SIS is home to a large number of athletes, but they do not represent the entire student-athlete population; some are not recognized for their talents because they participate in sports not offered at SIS.
Currently, SIS offers three sports seasons to students: the fall season, featuring golf, volleyball, cross country, and tennis; the winter season, including swimming, basketball, and cheerleading; and the spring season, comprising track and field, soccer, and badminton.
Despite the variety of options available to students, many athletes play sports beyond those offered at SIS. Such sports include ice hockey, skiing, and fencing. Due to the “niche” nature of each sport, requiring extensive amounts of equipment or large teams, these sports were not granted access by the school’s administration.
The lack of availability of such sports led numerous students to decide to participate and expand their skills in their respective areas of interest.
“I decided to play ice hockey regardless of the fact that it was not offered at SIS,” Nathan Chung (12), professional ice hockey national team member, said. “It was a sport that I dearly enjoyed playing, which my enthusiasm brought me to the national team I play in today. The competitive yet team-fostering spirit of the game makes the sport very addictive and hard to quit.”
Several advantages are inherent in playing a niche sport: the chance to interact with a wider variety of teammates from different schools across the nation, and the ability to cherish the fact that they are taking part in an exclusive activity that sets them apart from others.
“I would say the diverse range of players I got to connect with through my profession in water polo was the biggest asset I experienced,” William Park (12), past water polo player, said. “It is only natural to interact with unfamiliar people when partaking in an unpopular sport. However, it is up to you on how you utilize the opportunities and your ability to translate them into an advantage.”
Some athletes had a simpler rationale for their dedication to their sport, with the recognition they received from peers guiding them to extend their engagement in their respective sport.
“I actually quite like the fact that I participate in a ‘niche’ sport,” Ben Lee (11), avid skier, said. “It sets me apart from other peers and makes me unique. I enjoy the attention that I receive from my classmates, who are all astonished when they first hear that I competitively ski in my free time.”
Although the athletes expressed different aspects and reasons for their enjoyment of their respective sports, several seemingly inevitable consequences followed.
“As much as I love ice hockey, I still wish it were a sport offered at SIS,” Nathan said. “The game gets exponentially better when the team collaborates well with one another. If my ice hockey team had consisted of my friends and underclassmen from our school, I think the game would have been much more enjoyable for not just me but for the entire team, since we already have a mutual connection with one another. I hope to see ice hockey implemented as an SIS sport one day.”
As unappealing and tiring as engrossing oneself in a “niche” sport may seem, investing one’s personal time and energy in a foreign sport requires unparalleled amounts of effort and dedication. Hence, it is imperative that these athletes receive the recognition they deserve. Take the opportunity to acknowledge and commend the secretive yet unique athletes in one’s class.
