Every season, another athlete decides to quit a sport. There are various factors that play into the ultimate decision to let go of a sport. Many would argue that it is a naturally occurring event in high school as many athletes are continuing to find themselves and their passions as they emerge into independence. 

Lila Cevallos, a junior, speaks on her experience going into high school and contemplating continuing soccer.

“I quit soccer going into freshman year,” said Cevallos. “It was because I was kind of scared that being in high school and doing a sport would be a lot at the beginning of the year. I also didn’t really wanna be on a new team with completely new people and a new coach. I thought about doing it again, and then I never did.”

Cevallos is now a member of the track and field team where she finds her passion in throwing and wouldn’t regret the decision to redirect her sports path. Without quitting soccer, Cevallos never would have discovered her love for track. 

Isabelle Preston, a junior, is currently a member of the cheerleading team. Unfortunately, she has made the hard decision to quit going into her senior year. 

“I’m quitting cheer because it took a lot of time out of my summer and I’ve been focusing a lot on college stuff,” said Preston. “Cheer was very rigorous during the summer and now I have more time to focus on college applications.”

It’s common to let go of sports in a time where you need to put your energy towards other aspects of your life.