Mariana Copeland

Angela Chen (11) gets ready to serve in a match against Ladue’s rival school, Clayton High School. Chen has been playing tennis since she was 8 years old. “I feel like [the rivalry] really pushed the players to try to their fullest because they didn’t want to lose,” Chen said.

Each season presents new players at Ladue High School as well as new players from existing rivals. This provides ample opportunity for athletes to show off their skills. Rivalries are a way for students to join in a collective spirit of competition in hopes of seeing their team triumph.

This year, varsity football anticipates competition from Lindbergh

High School as well as Parkway WestHigh School. Grisham Ravindranath (12), varsity football kicker, believes their main rival will be Kirkwood High School, who they face Oct. 17. “We are pretty close [in skill],” Ravindranath said. “The teams that give us a challenge and give us a good game, those I would say are good rivalries.”

Gabby Clinkscale (12), a member of the girls varsity volleyball team, expects competition from Clayton High School, who they play Sept. 16. “I think everyone always plays their best against [Clayton HighSchool],” Clinkscale said. “It’s all mental and willpower.”

Rivalries build morale within teams and schools and create exciting games that encourage students and staff to go all out.

“The atmospheres were amazing,” Ravindranath said. “Just playing in that stadium for my school was such an experience and the crowd was amazing.”

In most sports, physical preparation is necessary to make sure athletes are ready to face rivals. In girls varsity tennis, this often includes different forms of practice to improvespecific skills.

“We might do an extra practice or focus more on match play,” Angela Chen (11) said.

When facing rivals, mental preparation is also key to ensuring athletes are performing at their best.

“We tend to lock in more knowing that it all comes down to each point,” Ravindranath said. “We know we get bragging rights if we win.” Although each game in a season is unique, rival games particularly stand out to players and spectators.

“The difference for me with playing a rivalry game versus a regular team is that it’s all emotion and mentality,” Clinkscale said.