SEATTLE- O’Dea High School, the rare institution with a unique experience given to all who have the blessing to attend. There is a phrase echoed around quite a lot in the halls of O’Dea, “brotherhood”. But how does it affect the extremely successful tradition for sports them.
The brotherhood is seen every day at O’Dea. No matter if it’s in our unique “House System” or just in everyday interactions. Kids are brought into mentor groups the second they step on campus. It brings everyone together with a bond built over 4 years. With that being said, teammates have had the chance to get to know each other as well as compete with and against one another before they even get on a field for the first time.
This proved extremely important for the 2023 baseball team. They continued the success of O’Dea’s historic baseball team by winning 3rd place in the metro league as well as the state tournament. They finished their season 17-11 but that was never just a smooth sale. The team started the season 2-6, no one would have thought it would be possible for such a record to turn around. Everyone was playing for themselves, and it was rough to watch. But one morning, at 7am hitting, the team had a meeting. They decided they did not want their name to be written in the books as negatively as the season seemed at that point. So, from then on, the brotherhood kicked in.
The team had a change of tone in everything they did and the ways they interacted. They had a lot more fun and played for one another to be successful and not just themselves. Because they knew if everyone around them was doing well, they would too.
There are many different points you could think of being pivotal, but the starting Designated Hitter, Jedediah Stange-Tregear, had this to say. “I think losing to Sealth in a long game had an effect on everyone, we hadn’t lost to them in 20 or so years and the way it happened left a sour taste in our mouths”.
Stange-Tregear’s words prove true as the team stacked 17 wins over the course of the season after that. He also states, “I think last years’ experience will help because we have 8 of our 9 returning starters so we know how to handle ourselves from the start”. So, it will be exciting to see what the team can pull through this coming season.
You could also say that the experience of the coaching staff would help the team feel more comfortable in rough situations. Head Coach, Michael Doyle has taken 4 teams to state championships as well as countless other tournament appearances for both the metro league and state playoffs. Not to mention Coach Patterson and Coach Pierre who experienced many teams as players as well as coaches. So, they know how to lead a team well.
It’s safe to say that the brotherhood truly helps O’Dea’s teams succeed and will continue to do so throughout the years. There is a lot of returning talent as well as up and coming players that will continue to build the success of the brotherhood.
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