By Kendall Albrecht
Of the many extracurriculars high schools offer, a sports team can be the most rewarding and beneficial after-school activity. Not to mention the physical advantages, there are many other perks to participating in a sport. Firstly, being a part of a sports team expands your inclusiveness in the school. Nothing builds school spirit like rooting for your team. Colleges look for extracurriculars and involvement on campus, something that joining sports can provide. After-school practices can teach time management and responsibility as one learns to balance schoolwork and extracurriculars. By valuing athletes’ grades, Westmont coaches are sure to help their athletes succeed in their academics as well as their athletics. Lastly, and perhaps the biggest motivator to become involved in high school sports, is the connections you make with teammates. Spending so much time at practices with teammates not only gives you the opportunity to grow friendships with classmates you already know, but also those you may never have met otherwise. Being on a team with people in separate classes or even grade levels introduces you to so many close companions you never would have even spoken to. Overall, trying out for a sport at Westmont most definitely enhances the high school experience in many ways.