While over half of the student body participates in WHS athletics during the fall, winter, and/or spring seasons, there are a handful of students who are playing sports during the off-season or year-round, competing at high levels outside WHS through club teams or other out-of-school programs.
Students are involved in club sports for a variety of reasons that vary based on the outcome each athlete hopes to pursue.
“Some kids play to improve their skill level so that, when they do participate at the high school level, they can become better and be more of a contributor,” WHS athletic director Mike McGrath said. “Other kids play club sports in addition to high school sports because they have a larger goal in mind.”
Playing a club sport or participating in out-of-school athletic programs are often a huge commitment. For sophomore Vivienne Dutot, who competes in equestrian events, it is very time-consuming.
“Usually [my schedule is] a little tight, especially just trying to manage multiple things,” Dutot said. “I usually have to do school work late at night just to get it all done after practice.”
Even though it can be difficult to balance horseback riding with school, Dutot is able to see the benefits of taking part in out-of-school athletics.
“I really enjoy riding because you meet a lot of out-of-school people, and everyone is always connected in the horse world. It’s a really fun dynamic that you don’t get in school sports,” Dutot said.
As students become older, there are additional pressures and school work that can become more challenging to manage. Despite the fact that junior Nate Whitworth loves playing on his club lacrosse team as well as multiple school teams, he has sometimes struggled to keep a balance between sports and academics.
“Honestly, it is really tough to balance all my work, but I have gotten better over time at planning ahead and getting work done whenever I have time so I never have to cram at the end for an assignment,” Whitworth said. “Unfortunately, my sleep has definitely taken a hit.”
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Associations’ Bona Fide Rule may unintentionally help with this balance as it requires anyone on a school varsity team to prioritize school sports by attending all school practices and competitions regardless of non-school sport obligations. However, many students partake in both in- and out-of-school sports while still adhering to this rule.
Despite these rules, the athletic department tries its best to allow students to engage in as many activities as they can, although there are sometimes cases where students’ school and club seasons conflict.
“I think we do a good job of managing those special circumstances and making sure that, if kids do have a big club tournament and it’s out-of-season, we support that,” McGrath said.
Counteracting the challenges of competing in high-level club sports are the many benefits to the students that participate in such programs, including overall health and happiness. For instance, freshman Sloan Berry has played club squash since 2020, and it has served as an activity for her to escape some of the pressures of her daily life.
“I think playing squash is therapeutic when I’m having problems because I can just focus on the game and not on anything else,” Berry said.
Participating in sports also provides many life lessons. Junior Joe Ladocsi has been playing club basketball and lacrosse for a long time and has experienced the many aspects of life that out-of-school sports can change.
“Sports definitely shape you as a person throughout the wins and the losses,” Ladocsi said.
Freshman Niall Cahalane recently moved to Weston from Hong Kong where she attended an international school and competed in a rugby club team that offered her many opportunities.
“Back when I was in Hong Kong, there was this big festival, called the Rugby Sevens, where a ton of international teams come to play, and a lot of people come to watch whether they love Rugby or not,” Cahalane said. “Since we made it to the finals, we got to play on the [professional] Sevens field, so it was an amazing experience.”
Whether a student plays for a school or club team, or both, if they can find the balance between athletics, school work and other commitments, they can experience many benefits to improve their overall quality of life.
“I really believe that kids that participate in athletics have a well-rounded high school experience, and they’ll have friendships and memories that will last a lifetime,” McGrath said.