Inside Team Takeover: A Grassroots Journey - Week 8 Recap
Back at Sidwell Friends, Week 8 brought us to the Team Takeover open tryout, and the gym was crowded with young players eager to make a statement. This wasn’t just another practice, it was a packed tryout, open to the public, and the energy was on a whole different level.
The coaches brought everything from Weeks 1 through 7 into this session. The first hour was all about intensity, with a warm-up that tested the kids' endurance from the start. They ran sprints, dropped for push-ups, and bear crawled across the court, pushing themselves to their limits. The effort was real, and you could tell each player wanted to prove they belonged.
The second half was drill focused, starting with the 3-man weave and then diving into a 5 on 5 game. With so many players rotating in and out, every moment on the floor counted. The kids had to stay sharp, ready to step in and show what they’d learned over the past two months. It was inspiring to watch the determination, the hustle, the willingness to leave it all out there.
It’s bittersweet that this journey has come to an end, but I’m grateful to have witnessed their growth and resilience. Seeing the confidence these players have gained from Week 1 until now has been incredible. It’s been an honor capturing their progress and watching them push themselves week after week.
To every player who showed up, gave it their all, and embraced the grind, thank you. This may be the end of this chapter, but for these young athletes, it’s just the beginning.
