The Roll Cougs Podcast, hosted by junior Carson Russell and senior Jackson Hogfeldt, has covered Carmel sports throughout the year and has been an important part of the sports culture at Carmel. Numerous student-athletes have appeared on the podcast to provide insight into life and sports at CCS, and hosts, Russell and Hogfeldt, aim to take a “deeper dive into the world of sports at our school.” Along with other athletes within the student body, hosts Russell and Hogfeldt have directly contributed to sports at Carmel, as both have their own interesting journeys and stories on their respective sports.

Growing up in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill, Russell began playing baseball around the age of five. Russell joined a Capitol Hill sports league. Deciding between playing soccer and baseball, he chose to pursue baseball after his father got him into tee-ball.

Over the years, Russell has made many special memories, but his favorite one was having the opportunity to start in a varsity play-off game last year as a sophomore. “It was definitely a privilege not many underclassmen get,” Russell explains. In that game, Russell was a designated hitter and hit the game-winning double to seal the victory for the Cougars.

Despite much uncertainty heading into this season, the team has become a family throughout the year. A major part of this was the team’s Myrtle Beach trip over spring break, Russell’s highlight of the season so far. While at Myrtle Beach, the Cougars won three games and threw two no-hitters. Off the field, Russell enjoyed spending time on the beach with his teammates and explains, “being down there with guys is just so much fun.”

As regards to the rest of the season, Russell is most looking forward to the playoffs. “It’s what you work for all year,” he adds. Aside from the excitement, Russell emphasizes that playing in the playoffs is “such a shift” and that it can be difficult to adjust. However, Russell firmly believes that the team will be prepared come time for playoffs because they have shown that they can “compete with the best teams in the state.” Russell is grateful for his past experiences and is eager to continue into the next stage of this season, the playoffs, in what he believes is “an entirely new stage for sports.”

Hogfeldt learned the game of tennis at an early age through his dad, who played tennis in college. As the years progressed, Hogfeldt began taking tennis more seriously. He currently plays on Carmel’s varsity men’s tennis team and plans to continue playing tennis in college at the club level.

Hogfeldt has made many great memories in Florence, S.C. during his time on Carmel’s men’s tennis team. Every year, the team participates in a tournament in Florence against local teams and rival schools. Hogfeldt has enjoyed bonding with his teammates on the trips and going to various restaurants and locations with his friends.

Besides this year’s Florence trip, Hogfeldt has experienced other great moments over the course of the season such as earning fifth place in the Florence tournament, earning an important victory over Community School of Davidson, and being a team player, stepping up as a leader when called upon.

As the season winds down, Hogfeldt, as well as the rest of the team, is looking ahead to the state playoff and expects to be the fourth or fifth seed. As the only senior on the team, Hogfeldt is also excited for senior night.

Hogfeldt’s future plans include more than just himself, as he explains he is also “excited to see the future of the program” at CCS. He expounds that he is excited to see his current teammates perform as seniors next year, and potentially see them sign with colleges to play collegiately.

Listen to Russell and Hogfeldt’s full interview and updates on their latest episode of The Roll Cougs Podcast, “Into Full Spring,” and more on Spotify. The Blue and Gold is excited to partner with these two aspiring sports journalists in their efforts to bring more excitement, information and awareness to the sports world and Carmel!