by Marcus Altman

An athlete is not just someone who plays a sport, but a person who is passionate about their sport, determined to succeed, and confident.

Adam Aucoin, a senior on the varsity baseball team, loves baseball because it is a team sport. “Sure you have to do things individually, but you need everyone to work as a team to win,” he said.

Donny Philippe, a senior on the varsity football team, enjoys playing football the most when he can hit someone and knock them over. “I play football because it is my life. I’m always excited to play, and I’ve played it throughout my life,” Philippe said. “I’m always thinking about it. It is just natural to me.”

Athletes need to be determined and confident to succeed in their sports. Athletes must be determined to push through times when they struggle and have the confidence in themselves to know that they can make it over the slump and get back to being who they normally are.

Shaniece Foreman, a senior on the varsity volleyball team, has faced her share of tough times. One such time occurred after a really tough loss. Although Foreman contemplated quitting, she could not bring herself to do so. “The thing that motivates me is my team; they never give up on me, so I don’t give up on them,” Foreman said.

Matt Dang, a senior on the varsity tennis team, has literally had to stare down defeat in some matches to come back. In one particular match, he had lost the first set, and he was very close to losing the second. But, Dang was able to come back in the set and to be the better player for the rest of the match. He ended up winning that match.

“Playing tennis really gives me respect for the sport because it’s not an easy sport and you have to keep working hard just like any other one,” Dang said, “and I am determined to improve my game and be able to play more competitively with higher level players.”

For many athletes life without that sport would be tough.

Kayla Davis, a senior on the varsity tennis team, could not live without tennis. Her love of tennis runs in her family. Her brother Eric Davis (also an avid tennis player) graduated two years ago. Tennis will always be a part of her life.

James Adams, a senior on the varsity baseball team, could think of no way to describe his life without baseball other than “lost.”

The final thing that is absolutely crucial for an athlete to have is a love of their sport. School sports are typically a ten to fifteen hour commitment each week, and practices are after school and happen up to six days a week. Without a love for their sport, they would not be able to juggle it all.

Shaniece Foreman loves the challenges that volleyball brings her and the personal fulfillment she gets from achieving goals. She is always trying to improve her volleyball skills and, of course, get killer abs. But the thrill of each play and the exhilarating feel of close games are a large part of her love of volleyball. “I play because it is a challenge for me; I may not be the best but I am my best,” Foreman said.

Kayla Davis loves tennis for the greatness of the perfect plays and the sweet feeling of scoring difficult points. “I am motivated by wanting to keep getting better. I see the pros play, and I want to be like them,” Davis said. “I love the sport, and I don’t want to ever stop playing!”