Step onto Pinewood’s fields and courts, and you’ll notice some changes come spring sports — boys volleyball players are learning the sport from scratch, baseball players are adjusting to a fresh coaching style, and track athletes are pushing through an intensified strength program.

The most significant change this season is that there will be a new boys volleyball team. The program is led by Jenn King, the girls volleyball coach.

“My biggest goal is to build a strong foundation for this new boys program while making sure we enjoy every step of the journey,” King said. “Volleyball is a game, and games are meant to be fun.”

According to King, this opening season is all about creating a culture that balances hard work with joy. While the team has both experienced and beginner athletes, King hopes to focus on an appreciation for volleyball as a game of strategy, something that applies to all skill levels.

“The added challenge of teaching them that ‘just because you can jump high doesn’t mean you should swing at every ball’ is bound to keep things interesting,” King said.

Pinewood’s baseball program will also undergo significant changes, as new head coach Matthew Keelan steps up to the plate.

“He’s going to bring great energy and provide a new approach to coach the team,” Pinewood Athletic Director Matt Stimson said.

Pinewood’s swim team, led by Hannah Fields, is hitting the springboard with eight swimmers — twice the number of athletes they had last year.

The spring also sees an increased emphasis on conditioning. Track and field will undergo a revamped program led by Strength and Conditioning Coach Noelle Reyes (coach of the track and field team) and Athletic Trainer Javier Margarito.

“I think some of the lessons we’ve learned is that we need to get stronger and faster with all of our teams here,” Stimson said. “Noelle and Javier are working with our strength and conditioning program, ramping that up to all sports, so hopefully we can get a little bit more of a competitive edge.”

Tennis this year will be led by Craig Corfield and Vishal Natarajan as it has in the past.

Practice for all sports began Monday, February 24.

“I want to help them, support them in any way, and be an advocate,” Stimson said of Pinewood’s spring sports teams.