Reflections: Hindsight is 2020

ATHLETICS HINDSIGHT IS 2020

Mallory Leff ’20 & Orson Smith ’20

Participating in sports at SAAS has given me some of the best memories of my high school career. Playing sports gave me an outlet to relieve my stress, an opportunity to make new friends and meaningful relationships with my coaches and grow into a leader. When I step onto the field or court, I become a soccer, basketball, or lacrosse player —I no longer have to worry about school. I think that playing sports at SAAS has been exceptional.

Something unique to SAAS is our No-Cut policy. I believe that the No-Cut policy is excellent in many ways as it gives everyone in the community an opportunity to try something new. During my time at SAAS, I have had two coaches influence me as a person and a player. They are Joel "Coach D" DeBruhl and Hilary Bowen. Coach D has been my basketball coach since my freshman year. He is energetic, talkative, sarcastic, and above all passionate about basketball. Despite my lack of basketball skills when I first played for him, he trained me, he believed in me, and he helped me to get to where I am today.

During the spring of my freshman year, I could not decide whether I was going to play Ultimate or try lacrosse, which was new to SAAS that year. I decided on lacrosse, and I think it was the best decision I could have made. I went into that season not knowing how to cradle a ball (which is the primary skill in lacrosse), and now I am the captain of my team. Hilary is a supportive, empowering, and an outstanding coach. I can say that I have become both a better player and a better person playing for her.

Throughout my seven years at Seattle Academy, there has been only one trimester in which I wasn’t participating in one of SAAS’ sports teams. In these seven years, I have both benefitted and seen the downfalls firsthand of the No-Cut policy. The disadvantages of this policy don’t always manifest themselves in every sport. While it does allow students to try new sports as well as provide kids with a great way to make new friends, it can also retract from the instruction. Because there is no limit on the number of kids that can be in any given sports program, the individualized coaching can be compromised and playing time can be limited. On the other hand, I was personally able to benefit greatly from the No-Cut policy. In my sophomore year, without ever having played a game of organized basketball in my life, I tried out for the team and ended up playing on one of the JV teams. It was a highlight of my entire high school career, and I was able to learn so much from my coaches and teammates. I am positive that if I were at another school where the No-Cut policy wasn’t enacted, I still wouldn’t have played a game of organized basketball in my life. I am extremely thankful for the No-Cut policy for giving me the opportunity to try something new.

My soccer journey started at age 6 when I played in a recreational league for the Killer Bananas of Doom. From early days of being a Manchester United fan and getting up at 6 AM on Saturday mornings to watch their games, soccer has had a commanding presence in my life. When I entered high school as a freshman, I tried out for the soccer team in the Spring. I was fortunate enough to make the varsity team in my first year which allowed me to create bonds with coaches as well as my teammates across all four grades. The reason this team stood out to me is because I believe that I learned so much from it over the years. There is a great balance of when to have fun and when to get serious which I believe has taught me tons of discipline. The bus leaves at 3:15. If you’re late, find another way to get there. Every single player, regardless of age or skill level, is held to the same high standard. Every year, the seniors graduate, and new freshmen come in; however nothing about the soccer team changes. The expectations of every player on the team remain the same. As a group we push ourselves to be the best team we can be on and off the field and that has taught me so much. I would like to thank all the players and coaches over the years who have helped me in continuing my soccer journey because of the lasting impact I know it will have in my life. ☜

Both Coach D and Hilary live, breathe, and love basketball and lacrosse, respec tively. I think that learning how to play from coaches who love their sport so much is what has made me fall in love with the sport, too. I think one of the biggest things that I will miss about SAAS is the coaches and players that I have been so lucky to have met and been able to play with over the past four years. ☜