Upperclassmen will not be the only athletes getting varsity letters at the end of the season this year.

Several teams have been supplementing their JV and varsity lineups with young talent, making up for the smaller group of experienced players.

Gymnastics and volleyball in particular have seen a large number of young athletes step up.

“It’s definitely different since I’m a freshman,” JV outside hitter Michaela Cordova said. “It’s intimidating. It’s also good because I get to meet older girls.”

Senior libero Nicolasa Kenney said her younger teammates are melding well with the upperclassmen.

“There are two sophomores…[on varsity this year],” she said. “This is their first year on varsity. They’re really stepping up and showing that they belong.”

Both gymnastics and volleyball underclassmen are on club teams to train during the high school offseason, but freshman gymnast Eden Kingery said being a part of the LHS team is different.

“We practiced all year round [in club] so I was a little more prepared than I am now,” Kingery said. “[But] this is more laid back, so I think it’s more fun.”

Despite young teammates having less experience in high school competition, teams are not struggling to progress.

The gymnastics team won its first meet in four years, at the Shawnee Mission West quadrangular on Wednesday Sept. 9, despite having one senior. The team took the lead with 93.7 points while Free State took fourth with 70.5 points.

Both athletically and academically, the freshmen are making a smooth transition to the change in routine, gymnastics coach Brooke Kissinger said.

“As far as I know they’re transitioning well… I mean it’s only the third week into school so ask me again in two months,” she joked.

The new additions are projected to boost the team record as they come off of a difficult few seasons.

“No matter what, it’s going to be an exciting season just because we’re starting to bounce back from our little losing streak,” Kissinger said.

Although there are no freshman starting on the varsity volleyball team, freshman Laura Willoughby traveled with them for their tournament at Olathe South, coach Stephanie Magnuson said. More freshmen JV players may swing up for postseason.

JV athletes have been proving themselves competitive with an 11-0 record.

Though there is a greater variety of ages on the teams, the girls are still able to bond in and out of the gym.

“This is my third year coaching and by far this is the closest team that I’ve had as far as being friends and going to do things with each other,” Kissinger said.

If anything, the range in age has aided the teams. Freshman are able to learn from the example of upperclassmen and better prepare for future leadership.

“I want them to grow up and be leaders, like the seniors I have now.” Kissinger said. “So I love having underclassmen… and obviously I have great upperclassmen. The combination is good.”