As fall sports begin to conclude it is significant to honor each program and the successes they have adhered throughout the duration of their seasons. Also, it is important to celebrate the committed Seniors who will prepare for their endeavors through each unique collegiate sports program they will attend in the fall of 2025. However, one of the most inwardly exhausting decisions an athlete must make within their high school career is whether they will choose to carry with them the sport they have loved deeply or begin a new chapter in their rise to adulthood.
Continuing your sport throughout any level of collegiate-play is impressive in itself. However, this is not the sole option for athletes who wish to continue their sport throughout college. Intramural sports (club) allow for students to expand their social networking, create lasting relationships within their school community, as well as stay active.
The teams and dedicated athletes belonging to volleyball, cheerleading, soccer, football, golf, tennis, and cross country have completed their competitive seasons. Many talented athletes will pursue their unwavering athletic passions within the university setting. This strikes the inquisition of what the future holds for Seniors who will be attending a four-year university next fall, away from sporting pastime.
Upon interviewing Senior football starter Austin Conway he emphasizes that he will absolutely continue intramural sports throughout the college environment as it is an integral part of his life and could not imagine navigating his schedule without such. When prompted about the most rewarding aspect of being an athlete he denotes, “The physical well-being centered around it; staying athletic and staying healthy is so important for more than just physical necessities but also allows me to clear my head, as well as allows for routine and discipline in my schedule. I felt lost at first after the completion of my season because this has been my life for four years whether that be lifting, dieting, how I manage my freetime or content I consume online. This will be something I continue throughout the longevity of my life.”
Conway discerns the significance and balance that athletics can add to one’s life. Due to the stress that college can reveal, having an outlet such as club sports is an effective solution to mitigate rising stressors surrounding the new environment.
I also took it upon myself to consider opposing outlooks on intramural sports from Senior golf starter Lauren Eggers. Considering continuing club sports when attending a four-year university in the fall, she states, “It’s a decision I constantly weigh but I’m not one-hundred percent certain. I know I will continue to play golf for the rest of my life, as it grounds me and connects me and my family.”
Whether our graduating class of 2025 channels their athletic passions within club sports throughout college, or chooses to leave behind this piece of their life, their futures are bright!