It’s no secret that a high schooler’s life is stressful. There’s a constant worry about passing tests, getting good grades, and doing co-curriculars that make students well-rounded. Whether tennis, football, or cross-country, it’s clear that many students see sports as an important part of their high school experience. Students should maintain a balance in both their academic and athletic lives, so that rigor and recreation can both be enjoyed.

Mr. Kelley, the Activities and Athletics Director here at ASIJ, says that “at ASIJ we have as many, if not more athletes and students involved in co-curricular activities than ever.” Relatively speaking, “numbers of players are at a good level,” and there have been huge increases in student involvement in swimming and wrestling.

According to LIVESTRONG, “research increasingly points to academic benefits for kids who have some regular physical activity.” One thing that sports and academics have in common is that, in both areas, students like to challenge themselves. Sports teams travel around the world to find that good challenge, and this also helps students build comradery within the teams.

Perhaps you’re wondering what the future of sports is at ASIJ. While we do have a good variety of sports and facilities here, to make these things even better, ASIJ is working to expand both sports facilities and the offerings themselves. “I’d like to possibly add a boys’ volleyball team or a rugby team once new facilities are built,” says Mr. Kelley. It appears that ASIJ will continue to provide students with a rich athletic environment.