The fitness test is about speed, but it’s also a mental game. First, the players run three quarters of a mile in four minutes and 45 seconds with a two-minute rest. Then, they run three quarters of a mile in four minutes and 15 seconds with a three-minute rest. They finish off with a mile run in under six minutes. The captains lead the team, setting the pace that will allow them to finish on time. The coaches observe their athletes, taking note of the player who finished first and the player who finished last. 

“The fitness test shows who cared enough to run and work hard over the summer,” sophomore soccer player David Erickson said. “For me, it was not an option to not pass the test.”

While fall sports do not hold official practices over the summer, many athletes find time between internships, jobs and beach visits to polish up and complete individual training on their own. No coaches. No schedules. No accountability. It’s up to the athlete to decide how prepared they want to be for the start of the season. Some sports allow their athletes to ease back into practice while others, like men’s and women’s soccer, hold a fitness test on the first day back.

“As much as I dread it and don’t want to do it, I think it [pushes] you to practice and really get to that mark,” sophomore soccer player Halle Foster said. “I think it definitely improved our fitness as a team compared to last year.”

For some athletes, this summer was a time of rest and reflection. For others, the off-season didn’t mean time away from their sport.

“I played on a coed soccer team with some adults,” senior soccer player Izzy Smith said. “I found the joy of playing soccer again instead of it just being competitive for college.”

Captains have been chosen and new freshmen have arrived, changing the dynamics of the teams. Less than a month into the season, new players have adjusted to a college workload and figured out where they fit on the team. 

“The team has been so welcoming,” freshman cross country runner Shalom Sulungaine said. “I feel like I’ve already found a really good community.”

Freshmen bring new opportunities to a team. This year, the women’s volleyball team has three freshmen. To put that in context, the graduating class of 2023 came in with 17 freshmen. The men’s golf team only has one freshman while the men’s soccer team has ten. Three of the ten freshmen have already started on varsity at least once this season. 

“I think the biggest challenge we will face as a team is figuring out what roles everyone is going to fill,” senior volleyball player Dani Friedges said. “If you are a junior and you haven’t stepped on the court yet, now is your time to shine.” 

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Every team has its biggest rivals. For football it’s St. John’s University. Volleyball’s highest-stakes matches are against Gustavus Adolphus College and Northwestern University. Unfinished business from seasons past carries into this new year, and the athletes can feel it. 

“The team I’m looking forward to playing the most is St. Olaf,” senior soccer player Lucas Johnson said. “Finishing 0-1 in the 87th minute last year, that one hurt, so I’m just excited to play against them.” 

Last year, the men’s golf team finished second in the MIAC to St. John’s University. With a second-place trophy sitting on the shelf, there is anticipation for what’s to come this year.

“The third day of the tournament we blew a decently-sized lead and ended up losing to St. John’s,” junior golfer Jack Wellen said. “I think there’s a lot of drive for everybody to work really hard so we don’t have to go through that again.” 

But for many athletes, playing isn’t always about keeping a perfect win-loss record. Faith comes into the picture as they perform on the field and prepare during practice. 

“We want to win in a certain way, with love, humility and grace,” fifth-year soccer player Isaac Howell said. “So in some of those hard moments in games that don’t go our way or even in our good wins, we don’t want to lose perspective of the reason why we play.”

For the seniors on the teams, it’s a bittersweet beginning to their final season wearing a Royals jersey. It’s a last chance to make an impact on the team and get as far in the playoffs as possible.

“I know it’s going to be hard to say goodbye. But with the team we have now, there’s already so much laughter, so much joy and so much freedom,” Smith said. “I feel like I can play with everything I have for this last year and for them as well because they’re going to be doing the same.”

It’s that time again. Bleachers are filling, concession stands are opening and the players are getting ready. Ready for the competition and the anticipation. The energy of a crowd coming together as one. Ready for the easy wins, hard losses and close calls. The Royals are ready to run it back.