With the start of the 2025-2026 winter sports season approaching quickly, OHS teams are getting hyped to start off their season with a bang. Many of the winter sports here at OHS are known for being fan favorites, and they are ready to show off.
Boys basketball has spent the summer and pre-season working hard to prepare for the upcoming season. Coming off hot from last season, they are prepared to carry over the same energy during the 25-26 season.
“The upcoming season looks amazing, we’re looking the best we ever have. Seriously, with the new transfers we have and the new schemes we have created around these players, we are looking better than the years before,” said Colton Watson, senior.
The OHS boys basketball team is notorious for having elite team chemistry that is seen both on and off the court. It’s undeniable that even at the start the boys basketball team doesn’t lack that bond.
“I look forward to watching them become an even closer team and family as the season starts up,” said Joshua Cole, head coach.
Overall for the boys basketball team the trust on the court is going to be a key factor in the team’s success as the season begins.
“We all love each other; we are all family; we are all brothers. It’s going to be really good this year,” Watson said.
Similarly, girls basketball is without a doubt ready for the upcoming season, preparing in order to take on their new national schedule.
“We’re on a national schedule this year, which is the first time the program has ever been a part of that. So we will be doing a lot of traveling with the girls, facing a lot of competition on a new platform,” said Charles Wilson, head coach.
Playing on a national schedule means lots of traveling- the OHS girls basketball team will be facing competition in Texas, Las Vegas and California.
“We have a great camaraderie, the schedule is really good, the traveling will be good for us,” Wilson said.
In order to prepare for the national competition, the girls basketball team has been putting in the extra work to ensure they are prepared for what’s ahead.
“We’re going to be good this year; our coach has been pushing us really hard. I’m looking forward to the games, and I’m looking forward to winning,” said Ava Schooler, junior.
Another strong component to the OHS winter sports powerhouse is the boys and girls wrestling team. Both teams are working hard in preparation for this upcoming season.
“We are working hard and getting better, especially through the pre-season. Everyone is getting stronger, and everyone is getting tougher,” said Andrew Lee, junior.
There are many mental and physical challenges wrestling brings, but the OHS wrestling program puts in the work to overcome these challenges.
“We’re working hard this season to prepare; we are overcoming any challenges presented and are ready to go,” said Cassidy Langford, junior.
Looking towards the outside sports, the OHS soccer program is back and ready for a great season. In particular, the girls soccer team is facing a new coaching staff that is setting them up for a successful season.
“We have a new coach this year which is going to be super great for us. I’m super excited for this season because the seniors have really stepped up, and we are going to make an impact this season,” said Shay Garraway, senior.
Despite the competitiveness of the girls soccer team, the team chemistry still shines through on and off the field.
“The team is really connected this year, it feels like so much more than a team. It feels like OC soccer is a family,” said Sydney Gregory, junior.
Just like girls soccer, boys soccer is also working hard to prepare for the upcoming season. Although the boys team last year didn’t have the turnout they wanted, they are ready for this season.
“Last year was a learning experience, we have workouts or field work every day, we have really been putting in the work and now we are ready,” said Chase Rockwell, junior.
In prior seasons, boys soccer didn’t have the results they wanted, but in the 2025-2026 season, they are out for “revenge.”
“I’m most excited for playing. We have the same schedule as last year, so we need to get our revenge. We need to play the teams we lost to last year so we can show what we have been working on,” said Ritvik Pawnikar, junior.
