feel more comfortable when I was newer to the team,” says freshman Ashlynn Blum. “They made it feel like I had somebody to help me if I made a mistake or did not know what to do.” 

Some people find it nerve wracking or stressful to come to a new school but junior Jade Rinaldi thinks it’s all about mindset. 

“I feel like it depends on your mindset,” says Rinaldi.” It just depends on your whole confidence level going into it.”  

 When it comes to sports, underclassmen’s biggest fears are messing up or having someone better than you. 

“I was scared that people were going to be better than me,” says DeLorenzo. “Or some people are just going to be rude and just stuff like that.”