Several students in high school who play a sport are either enrolled in an outside club sport or other form of athletic participation non-affiliated with their school. This comes with both its pros and cons regarding one’s busy academic life. Oftentimes, students can get overwhelmed with far travel commitments, hours of practices, etc. This poses a question: is the rigorous environment worth it or not?
One thing holds true for all sports regardless if they are an at school or out of school sport. Many students dedicate several hours to show up to practices, games, scrimmages, etc. But overtime, student athletes tend to naturally adjust to their new lifestyle. In terms of competitiveness, rowing is a sport that is both unique and demanding. It requires a team of people focused on the goal of moving their boat as fast as possible. Not to mention that high intensity workouts can be held both on and off water. On land this can include running, lift sessions, and intensive erging which is essentially a form of muscle building to practice certain critical resistance and mobility skills.
Monte Vista Senior Kate Concepcion addresses how developing into an avid rower has shaped her high school athletic career thus far.
“At the start of my sophomore year, I was on the Junior Varsity Women’s Lacrosse Team here at Monte Vista. In present days I row for Oakland Strokes Women’s Varsity Crew,” Concepcion said.
Although this dedication comes with hard work, its more fun when you are actually passionate about a certain activity. It’s all about finding that balance between something your driven to set your mind to. Being in such a competitive environment is physically and mentally challenging. But sometimes these are the factors that can keep one motivated.
“I will forever treasure the moments of my teammates and I reaching past our limits during a regatta (rowing race),” Concepcion said.
In terms of high school sports, there are several obstacles regarding the implementation of a program on campus. For example, Gymnastics one of the most competitive sports at the Olympic and Club level requires diligent and consistent coaching. Additionally, extensive investment in equipment and a training certification of Coaches are a necessity to build a successful program. Gymnasts require a great deal of strength, agility, and coordination which are some of the tougher skills to master generally within other sports. Which is why such a program would require a dedicated and reliable staffing especially for highly competitive athletes. The inconvenience of the commute for sports is additionally challenging in itself. This requires many to stay on top of their schoolwork and build efficient habits for success.
However, sports are also an outlet for people to release stress and simply have fun. It can be a safe space for focusing on something that brings you peace, and can broaden your interests as well. Monte Vista Senior Mihika Shrivastava dedicates her time as a student-athlete three times per week for three hours a day, where she practices conditioning and four separate events during a typical training session. This sport for her has not only been a passion, but something that has connected her closer to teammates and coaches as a family environment.
“ My teammates are my best friends and I am incredibly close with them. Due to having frequent practices I still see them [regularly] enough to make strong relationships…,” Shrivastava said.
If there is anything that a sport can teach a young athlete it’s that all the hard work can come full circle and turn into some unforgettable memories in the long run. “I am currently coaching gymnastics and plan to continue that after high school,” Shrivastava said. Overall, the world of sports is just one large community with distinctive characteristics. However, many sports share the common goal of reaching for some type of win and putting forth effort to make them attainable.
