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Football players run drills during the first day of fall sports practice at River Hill High School in Clarksville on Wedneday.
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The calendar read Aug. 15, but junior Michael Campanaro said it felt like Dec. 25.
“I only feel this way on big days, like Christmas,” he said. “I waited all year for this day. I barely slept I was so ready for this.”
Campanaro could hardly contain his excitement as the defensive back joined his River Hill football teammates on the field for the first practice of this season shortly after 8 on a sun-soaked, Wednesday morning. But he wasn’t the only one who couldn’t wait to take the first step toward a memorable season.
Wednesday marked the first day fall sports teams could practice at each of the state’s 188 public high schools. It was a day where girls and boys ditched their sandals for cleats, shirts for mesh practice jerseys and took the first step to becoming a football, soccer, field hockey, volleyball or cross country team.
“As far as I’m concerned, this is the first day of school,” River Hill senior linebacker Zach Martin said. “Last year is now officially last year and it’s time to move on, starting right now. Right now, all we’re focused on is winning a state title and I’m know there are a lot of other teams that feel the same way.
Here’s a look at the first day of practice at River Hill through the lens of Examiner photographer Chris Ammann.
Comments from Examiner Readers
1:07 AM MST on Tue., Feb. 12, 2008 re: "Frantz: High school athletes no longer immune to big-time pressure"
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Examiner Reader said:
College football has many devoted followers and a schools future success is dependent on the high school athletes it is able to recruit. College football fans follow their favorite schools reruiting efforts the same way NFL fans follow the draft and free-agent signings. The multitude of media outlets that cover sports pander to that interest by reporting and speculating on where the various college prospects are headed. It's hard to imagine the situation changing any time soon as long as there are multi-millions of college football fan(atic)s and the success of college football programs being so dependent on the high school athletes they recruit. It does shine a bright spotlight on kids who may not be ready for it, but whats the solution; a news moratorium on high school sports? Ultimately, its up to the parents to keep their kid's heads screwed on straight during the recruiting process.
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