Participating in school sports has long been a cornerstone of student life, fostering fitness, teamwork and friendship. Many SPA students also extend their athletic pursuits beyond their school team. Passionate student-athletes often discover opportunities outside of school, enriching their lives physically and socially.
Junior Helen Townley embraces extracurricular athletic activities with rigor and enthusiasm. “I do a Nordic skiing club called Loppet Nordic Racing,” she said.
Townley’s dedication to skiing extends beyond the winter months, as she trains all year. Even when there’s no snow on the ground, “I roller ski, both classic and skate. We run, we do strength training, and we bike too,” she added.
Her club’s multifaceted approach to training allows her to try new things and “have new experiences.” Townley enjoys the escapism, saying it also offers her a chance to escape from academics: “I get to see people from other schools and have a little break from school.”

Freshman Murphy Miltner echoes Townley’s perspective, emphasizing her valuable club volleyball experience. Miltner, who plays for a volleyball club called Kokoro, appreciates the intensity of the club’s level of play. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s really, really fun because it lets me play at a higher level and helps me get better outside of the school season,” she said.

Her dedication to volleyball is reflected in the rigorous training regimen she and her club teammates undergo. “We have practices twice a week for two hours, and we have positionals on Mondays for an hour, and then we have injury prevention and strength training twice a week,” she explained. The efforts have paid off, as she and her team had the opportunity to travel to various cities for competitions. Reflecting on her experiences, she said, “We went to a lot of different places and big cities. Kansas City was my favorite, and I also got to go to nationals where our team got top 10.”
Participating in outside-of-school athletics gives students a unique chance to meet and compete with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Miltner highlighted this aspect: “You get to play teams from all over, like Hawaii. It’s fun because I get to meet people I wouldn’t know otherwise,” she said.
The bonds that were created with her teammates may be considered the most important aspect of Miltner’s experience. “I get to meet other people and have a good bond with these girls, and I love them; it’s like having a family,” she said.
SPA students find daily fulfillment through the school’s wide variety of offerings, but some students choose to dig in during the off-season, or keep playing a sport they’ve grown to love. Townley and Miltner’s lives have been enriched beyond the courts and ski trails by these experiences that complement their academic pursuits.