Happy beginnings

The vast majority of student athletes have grown up playing sports and are infatuated with the idea of pursuing a sport at the high school level. Obtaining a spot on a school team is often exhilarating, as it is a dream a myriad of students wish to achieve. This sense of accomplishment is a thrill, further encouraging an athlete to continue pursuing the sport.

For student athletes such as junior soccer player Victoria Sibounheuang, playing a sport begins to turn into a foundational component of their lives. Beyond that, athletics tend to become an integral part of how they identify themselves.

“Without soccer, I do not know what I would be doing,” Sibounheuang said. “What I would do with my time, I have no idea. Soccer has taken up so much time and [I’ve] built so many relationships because of it. It’s a really big part of me.”

With this new sense of identity, they feel an additional sense of inclusivity. The public school scene is often hectic and demanding, which is why almost all student athletes choose to pursue a sport the entirety of their four years in high school. Being in a sport gives them a place where they belong, as well as a chance at representation.

“You can see how much a [high school sports team] can change a city,” junior football player Landon Webster said. “I think [our school] is identified by our football team and our athletics [because] we have a lot of good kids; people that are going to represent. They’re willing to work for anything, willing to give everything to prove this is for their city. I think it’s amazing how sports can fuel that. There’s no politics, it’s all just the sport. That alone is enough to fuel a city.”