By Danny Cohen ’15, Staff Writer

Throughout the history of interscholastic sports, freshmen have largely been ignored.  Younger and less experienced, these athletes face many disadvantages as they compete at the varsity level.  Even today, most freshmen simply do not get an opportunity to play for a varsity team.  At larger high schools, some coaches do not allow even the most talented freshmen to play at the varsity level.  Other coaches will only rarely give roster spots to freshmen.  Due to the presence of many older and more experienced players, most athletes will spend their first year playing for a freshman or junior varsity team, before finally receiving the opportunity to play at the varsity level as a junior or a senior.  However, at Newark Academy, because of a smaller student body, many freshmen get an opportunity that they wouldn’t have at many other schools.  Over the past few years, we have seen an increasing number of freshmen contribute for the Minutemen at the varsity level immediately.

Sanya Bery ’17, the starting forward for the field hockey team, is a great example of a freshman who is making an immediate contribution.  She has been playing field hockey since she was in fourth grade, and she plays all year round.  Even though she is a freshman, she plays like a much more seasoned player.  “I have a lot of experience and I can create a lot of plays on the attacking side and on defense,”  she said.  Sanya also commented on the friendly atmosphere that is created for freshmen at Newark Academy, especially on the field hockey team.  “We are a young team with eight freshmen.  The upperclassmen encourage us and make us feel welcome.”  Sanya’s teammates are outspoken when it comes to her contributions to the team.  Senior captain Maia Yoshida said, “She’s a great addition to the field hockey team.  She always knows where to be at the right time and it very knowledgeable about the game because of her experience.  I love working with Sanya.”

Another freshman who has fit right in on the varsity team is soccer star Nathaniel Charendoff ’17.  Nate has been playing soccer since he was four years old, and like Sanya, he plays his sport year-round, on a club team called NJSA.  Nate is the starting center midfielder for the Minutemen, and he says that his role on the team is to “win headers on goal kicks and corner kicks, control the tempo of the game, distribute the ball, and score goals.”  Although it may be difficult to be on the same field as players who are older and bigger than he is, Nate embraces the challenge.  “It’s a great experience to play with and against older kids.  I have to be smart.”  Junior teammate Abraham Ratner raves about Nate’s talent and soccer instincts, saying “Nate has a knack for gliding through defenders with the ball at his feet like they’re not even there.  He’s been a huge presence offensively.”

Freshmen are also contributing on the other Newark Academy fall sports teams.  Paige Kolek ’17 and Dana Press ’17, members of the girls’ soccer team, have earned notable playing time since the outset of their varsity careers. Each has proven to be a worthy addition to the varsity team.  Freshman Matt Lim, a member of the cross country team, recently won the Essex County Freshman Championship Race, and has shown a lot of promise as a young star. Freshmen Rakhi Kundra and Jocelyn Tolpin have done an excellent job as the second doubles team for the Minutemen Girls’ Tennis squad. Athletes like these are the future of Newark Academy athletics, and we can look forward to watching their growth over the next few years.

As we have seen at Newark Academy, freshmen with enough talent and determination can make an immediate impact on their teams.  They gain valuable experience and knowledge, which will contribute to their future development.  The Academy will enjoy increasing contributions from standout athletes such as Nathaniel and Sanya for the next three years.  Along with the rest of the athletic freshmen, their continued development is certainly promising for the Minutemen athletic program.