For many high school students, participating in club sports isn’t just about winning games or tournaments—it’s about developing skills, creating bonds, and learning the skills to balance academics, athletics, and social life. These young athletes face challenges head-on, push their limits, and gain valuable life lessons along the way. Through their own experiences, many can learn how dedication to a sport influences their growth during games and everyday life.

Lucy Ueland ‘28, both a varsity softball and club softball player, reflects on how her older brothers’ participation in sports inspired her to join a club sport of her own. 

“I joined a club sport because watching my older brothers play inspired me and I’ve loved softball ever since,” Ueland said. 

This deep-rooted passion drives her to set ambitious goals, like practicing five hours a week outside of team practice.

Her commitment to self-improvement shows how setting personal goals can lead to both individual and team growth as seen in the article “Benefits of Goal Setting in Sport: Achieving Success on and off the Field”:

“While personal ambitions drive individual athletes, these goals can significantly contribute to a team’s collective objectives. When team members strive to improve their performance, the cumulative effect can lead to remarkable team achievements.” 

“My team is everything—having a strong bond with my teammates makes us better on and off the field,” Ueland said.

Her advice to younger athletes adds to the importance of passion.

“Join a club sport only if you truly love it. Do it for yourself, not for others, and know that passion will help you push through the tough times,” Ueland said.

Charlotte Holmberg ‘26, a varsity gymnast and a club gymnast, is no stranger to managing a demanding schedule. She has honed her time management skills with 22 hours of training each week.

“Balancing school, social life, and 22 hours of training each week has taught me time management and organization. While it can get overwhelming, I prioritize what’s important to me,” Holmburg said. 

She aspires to compete at the collegiate level after graduating high school. Her journey has not been without hardship—she faced a major setback with an ACL injury but bounced back with determination, returning to competition this season.

“I would say it was a long recovery and when it happened I was in shock because I didn’t ever think it would happen to me. The year-long recovery felt like forever in the moment but I spent every day focusing on getting stronger and improving in other areas of my gymnastics. I am now fully cleared and it took me a while to trust my knee again, but I am excited to be back to where I was before and even working on upgrades,” she said.

Her story highlights a critical aspect of high school athletics which is passion and commitment. 

“My team plays a huge role in keeping me focused and motivated. We support each other through tough practices and competitions, always cheering each other on,” Holmberg said. 

This shows how sports can offer both the physical and emotional tools to face adversity as seen in the writing of “Sporting Mind: The Interplay of Physical Activity and Psychological Health”: 

“By fostering skills such as teamwork, perseverance, and self-efficacy, sports equip individuals with the tools necessary for effectively navigating life’s adversities, thus contributing significantly to their long-term emotional and psychological well-being.”

For JaLynn Vialpando ‘26, club cheerleading provides both an escape from school challenges and a sense of community.

“I liked having my school life and sports life separate. I get to meet more people and have a different place to go when school gets challenging,” Vialpando said.

Cheerleading, much like other club sports, involves tight-knit teams that often become more like families.

“In all-star cheerleading our team is everything. We go through the good, the bad, we fail, we succeed, we cry, we laugh for and with each other,” she said.

The support of her teammates helps her manage the pressures of being a student-athlete.

“Being a student-athlete is challenging, but having the right community behind you and supporting you at all times makes the biggest difference,” Vialpando said. 

Her story underlines the power of camaraderie in club sports and how it can help athletes stay focused and positive even in the face of challenges.

For many student-athletes, there is a pressure of balancing school and sports. Kelsey Messmer ‘28, a hockey and cheerleading athlete, embraces that pressure.

“I always remind myself that I am very lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to feel the kind of pressure I do and am thankful for it every day therefore I always try to embrace the pressure,” Messmer said. 

Her perspective highlights the mental resilience required to succeed in high school and club sports, “I would tell students who are considering doing a club sport to go for it and to not give up. You need to find a few close friends to help you get through the struggles,” Messmer said.

Similarly, Emmanuel “Emmy” Kasperson ‘28, a club soccer player, shows the importance of staying composed in tough situations. 

“You really just gotta take a step back for a second and just try to keep your composure,” Kasperson said. Kasperson also noted how her teammates encourage and support each other through difficult moments.

“We all give it our 100% so we don’t have any regrets about anything.”

For many of these athletes, the dream doesn’t stop at high school. Many female athletes wish to bring their sport up to a collegiate level. Ueland’s goal is to play softball at the collegiate level, while Kasperson hopes to follow the same path with soccer. Their commitment to their sports displays how club sports can provide the necessary preparation for competitive collegiate athletics.

“My goal is to play in college, and my advice to younger kids is to join a club sport only if you truly love it,” Ueland said.

The journey isn’t easy, and the path to success involves a lot of hard work and perseverance. However, as these high school athletes demonstrate, the dedication and passion they put into their club sports shape their athletic careers and help them grow as individuals ready to face future challenges, on and off the field.

The stories of Ueland, Holmberg, Vialpando, Messmer and Kasperson reveal the impact that club sports can have on high school students. Through intense dedication, teamwork and personal growth, they are learning life skills that will serve them well in their academic careers and beyond. As they balance school, sports and their social lives, they show how pursuing a passion can lead to remarkable personal development while also building meaningful relationships that last a lifetime.