East Coast vs West Coast Sports

At Stevenson, sports are an integral part of our community. From cheering on the water polo team to watching the AT&T tournament during a free block, Stevenson’s culture is undeniably steeped in athletics. 

However, although we are accustomed to certain sports like water polo and sailing, they may seem stranger to a non-Californian. It is only fair, considering most of our campus is unfamiliar with sports on the East Coast as well. The difference makes sense, but it can't help but feel like we’re missing out on a whole world of sports. So whether this article serves as an introduction or comparison, take it as your guide to the varying sports on either coasts.

Much of the difference in sports between the coasts boils down to the varying climates. While we are blessed with 60°F winters, bitter East Coast winters lead to a surplus of indoor sports such as squash and ice hockey. In California, outdoor sports are huge in all 3 seasons because of our major outdoor culture. The most popular sports are pretty similar nationally, but California’s love for surfing and other water sports is unmatched in any other state, especially on the East Coast. 

A game of squash. Photo Credit: Squash Mad

One sport that is completely obscured on the West Coast but popular on the East Coast, especially the New England area and some urban areas such as Philadelphia and the District of Columbia, is squash. Squash is a racquet sport played in an enclosed court, in which the objective is to hit the ball against the wall and make it challenging for the opponent to hit it back. Despite the obvious reasons for its popularity - it is an indoor sport, and squash season is in the winter - the history of the sport is rich and rooted in elite private prep schools and universities (source: Philadelphia Magazine), although it has long since shed its elitist exclusion.

Photo Credit: Reddit

Another sport that is extremely popular, especially in prep schools on the East Coast, is rowing (otherwise known as crew). Despite being a water sport, it is not nearly as popular in California or the Pacific Northwest as it is in coastal regions in the Northeast.  Its legacy in the northeast stems from similar reasons as squash; for a long time, the sport mostly existed in exclusive communities, especially Ivy League colleges. The history of rowing in America centers around the collegiate level, to the point where several olympic games were represented by college rowing teams (source: Hear The Boat Sing). Now, it is often forgotten but the culture lives on in some prestigious colleges and preparatory schools that offer extensive rowing programs. 

At some East Coast prep schools, water polo is a common sport in the fall. However, California is water polo’s epicenter, which makes sense considering our climate and value of the outdoors. Water polo is clearly huge at Stevenson, but it is not as common on the East Coast. Although water polo’s history in the United States started in Boston, Californians have adopted the sport and made it a state classic.

Another sport that is extremely popular in California but not as common in other states, especially on the East Coast, is surfing. Surfing is almost synonymous with California's brand – and why wouldn’t it be? With our massive coastline and consistent waves, it frankly makes a lot of sense. The history of surfing in North America started in Hawaii, and was brought to the US by three Hawaiian princes in Santa Cruz, and the sport soon travelled throughout the coastline of California (source: Good Times). 

Photo Credit: Mohsen Ben Cheikh via Unsplash

Sports that are only prevalent on the East Coast  are usually viewed as a status symbol - specifically rowing - and often stem from histories in elite institutions, as seen with the two previous examples. On the contrary, West Coast sports come from diverse backgrounds and often revolve around community. Perhaps I’m biased, but I think West Coast sports are better in terms of diversity of players and a connection to nature – after all, West Coast best coast!