Work Conquers All: Fall Teams Build Chemistry in Preseason

Most students moved in on Aug. 21, but some made an early journey back to Shreveport. Whether it was practicing on Atkins Field or spending extra time in the Gold Dome, many dedicated student-athletes were ready to begin their seasons.

The Centenary Women's Soccer Team after successfully completing an escape room. The Ladies are one of many teams who have built team chemistry this fall preseason.

On Aug. 12, Centenary student-athletes moved back to campus, and began preseason shortly afterward. But what does preseason entail? Many teams played scrimmages, participated in two-a-days and held team dinners. Practicing in the heat and under the lights is designed to prepare these teams for the upcoming season and reveal where they stand.

While most students stayed at home preparing for the upcoming semester, fall athletes built a routine. One of the main focuses of this year’s preseason was building chemistry with new teammates, including freshmen and transfers.

For the football team, chemistry has been especially important. Junior captain Gideon Bowman said the team’s biggest focus this preseason has been “mastering the fundamentals, loving the process, and playing as a team.”

This past season, Centenary football celebrated its second season as a varsity team since introducing the program to the college. Last year, they finished 1-8. However, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) recently ranked them third in its preseason poll.

Through the ups and downs of preseason, the team has taken a fundamental Centenary lesson with them. Bowman said the biggest lesson the team has learned during the preseason is simple: “Work Conquers All.” For the Gents, that mindset will carry into their season opener on September 5th at home against Westgate Christian. 

Football is not the only sport using preseason to build chemistry and set expectations for the season. The Centenary women’s soccer team has also used the early weeks to find its identity. 

Recently, the women’s soccer program has experienced a major coaching change. After serving as an assistant coach last season, Merlin Campagna was named head coach this year. She will be joined by new assistant coach Ana Ramos.

Senior captain Sarah Crenshaw said the team’s biggest focus during preseason has been “finding our identity as a team and figuring out how to use our strengths to play our best soccer together.” 

With the addition of new coaches, freshmen and transfer students, the team has made a promising start. The hard work has already paid off, as the Ladies have opened the season with two wins against Wiley College and Northeast Texas Community College, after finishing 1-14-3 last year. 

The women’s soccer team will look to continue its strong start when it faces Belhaven on Sept. 1 at 6pm on Atkins Field.

The men’s soccer team has also entered the season with changes to its coaching staff and a new system to learn.

Joe O'Sullivan was promoted to head coach after serving as an assistant while former Centenary player Sam Brocato joined the coaching staff as an assistant after graduating in the spring.

The men's team has strong returners, including captain Hayden McConnell, who earned All-District honors last season. 

McConnell shared the team's biggest focus for the upcoming season: “getting everyone on the same page and adjusting to the new system.”

The team also has a strong new class of freshmen and transfers. McConnell credits them for bringing in a lot of energy and competition, even sharing “they make everyone compete harder for their spot.” 

With the new players integrating well and a staff of new coaches, the Gents plan to come off of  a 7-9 season and “put themselves in a position to play postseason soccer.”

Join the Gents on Thursday, Sept. 3 when they host Schreiner on Atkins Field at 7pm.

For some teams, preseason means building on what they already know. For Centenary volleyball, it means building something almost entirely new. 

This season, the Ladies have added new head coach Claire Hiler, a seasoned coach with nearly five years of head coaching experience.

Hiler tells the team to “respect all, fear none,” an antidote that players have already embraced.

Sophomore Aley Dixon shared that, with the team being almost completely new, it is important to trust yourself and have less fear. Along with that, Dixon says that the biggest focus right now is learning each other and how they work as a team.

Nearly half of the Ladies volleyball team are new members. With a new coach and almost completely new team, they focus on building chemistry.

Their new found chemistry has already shown up in moments away from the court.

Dixon shared a memory of the scrimmage film session they recently had,  saying “We all have such big personalities, so it was really fun getting to watch everyone's mistakes, celebrate our good play and laugh at all the silly moments we had between sets.”

That confidence in each other and the memories of a great preseason will help the team with their final goal to rewrite their history and change the direction of the program.

Dixon shares that she believes every game is an opportunity to prove themselves.

McConnell puts it best, “the little things matter.” Centenary’s fall athletes have spent the past few weeks putting all of the little things together. Whether it was adjusting to new coaches, welcoming new players, or finding their identity as a team, they have what it takes to succeed. 

Bowman put it even more simply: “Work Conquers All” the translation of Centenary’s motto, Labor Omnia Vincit. For Centenary’s fall athletes, the work put in during preseason is only the beginning. Now, they get the chance to show what that work can do when the games begin.