Playing your first youth game as a kid, you never think to picture what it would be like to retire from the sport you play because it feels so far away. The athlete lifestyle feels like a normal thing, once it is over, the feeling is odd. Individuals sometimes collect a sense of grief in a way after not having the sport to play anymore.
Senior Ian Yeatts just finished his last basketball season at THS. He was an active basketball player for 10 years and made a tremendous amount of memories throughout his time playing. After finishing his season, he is currently working out and hanging out with friends. Yeatts had no problem with finding new things to do once he finished basketball. He elaborated, “I knew before my season ended that I would find enjoyment in doing other things instead of going to practice, since I’ve done the same practice for so long.” All athletes face challenges through their season of sports. Yeatts said, “My biggest challenge was switching coaches throughout the years; I never had a real relationship with any of them.” Ian plans to stay involved with basketball by playing for fun in the future.
Lauren Torborg’s volleyball high school season might’ve ended in November, but she continued her career in travel for one last season. Lauren has played volleyball since she was in the fourth grade, and it is finally coming to a close this semester. She has developed new interests as she finished up her school season. Torborg said, “I hang out with friends and have more time to go to a Mexican restaurant with my grandparents.” Students often find it hard to do things after finishing the sport that takes up the majority of their time, but Lauren has had no trouble with it. Lauren decided to play one last travel season senior year, which a lot of athletes choose not to do. Torborg elaborated, “I decided to play because I wanted one final season with my travel coach and to play with my friends from other schools.” Lauren plans to stay involved by coaching during summer camps and playing for fun with friends.
Alumni Destiny Flores of THS continued her gymnastics career at JMU and is involved in JMU club gymnastics. She often thought through the years that once she finished high school she would be done with sports. Flores elaborates,” I wish I knew before about the different opportunities colleges have to offer when it comes to club sports.” She has found a different type of love for the sport entering JMU. Destiny mentioned, “I’m now doing the sport for fun and that has allowed for me to make so many amazing friendships within the sport of gymnastics.” The practice of college and high school is different in many ways. In high school you are required to attend many practices a week, unlike JMU club where you are required to practice for 2 hours a week. At JMU club the team is not led by coaches like high school is; it is led by students that are on the executive board of the club. Destiny has been involved with gymnastics since she was 3, but did not start competing till she was 8. She plans after her retirement with JMU, she wants to come back and be involved with her home gym.
As the retired athletes look back on their seasons, they give some advice to younger athletes coming up. Yeatts said, “Work hard, never give up, and do what you love.” Torborg also said, “Go to the things that aren’t mandatory because it makes you stand out as a player.” Flores included, “They should know that even after they finish with their high school career, that there are so many different opportunities to continue doing the sport you love in college without taking it to the college level. You can join club sports or even make an intramural team.” Take it from experienced athletes, and how they have been through all the things in high school sports and how they used it after their retirement from their sport in high school.
Students often lose track of time, and don’t take a second to realize life after their sports career. The THS students give a great insight on what their life looks like after their sports career ends. The 3 different types of retirement are shown that can happen after high school seasons end. You may end up enjoying one last travel season, ending it on a good note in your high school season, or simply taking your love for the sport to college and exploring what you can do with the talent there. Life can take you in many directions, and how you use it is up to you.
