This year, there has been an increase in students who have switched sports due to a loss of love for the sport. Sophomores Tallulah Dogwill and Hannah Sanders have changed course in their athletic journeys.
Sophomore Hannah Sanders switched from volleyball to tennis, after playing volleyball for three years. Sanders ended up losing love for the sport once she joined the high school program because she had a coach that she felt didn’t support her and her values for the sport. She said. “It started off fun but as the season progressed I started to dislike the game. It was hard being in an environment where there wasn’t always support for each other. I knew I should have a sport to play so I decided on tennis since I did it when I was younger” she said.
The switch has caused her to enjoy athletics at SPA a lot more since realizing that she didn’t actually enjoy playing volleyball, and playing a sport that has a positive impact on her life. She said, “I’m very much enjoying the switch. Tennis has been so fun for me. The girls and coaches are so supportive and I’ve never felt out of place in any way.”
Sophomore Tallulah Dogwill went from playing soccer since she was three years old to playing volleyball for the first time this year. “I switched to volleyball from soccer because I wanted to try something new without the pressure of having expectations of going into a sport. I also have breathing issues so I wanted to try a sport with less running,” she said.
Tallulah’s transition between soccer and volleyball was a bit of a struggle. “I think SPA could set up more opportunities for students to try out sports that they haven’t done before. Possibly by advertising the importance of captains’ practices as a good opportunity to see if you are interested in joining a team. I am really enjoying volleyball right now because it’s just such a fun sport, and the team is really supportive,” She said.
Dogwill and Sanders have been happy in their switches, and have found a place where they feel happy and supported in their athletics.
