Stevenson's Hidden Sports

Once again, we congratulate the recent Stevenson wins at the beginning of this school year. The volleyball, tennis, and water polo teams began their season strong, with each encounter and fight as they defended their position in our school. Both girls' and boys' teams surprise us every day with their dedication and love for this sport. However, with all this excitement for newer matches and hopes of winning, we forget those activities that are not so competitive. Or simply, nobody is talking about them. What are those activities Stevenson is forgetting? As we already know, sports are a huge part of our lives as Pirates.

Cross-country involves the ability to be consistent in various terrains while keeping a good pace. It’s a sport known to demand physical and mental capacity. Some of its participants, such as 9th grader Ethan, believe it doesn’t get enough recognition. Now in his first year on the team, Ethan believes the other members of the school do not support his sport enough. Which makes the readers and the author ask, why do some sports get more attention than others? But in this case, we have another perspective. Landyn Martis, a sophomore student, believes it is recognized and known for what it is, just that it lacks comprehension. Martis believes other students don't understand “ the way that people work every day.” She feels that people who are not on the team could understand better what cross country means for each one of the teammates. She explains, “Some people do not fully understand the personal victories every day and only see it as winning a race or getting a new time. It is about the new experiences and courses that we run, as well as the friends you make along the way.” In the end, what makes a good sport is the community it creates. Cross country is a great example of combining an individual sport with a team one, making it possible for its members to enjoy being part of it. 

Photo Credit: Adventures by the Sea

This principle of balancing individual effort and teamwork can also be observed in the ocean sports Stevenson offers. Because we’re in California, it's not surprising that ocean sports such as kayaking, surfing, or sailing are some of the most popular sports among students. Graham Melvin explains how, even before he came to Stevenson, he tried to find more information about surfing on the school’s home page and could not find it. This experience set the tone when he eventually arrived. He believes that “small sizes of the team, probably, and not really any games to go to” are the reasons why ocean sports do not get enough recognition. However, even though the team is small and doesn’t attract the same crowds as other sports, it’s still a special sport. In Graham's mind, the sport is special because “The team supports each other, and has as much fun as possible.” 

Sailing event this year. Photo credit: @rls_sports

Another sport not talked about enough is sailing. A sport “where your size, your gender, or your physical capability does not matter as much as your mind.” These are the words of senior Claire Lee. She believes the reason why only 60% of the student body knows about sailing is because “It's a pretty niche sport and it's not something that everybody has opportunities to do unless you grew up with it or you attend Stevenson.” But if you hav

e the opportunity to join, it is a sport you may consider even if you've never sailed before! The sport is open to beginners, and Stevenson does provide it for us. 

Due to small team sizes, far-away or nonexistent matches, or the specialized skill set they require, some sports go largely unnoticed by the people who don't participate in them. But those who are taking part in these sports know that the community they have built, the friendships they have developed, and the personal wins each sport allows them to have are what make these sports special. Surely there are sports that remain hidden, so I encourage both students and teachers to search for them, as they may surprise you.