“Your mind is the most dangerous tool when running. It can make you feel tired, your legs feel heavy, and your confidence non existent. To be successful when running, you must get out of your own head. If you can get out of your own head and free yourself of you mental weights, you'll fly.” - Aidan Riano ‘20

“My whole extended family rows so I decided to be the different grandchild and play a sport other than crew. Lacrosse did not come easy to me, unlike soccer or basketball; I had to work hard and practice daily in order to get better. The sport has challenged me mentally and physically, but that’s why those game changing moments on the field are worth it. At the end of the day, lacrosse rewards me and is something I look forward to everyday.” - Essie Pasternak ‘19

“When I first started playing tennis I thought of it as a sport I can play for the rest of my life, but I never expected how much joy it would actually bring me. Especially the past three years, when I get to spend every afternoon with some of my favorite people at Blair.” - Kate Gerdsen ‘20

“Being an athlete to me is an opportunity. Having a chance to express myself through motion and competition has been a blessing in my life. Sports has opened an endless amount of doors for me in the present, past and future.” - Jalen Roberts ‘20

“I truly appreciate how much my coaches love the sport of wrestling. It’s clear that Coach Antonelli has a passion for the sport and for learning as a whole. The past four years that I’ve been at Blair, coach has continued to evolve. He has jumped levels as a coach each year and I think that’s what’s most valuable about Blair Wrestling.” - Michael Colaiocco ‘19

“The most important thing basketball has taught me is hard work and self-application. For me, these two things work together because there's a lot of things I work on alone, whether it be in the gym or the weight room. To taking these things off the court, I apply these lessons in my day to day life; most importantly in my academics. Through basketball I've been able to see the rewards of hard work and applying oneself.” - Henry Makeny ‘19

“I have benefited from swimming in many more ways than I can express. It has mainly allowed me to find a discipline in myself that I didn’t know I had and have fun at the same time. Swimming has also connected me to people in my community at home and in the Blair community that I may not have have gotten the chance to know.” - Anna Insana ‘21

“Softball has been my biggest passion since I picked up a ball and a bat 10 years ago. It has taught me to embrace and use my strength, to push through anything that stands in my way, to work hard for the results you want to see, and to have confidence in myself and my abilities. It has taught me how to deal with the losses and to celebrate the wins. But most importantly, it has allowed me to play alongside some of the greatest people and athletes I will ever know--for that, I am forever in softball's debt.” - Ashton Martini ‘20

“My teammates all make playing field hockey so much more fun and interesting for me. They are people I can count on, who are there for me, and who I have gotten to know really well this season. I also would have never become friends with a lot of the girls if we didn't all play field hockey. They are the girls who I bond with the most and who make all of our practices and games so much fun.” - Ally Frazier ‘22

“Before every race, I warm up with everyone who’s running the event, and I listen to a few specific songs in my playlist that help me zone out. After that, I go roll myself out and put bio-freeze on my legs. Just before I go check in, I do a few striders to get up to speed. This just helps me stay loose and get really zoned out before my race.” - Morgan Jones ‘21

“Golf itself is not as physical tiring some other sports, however repetitive practices often lead to injuries or muscle fatigues. I've been having some back issues and often or not, I don't feel like I can perform to the best of my abilities due to these physical limitations. A big part of it is mentally preparing to play with physical issues, and staying composed even when they affect my score. Under most circumstances, I know I can perform decently as long as I understand my game, and plan ahead to mitigate the effects of physical limitations.” - Brian Li ‘19

“I really enjoyed being with my team this season. One of my most memorable moments was going to dinner at a diner on our way to nationals and eating huge amounts of food.  Once at nationals, everyone played at their best!” - Zoe Reinert ‘20

“I played almost every sport as a kid and baseball was the only one I stuck with my entire life. I guess the reason I continue playing is that I love how challenging and difficult the sport is.  If you get a hit three out of ten times in baseball you are considered a great batter. It takes more than brute mindless strength to be good at baseball. It takes years of perfection and refinement of certain skills.” - Matt Tung ‘19

“The passion I have for soccer is indescribable. I feel that playing the sport allows me to present my determination and perseverance I have for the things I am passionate about. I have been playing the sport since I was very young, and my love for it has increased through the years. Soccer is a part of me that I can never let go.” - Kerem Ayhan ‘19