As you’re entering your first year of high school, you may be feeling a sense of nervous excitement—you are starting a new chapter in your life, one which, once you’ve settled into the high school life, will undoubtedly be enjoyable. 

We could spend hours talking about ways to adjust to high school life, but other articles in this issue are written exactly for that purpose. Here, we’re going to talk about one of the most fun and memorable parts of your high school experience: sports. 

Athletics has been designed such that every student can find the right fit for themselves. From football to lacrosse, LHS offers countless opportunities for you to be a part of the school’s amazing community of student-athletes. Name a sport, and there’s most likely a team for it. (Do be realistic; bungee jumping is not a sport.) 

The process of getting on a sports team is quite simple. Those of you who want to play a sport in the fall have already registered and gone to tryouts (congratulations, you’ve taken your first step into high school sports!). For sports in the winter and spring, the steps are quite similar; you just need to create an account and register on Arbiter Sports, which is listed on the LHS Athletics website.

This will be a useful resource during your time as a student-athlete, so keep it in mind when you have any questions. After registration comes tryouts, which many athletes feel very nervous about. Sure, there is a sense of expectation and a need to perform well, but all you can really do is show your best self to the coaches!

You may be asking yourself, why should I even play sports at LHS? For starters, sports spills over into other aspects of your life. If you play sports outside of school, it is quite likely that you have met many new people and made some friends by playing on the same team. At LHS, the same thing happens—riding on the bus to a game, going to daily practices, and attending team dinners all  bring the team together in a way that makes it easy to make friends. Seeing those same teammates in the hallways at school and in class can make the transition into high school easier, especially if you are concerned about the social aspect of adjusting to a new school.

Also, this might seem obvious, but it has to be said—playing a sport in high school is fun! You get to represent Lexington and compete with student-athletes from other nearby towns. There’s no other feeling like hearing the last bell in class and getting prepared for a season-deciding game. (You didn’t hear this from me, but track and field athletes sometimes get to leave earlier than the last bell.)

Still feeling skeptical? That’s okay. High school is about taking risks. Sometimes when you’re unsure, you should really just give it a go! Try a sport you’ve never played before! Those classic high school TV shows don’t paint the picture quite right: it’s not about the football jocks controlling everything around the school or winning the most coveted trophy in the state. It’s about finding the things you enjoy and making commitments that will take you far beyond high school. 

So, incoming freshmen, welcome to LHS. If you’ve already made it onto a team, congratulations. For those who are prepared to try out, best of luck! Remember, not making a team does not mean you can’t come back the next year. Just be sure to work hard and stay positive. 

Enjoy your high school experience!