Managing the tryout jitters

Montell Salary and Kenneth Jackson

February 18, 2026

This image features Green Hope’s track at the brink of dawn.

Green Hope’s outdoor track team is known for its talented student-athletes. Ever since their debut in 2006, they have competed across the state to bring home more trophies than they left with. Since 2020, the school has inducted seven students into the hall of fame for their accomplishments during their season. Every year after 2023, the boys or girls team has competed in state-level conferences consistently, occasionally ranking nationally on top of that. The 2025 season came to a close with the girls’ team competing in New Balance Nationals at the University of Pennsylvania. Upcoming tryouts for the team are right around the corner, starting Feb. 18-20.

Undoubtedly, all these achievements of Green Hope’s outdoor track team have placed the expectations for those joining very high. With palpable pressure bearing upon newcomers’ shoulders, it’s only natural that they may feel anxious about being cut from the team. Freshman at Green Hope, Cole Davis (‘29), is one of these newcomers for the upcoming season. He stated, “I’m just a little bit nervous. Just because it’s hard to make the team, and they win a lot of awards.” This reason is far from unwarranted since there is no separation of varsity and junior varsity. There are plenty of other student-athletes racing for placement on the team, some more powerful and developed than others.

Freshmen are often deterred from trying out because of the school’s reputation for having such a strong team over the years. Logan Call (‘29), another freshman, was a member of the indoor track team and is planning on competing for the team. Call is confident in his ability to make the team but has doubts elsewhere; he stated, “There’s definitely gonna be new kids there from other schools who are faster, so it will be tough.” Competing with schools across North Carolina and outside of it will produce fierce competition for our team. Nevertheless, there is no reason why this season’s teams would prove weaker than those of previous seasons.

Ms. Julie Ross is the head coach for indoor and outdoor track, running for the school’s track team herself during her high school years. When she sat down with the Falcon, our staff asked what advice she would give to the nervous newcomers. She stated, “I would say you have to look at where you’re at among your grade level. That is a better comparison than trying to compare yourself with, if you’re a ninth grader and comparing yourself with a 10th grader.” Leaving this last quote behind as a motto for those to follow, “Hard work rewards those who do hard work when no one is watching. So it might be the week or two weeks before we have tryouts, are you getting out there and running or even doing pushups or sprints or anything to try and get yourself in shape? Or are you sitting around and waiting for tryouts to happen?”

Student-athletes will have to train diligently and apply themselves to ensure their spot among the track team of Green Hope. Even with the nervousness and uncertainty, the coach of the track team believes in them to come into her team with positive spirits and burning determination. With time, these young athletes will be able to soar high like falcons and achieve greatness with the track team as they work hard, bond and compete.

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About the Contributors

Montell Salary, Staff Writer

Montell Salary is a sophomore in Green Hope and this year is a staff writer in journalism. He discovered journalism during covid and has decided to pursue it in his second semester of his sophomore year. He is the eldest son of his household and has a dog, but when he’s not at school or studying at home, he is usually found doing extracurricular activities with HOSA and the Red Cross. With journalism, he hopes to bring back trust in medical care, and plans to write about affordability and safety. He also hopes to pursue a career in healthcare after high school. With people in the future willing to put their lives in his hands, he is assuredly trustworthy with the stories he writes for the GH Falcon.

Kenneth Jackson, Staff Writer

Kenneth Jackson, a freshman, brings his prior love for journalism forward to the Falcon staff, gathering experience firsthand through podcasting camps & his aunt’s journalist career. His schedule is expected to get heavier, seeking extracurricular experience to strengthen his student resume. Believing the field is irreplaceable by a mechanical hand, Kenneth sparks conversations over current events to see how individuals feel. “I believe the more we talk, the more connected the world will become since our isolation from the pandemic,” he says. As a new staff writer for the Falcon, he is confident that his prior experience makes him an excellent choice. Hoping to outperform his peers here and pursue the field in college as a major.