SPORTS

SPORTS

Stepping Up Their Game: JV to Varsity

Transitioning from JV to varsity is difficult because the games more
competitive, but Ethan Lee and David Dinnie both moved up
by Byron Brown

he chasm between JV and varsity sports

is much greater at the collegiate level
than in high school. It takes more than
determination, sacrifice, time and athleticism,
although it still requires all of these elements,
to move from junior varsity to varsity in college. It takes something more.
Ethan Lee, a senior finance major and
forward on the soccer team, is another athlete

The intensity (in

varsity) is definitely a
lot higher. The speed
is a lot different.
Definitely a couple
steps up from JV.
David Dinnie
Senior on the varsity
basketball team

with varsity for the rest of the season, except

when I had JV games to play in that conflicted
with practice.
Even though he was practicing with the
varsity team, his spot on the team was far from
solidified, because he was still playing on the
JV team. Then, another obstacle found its way
into his life. He sustained a hip-flexor injury
that required months of rehab.
Once he fully recovered from
the injury, Lee started practicing
with the varsity team again, but
everything still wasnt clear. He
continuously asked the coaches
when scrimmages and workouts
were and whether he could come.
Finally, Lee decided he needed assurance.
I had a final discussion with
the coaches because I needed to
know where I stood for several
reasons, including the fitness regimen I would do over the summer,
whether or not I would work the team
camp in July, and whether or not varsity practice gear would be ordered for
me, Lee said. It was then that the
coaches, somewhat hesitantly, moved me

to varsity full time; I could tell they werent

sure themselves what to do with me. The move
paid off in the fall as I began my sophomore
year on varsity and was starting by the fourth
game, a role I held for more than half the
games that year.
Cedarville mens soccer head coach Brett
Faro said he liked what he saw in
Lee.
The transition from
JV to varsity for Ethan
was seamless, Faro
said. He is the type of
kid who will give you
100 percent every day
and desires to see himself and others improve
on a daily basis.
Lee has had his
ups and downs with
the varsity team, but
overall he said he has
loved playing varsity.
It has been a tough but
rewarding journey, Lee said.
David Dinnie, a senior at
Cedarville, began his collegiate basketball career

who made his way from JV to varsity.

During his freshman year at Delawares
Seaford High, Lee worked his way onto the
varsity soccer squad. Throughout high school,
he attended camps where colleges came to look
for potential players. Cedarvilles coach asked
Lee to play for the Yellow Jackets, and he decided he wanted to go to Cedarville.
He came to Cedarville, expecting to play
what he called a reserve role. Unsure of what
that meant, he showed up on campus thinking he would have a minor role on the varsity team. But during his freshman year, Lee
played on the JV team, a team he didnt know
existed until he arrived.
Lee said the transition from high school
to JV was difficult because the game was
much more competitive. Lee continued to
work hard and push himself through every obstacle, and the coaches took notice.
A few weeks into the JV season, freshman
year, Lee said, my coach pulled me aside and
told me he had been watching me and recommended me to the varsity coach, who also liked
my level of performance. I began practicing
Photo By Malia Rickards
Ethan Lee successfully transitioned from JV to varsity his
sophomore year, and described his time on varsity so far as a
tough but rewarding journey.

on the JV team, but moved up to the varsity

team two years later.
Shane Williams, a current member of the
JV basketball team, played with Dinnie in high
school. Williams said Dinnie is an example of
someone who has worked hard on and off the
court to better himself. He thinks second of
himself and is more interested in being a team
player.
Dinnie began playing varsity high school
basketball for Grove Avenue Christian High
School in the seventh grade. He completed
an impressive career for the Richmond, Va.,
school, averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds.
He was the captain all four years of his high
school basketball career.
Dinnie wasnt recruited out of high school
and came to Cedarville with the intention to
only play intramural basketball. However,
when he heard about the JV team, he decided
to give it a shot. Dinnie tried out and made the
team his freshman year, and he made the team
again the next year.
His junior year, though, turned out to be
the turning point in his college athletic career.
Two assistant coaches for the varsity team
asked Dinnie if he would be willing to be a
practice player.
The varsity team was in need of a big man
with some skill, and Dinnie was the player they
were looking for. He eagerly accepted the offer and shortly thereafter, began practicing
and lifting with the varsity players. Ever since
then, Dinnie has been evolving from a practice player to someone who might see some
increased playing time this upcoming year.
Dinnie said that there are several differences between JV and varsity.
Time commitment is probably the biggest, you miss out on a lot of breaks and such,
Dinnie said. The intensity is definitely a lot
higher. The speed is a lot different. Definitely
a couple steps up from JV.
Dinnie said he became a better player because he accepted the coaches offer and applied himself to the task. Williams said Dinnie
has become a better player mentally and physically due to an improved work ethic.
Once David was able to use his size to his
advantage, he became more of a player that
was able to let the game come to him, Williams said. He understood the game and was
able to mentally will himself to play harder and
tougher. I believe that the hard work David put
in this past year in his first varsity year will
reap good results in his second year of varsity.
Patrick Estepp, the head coach of the
mens basketball team, praised Dinnies dedication to the team.
I am really proud of Dave and the amount
of work he has put into making himself a better
player, Estepp said. Dave would attempt to
run through a brick wall if I asked him to. It is
evident that he is all about the team and wants
to do whatever he can to help us win.
Byron Brown is a junior global business major and sports reporter for Cedars. He plays
for the JV basketball team here at Cedarville.

October 2014

October 2014