“I have 21 or 22 kids that I’m comfortable having on the field at any time,” Hamrick said. “I can run them on and off the field and keep kids fresh while most teams will be losing their legs a little bit. We should be good to go.”

 

Hamrick said he found players entering this week’s tryout process in good physical shape.

 

“I could tell they’ve been playing the game. In fact, these kids are probably in better shape than any team I’ve ever had,” he said.

 

With less boys, Hamrick said there will be varsity only this year; no junior varsity.

 

“If I only had to run four or five on both varsity and JV, that would be OK, but this year there would be too many that would have to play both,” he said.

 

Returning seniors, which in addition to game skills will contribute good leadership, are Adam Bentz, Tyler Whiteman, Tristan Shaw, Trenton Shaw, Parker Shepherd, Logan Crayton and Massimo Menguito. Hamrick said he will miss his starting center mid, BHS junior Sam Stauffer, who after tearing his ACL in travel soccer, is out for the high school season. As of now, Hamrick plans to put junior Tristan Nolte in that position.

 

The Tribe kicks off the season Aug. 22 at Parkersburg High. The home opener is Aug. 24 as the Indians face Notre Dame.

 

The Lady Indian soccer team had 28 out this week; 14 of the players freshmen. Coach John Reese said both varsity and junior varsity teams will compete.

 

He, too, said he is seeing quality in his team early on.

 

“All our seniors have level heads and are good leaders,” Reese said. “We have Lacy Bryant, Catie Wilson, Kaitlin Smith, Katelyn Pinti, Olivia Oldaker and Madewa Adeniyi, who looked really good this summer.”

 

The Lady Indians open their season Aug. 18 at home against Winfield High School. After an Aug. 22 game on home turf against Parkersburg High School, the girls will be on the road, playing George Washington on Aug. 26.

 

The Indian golf team consists of nine players. Coach Fred Wilhelm, said his team will be ready for its debut match, Wed., Aug. 9 at Bridgeport Country Club. Returning golfers performing well are seniors Cooper Hineman, Braden Lesher and Josh Messe, as well as sophomore Matt Aman. As per WVSSAC guidelines, standout senior Mason Williams will be joining the Tribe golf team when he completes his summer competition circuit, 

 

"He's in Mississippi next week, then Virginia next weekend, then we can put him on the roster,"  Wilhelm said.

 

The Bridgeport High School cheer squad also organized for the season this past week. Coach Natalie Hathaway said she couldn’t be more pleased with the 14 girls who will be part of this year’s team.

 

“We are so excited about the girls we have. They are not only talented, but also very hard-working and positive, dedicated individuals,” she said. 

 

The squad has had a good time this week, preparing stunts and cheers for some Friday night football, Hathaway said. The season opener is Aug. 25 at Lewis County High School, after which the Indians are at home Sept. 1, facing Wheeling Park.

 

In addition to cheering for football and basketball seasons, the BHS cheerleaders will compete with an ultimate goal to earn a spot at states. Hathaway said she has no doubt that the girls’ talents will carry over to competition season. The WVSSAC Region 2 cheer competition is set for Nov. 4 (Class AA at 10 a.m.) at Robert C. Byrd High School.

 

“I am very thankful to have this group for my first year of coaching high school cheerleading,” she said. “We’re going to have an awesome year.”