More than another sideshow, its the stepping stone to varsity
Nobody cares about junior varsity. This is the prevailing attitude of most high school students. We have the bleachers filled for the MVHS vs. Lynbrook varsity basketball games, but for the junior varsity game, just one or two supportive parents clap and scream for the Matadors.
When covering a varsity boys soccer game at home, I was walking down to the lower field in search of the varsity team when I saw two freshmen walking the opposite direction. Confused, I stopped to ask, “Is varsity playing on the upper or lower field?”
“The lower field.”
“Oh, where are you two going then?”
“We’re going to watch our friends on junior varsity play.”
I left for my game, but I realized that my belief in varsity sports as the only viable source of quality athletic entertainment was completely ignorant. All varsity players started somewhere, and that was often on the junior varsity team for their freshman, sophomore, and sometimes even junior year.
Not everyone has the time or opportunity to play sports growing up and junior varsity teams are composed of the hard-working, dedicated athletes who want to take their game to the next level.
I looked over at the professional sports world and wondered about what the minor leagues mean to the major league teams. Incidentally, a strong club will always have a exceptionally strong development program that provides the tools for success at the highest levels. The San Jose Sharks, for example, have an AHL division in Worchestor, Mass. on which they rely heavily for substitutes when there are injuries. The strength of the minor-league affiliate program that the San Jose Sharks have is what keeps them at the top of the NHL for much of the regular season.
Though the junior varsity athletes receive little to no recognition, they provide the foundation that is necessary for success in any high school athletic program. But when they are ready, these athletes will receive their share of glory at the varsity level, backed by the support of a loud, rowdy crowd.
