All athletes, pro, college, or high school, have superstitions, ranging from wearing a lucky jersey to having a lucky charm.
WHS also has many athletes who believe in different superstitions and go through different rituals before each game.
Said senior Kevin Galasso, a baseball player: “I always touch the center field sign before the game and I make sure to never step on the foul line during the game. I also have a certain pair of socks I make sure to wear if I am pitching that day.”
According to Galasso, his superstitions began when he began playing baseball in high school and some were passed down among other WHS baseball players over time.
Senior girls lacrosse Quad-Captain Elizabeth Cusick, said she wears an item of clothing for luck: she wears a sparkly headband so she can stand out from the other players.
Said Cusick: “I had a really good high school season and then an even better summer season that year so I became really superstitious that my headband had something to do with it. Ever since then I’ve always had to have one on before a big competition.”
Senior volleyball player Nicole Boretz’s superstitions differ from other athletes. Instead of wearing something lucky she drinks a special kind of tea the morning before a big game or perform a different routine to warm up.
According to Boretz, her whole family is very superstitious so when she was little, she started using different lucky charms when she was little to help her in a game.
Additionally, senior boys tennis Tri-Captain Justin Cafiero also has different superstitions. According to Cafiero, he re-grips his racket before every game and during states doesn’t change his underwear for good luck.
The girls softball team however, all have a combined lucky charm.
Said senior Tri-Captain Sarah Seitz: “The softball team closes their eyes and envisions a good game, hit or run. We also go around and then say one personal goal and one team goal.”
According to Seitz, the tradition started two years ago and they’ve kept it going ever since.
While these superstitions may or may not work, they pump up athletes for their game and give them the confidence to win.