Greenhill sports teams participate in the Southwest Preparatory Conference, with seasonal championships occurring in Dallas, Houston or Fort Worth. Individual athletes and teams say they face many different challenges based on where the tournament is being held.    

The SPC championship tournament is played over one weekend. If the games are held in Houston, Greenhill athletes will travel down on the day of their first game and stay in a hotel until their last game. If games are held in Fort Worth, teams will from Dallas to Fort Worth each day. Lastly, if the games are held in Dallas, athletes will return to their respective homes each night as well.   

These three different scenarios present teams and coaches with a variety of challenges.   

Houston:

The four hour bus ride before a game is not always easy for athletes. Last year, for the winter SPC championships, the boys varsity basketball team left for Houston at around 9 a.m. and played their first game of the tournament on that same day. 

“My legs felt dead from the start of the game,” senior Dillon Watt said. “We are not used to having a long bus ride and then playing later that day.”   

Fort Worth:

While the drive is only around hour depending on traffic, waking up every morning and driving to Fort Worth and back to Dallas has been voiced by athletes as an obstacle. Last year, the boys varsity volleyball team played their tournament in Fort Worth.   

“I wish we would have stayed in a hotel,” senior Aaron Stein said. “It is harder to play after sitting on a bus for an hour, and staying in a hotel improves the team chemistry too.”  

Dallas:

When championship matches are held in Dallas, teams lose the team bonding aspect that staying together at hotels and viewing other teams play provides. SPC tournaments are a time where everyone has the goal of winning, and various coaches appreciate having the advantage of being with their athletes and making sure everyone is focused.   

Senior boys varsity soccer captain Noah Piper had his sophomore year SPC championship in Dallas and had mixed opinions. 

“Playing at home means more fans at our game, which we really enjoy, but it does not feel like a real tournament because we are not together outside of the game,” Piper said. 

Overall, there are pros and cons with each SPC championship location, however, the challenges with travel and team chemistry are certainly an aspect to consider for captains and coaches.