Issue 8 - North Canton City Schools - sparcc

or her sports.“I’ve had to sacrifice a lot of time with friends,” Miller said. “Idon’t have a lot of time to do hobbies and other cool things.”Russ has the same problems as Miller when it comes to the lackof free time.“I always have to bail out on my friends because I have practicesor games,” Russ said. “I almost had to miss the Winter Formalfor a softball game. I don’t like when I have to miss things,and I’m never happy about it. But I do it anyways because I lovewhat I’m doing.”LINDSY WISESENIOR STEPHANIE Elder and junior Matt Andrews each hadto make the ultimate sacrifice when it comes to participating in more than one sport: giving one up to succeed inthe other. Elder stopped playing basketball to focus on volleyballand Andrews quit running track to play on a traveling soccer team.Both had had some success at the sports they gave up, but felt thatit was necessary to give themup to better themselves at theone they love.“I figured I would have abetter chance of playing soccerin college than I wouldrunning track even though Ilove running track,” Andrewssaid. “I had to look to the future.”Elder also gave basketballup because she was lookingtoward the future.“Basketball was the moretime-consuming of the twosports,” she said. “And withall the time you put in for basketball,most girls want ascholarship and I didn’t seemyself going that route. I justdecided to play volleyball becauseit was more enjoyablefor me.”She also had many conflictsbetween the two sports.The summer was the hardestfor her because there werecamps and conditioning for both volleyball and basketball. A problemalso arose when Elder was trying to play on a traveling volleyballteam during basketball season.Stroemple also had problems over the summer.“I missed few of the open gyms for basketball because I wastraining for cross country, but nothing major,” he said.Elder’s problems were major, though, and that was one factor inhelping her make her decision. This decision was very difficult forElder, as it was for Andrews. Elder is now done with sports atHoover and is satisfied with her decision. Andrews, on the otherhand, said he would really like to continue playing soccer and runningtrack.“I’m happy,” Elder said. “But I miss basketball. For me personally,though, I think it was the best decision.”“I’d rather do both,” Andrews said. “But I can’t, so that sucksfor me.”ALTHOUGH HE FALLS into this realm, Andrews feels that parents should let their kids experiment with all kinds ofsports as they are growing up. He doesn’t like the growingtrend that kids have to be perfect at one sport from age threeand on.“I don’t think kids should be playing one sport at a young age,”he said. “But I can understand how people only play one sport inhigh school.”Head cross country and track coach Mr. Travis Ackerman disagreeswith Andrew’s statement.“[Kids] only have four years of high school,” he said. “If theywant to do other sports I definitely think they should.”Ackerman feels that one reason why athletes do not continueplaying multiple sports is becauseof the demands somecoaches put on their athletes.“A lot of the coaches putpressure on their kids to dotheir sport,” he said. “Thereare a lot of things outside of asport that coaches want theirkids to do. They want them tospecialize, which, in my opinion,is not right.”All of Russ’ coaches, on theother hand, have been verysupportive of her endeavor.“My coaches are alwayswishing me luck in everythingI do,” she said. “They understandthat I love what I’m doing.Most even come to myother sporting events to watchme and seem to have no problemwith what I’m doing.”This is helpful for Russ becauseit reinforces her decisionto keep doing what she is doing.She hopes to continueplaying all three sports[clockwise from top] u Senior Aaron throughout her high school career.Miller pins an opponent in awrestling match. Miller also “I’m really hoping I [continueplaying three sports],”participates in football and track. uFreshman Nick Stroemple runs in ashe said. “Most likely I will,cross country race. Basketball andtrack are two other sports Stroemple but we’ll just have to see.”plays at Hoover. u Senior Stephanie She is part of a special breedElder spikes the volleyball. Elder that may one day become extinct– the three-sport athlete –had to give up basketball in orderto better herself at volleyball. but she likes it that way.“I love sports,” Russ said. “Sports are practically my life. Ihave a lot more respect for all athletes now and what they gothrough.” nVSHANNON PIFERSEAN BHAGAT03.04.05 u the viking views u 35