Haughs among Lady Zs juggling multiple sports

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

PLYMOUTH –- While it is not uncommon for athletes at schools the size of Rochester and within the RTC area to play multiple sports during the school year, the circumstances can get even more hectic in the summer.

Rochester junior Sydney Haughs is an example of that.

Haughs was working out with the Lady Z basketball team during June while also playing travel softball. Her softball team is called the Purple Crush, and basketball teammates Emma Howdeshell, Kallie Watson and Maddie Heinzmann are also her Purple Crush teammates. (Tippecanoe Valley’s Molly Moriarty and Corinna Stiles are also travel softball teammates who are balancing basketball responsibilities at their school.)

“So it’s softball every weekend, and I’m actually getting ready to leave today to go to Ohio for a softball tournament,” Haughs told RTC after a Lady Z basketball scrimmage at Plymouth June 26.

Haughs was asked if it’s fun or stressful.

“It’s stressful, but I like it,” Haughs said.

Haughs was asked what she likes about balancing the sports.

“Being away from my friends,” Haughs quipped.

A slugging center fielder and occasional pitcher, Haughs was a first-team all-conference softball player in the season that concluded May 25. That came after a basketball season in which she made more significant contributions than her freshman season. She saw playing time in 20 of RHS’ 21 games and averaged 1.1 points per game from the guard and wing spots.

Haughs said the loss of Kaitlin Rogers to graduation will be felt. Rogers made 36 3-pointers last season, and only one other RHS player made more than 10. Haughs sees herself as one of those players who will have to fill the perimeter shooting void. Rily Holloway, whom she said will be one of the team’s “main guards,” will be another.

“We’ve always had Kaitlin as our shooter, so we don’t have a designated shooter now,” Haughs said. “So we have Rily (Holloway), me and Kallie, so we have multiple shooters now instead of just relying on one.”

Asked about the team in general this summer, she said she’s noticed defensive improvement. And much of that has to do with spending more time with each other due to the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions.

“We’ve been able to play man defense this year,” Haughs said. “We didn’t play that much last year. And we actually had a summer. Last year, we didn’t have a summer.”