Volleyball:

After finishing their 2023 season with a 5-19 record, the girls volleyball is hoping to slam the competition. With Coach John Gardener stepping down as head coach, Jamie Sanchez will be taking over the reins.

Sanchez was the assistant coach for the squad last season. According to senior Sophia Herrera, Sanchez was somebody that the team could always look up to. “He [Sanchez] has been an amazing role model to us,” Herrera stated. “We have been conditioning since July to prepare for the upcoming season, all of which was organized by our coach.”

Friend and teammate of Herrera, Amelia Wusterbarth explained that the team’s conditioning was a great way to bring the team together after a long offseason. “Those sessions allow for everyone to meet each other too so that we can hopefully play better as a team,” Wusterbarth added. “I’ve further developed leadership and communication skills throughout my time playing.”

After a torn hamstring towards the end of her junior year, Herrera has been a big advocate for proper exercise and maintenance on her team’s bodies. “I’ve learned the importance of taking care of my body, listening to your body and its signs to slow down once in a while is my biggest advice,” Herrera noted.

Improvement was the main focus of the team this offseason and according to Wusterbarth, the team has come together for the sole purpose of, “having a positive mindset no matter what happens.”

The team will unite on the court for the first time in an away match against Island Coast High on Tuesday, August 13th at 5:30pm. They will be at home on the 28th against Oasis at 6:00pm.

Football:

The football team broke out early last season, winning four straight; all of which were at the nest in front of the student body. However, the team struggled on the road and lost the next six games, ending their season with a 4-6 record.

Multiple seniors graduated over the offseason including Derrick Oge, Markus Solano, and Joshua Kelly. While the veteran core pieces may be gone, the team has managed to fill shoes and to an extent improved.

Cape Coral High alumni Jaylen Watkins decided to return to the nest to assist with coaching behind the bench. Watkins will bring NFL experience to the team as he has played 53 games in his career, along with the acquisition of a superbowl victory in 2018.

Starting quarterback Ivan Harvin said in an interview that he is extremely excited for this opportunity he has been presented with. “It’s definitely a blessing for me and my teammates to have someone with the resume he has to play behind,” Harvin explained.

“He gives us gems and knowledge on and off the field which me and my teammates greatly appreciate. Very excited and thankful for him to come back to his alma mater and give back.”

Over the offseason, the team has been working on becoming more of a “family” as stated by Harvin which means being more responsible for their actions. “Being more disciplined, and living by the standard we set for ourselves,” said Harvin. 

“Being on time and showing up for whatever it is we have is number one then accountability. We hold each other accountable with issues on and off the field.”

The team’s goal this year is to find a way to the state championship in Tallahassee and with the hard work they have put in throughout the offseason, these hopes may come true.

The excitement begins with the home opener on August 23rd against county rival North Fort Myers High. The game begins at 7:30pm so make sure to arrive early to watch the team introduction.

Bowling:

Last year may have been the most dominant year that Cape Coral High has ever seen from the bowling team. The boys went 14-0 and the girls went 13-1. Multiple bowlers were advanced to the singular rounds where they put up dominant numbers as well.

Senior bowler Haruna Mescallado was super proud of the team’s accomplishments last year and can’t wait to begin a new chapter. “The entire team, boys and girls, were able to move on to the state competition and I’m so proud of us,” said Mescallado. “Overall we were really strong and I know it’ll continue with the next season.”

Over the offseason, some of the players took on bowling leagues outside of the school to prepare for their upcoming tournament towards the beginning of the season.

Girls Head Coach Anthony Foster is entering his second year as a full time coach for the bowling team. According to Foster, he is looking forward to advancing even further in contention with the experience he gained last year.

“I learned a lot of things not only about the team but also how the season, districts, and state tournament work,” said Foster. “I am looking forward to continuing the progress we made with the returning bowlers and bringing up the new bowlers for a strong season. Expectations are high.”

While the team did lose important pieces over the offseason, they are still looking to be competitive and potentially go further than last year. “This year we have the same goal; except we want to take first place at districts this year,” Foster stated. 

“We have 4 returning bowlers who started or had significant playing time. We will have a few new additions to the team, and I am excited to see them excel.”

One thing that drives the team to success is the fans who support our bowlers. According to Mescallado, Seahawk support was the main driving force to their accomplishments last season. “Thank you for all your support, it’s really uplifting to know that people care and want to see us do well,” Mescallado stated.

Golf:

While not as popular as some of the other sports at Cape Coral High, the golf team has been one of the most successful. In their last season on the course, the team put up a spectacular 10-3 record; even with a shortened roster, the golfers still managed to succeed.

Unlike other teams, the golf squad lost little to no players in the offseason. As a result, they plan on making another run for regionals. However, to get there, the team needed to practice months before the season began.

Senior golfer Zachary Distel stated that the team has been keeping their skills to a max with yearly training. “We’ve all done our own practice, playing by ourselves at local courses,” said Distel. “Just getting out there everyday like it’s a new day and having fun.”

The team acquired new players in the offseason, with the acquisition consisting mostly of freshmen. With a large portion of the team consisting of seniors, the freshmen will have large shoes to fill eventually. However, Distel believes that, with the experience he has had, the freshman won’t find it hard at all.

“I have hope with the new freshmen as well,” Distel explained. “I believe the team has helped me improve a lot, increasing my confidence in the game and decreasing my score.”

According to senior Evalyn Klein, the coaches have been helping out the freshman with their transition into the team. “There are quite a few new players but this year there is lots of individual and team practice as we start this season,” Klein stated. “Lots of support and assistance whenever they need it.”

With the large amounts of practice the golf team has partaken in, expect another dominant year. The Seahawks will host their first match at the Cape Royal Golf Course on August 26th in which they will take on Cypress Lake High.