Here at Boston Latin School, we have almost 20 different sports taking place over the three seasons during the school year, but the hidden gems at our school are the recreational club sports that many students participate in weekly.
These sports include table tennis, pickleball, spikeball, beginner ballet and badminton. While these clubs may not have as much publicity, they are equally important to BLS students, providing a fun opportunity for students to socialize while learning a new sport.
A fan favorite of all who pass through the basement on their way out of school, the Table Tennis Club has been running strong for quite a few years. You can find BLS Latin teacher Mr. John Kerpan playing a fierce game against students every Monday after school. Vice President and three-year member of the Table Tennis Club Jalen Weatherhead (III) reports, “[The club has] seven to ten consistent members, but it’s hard to keep track of since many people who are walking through the hallway stop by to play games.”
Each game is quick so that every member is included, and they hold a tournament at the beginning of the school year to raise money for equipment. Inevitably, balls are lost due to games being played in the basement hallway, so Weatherhead hopes to someday play in the school gym instead. The club has considered competing against other table tennis teams, specifically from the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science. In short, Weatherhead notes that the club is a fun and relaxed environment, perfect for a new player. Join them on Mondays from 2:30 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. in front of Room 025 for a quick match of table tennis.
Created in 1965, pickleball is a sport that has been gaining popularity and is highlighted in many major news sources. It is similar to tennis, but players use a solid paddle instead of a racket. Considered the fastest-growing sport in the United States as it expanded almost 40 percent in only three years, Gabriel Yuan (I) introduced it to the BLS community. Yuan founded the Pickleball Club two years ago with a peer after playing the sport with his friends. He states, “It creates an opportunity for people to play pickleball for fun.” Every Monday in Room 211, they have their meeting and then move outside the school to play a match with everyone who comes. Currently, with around ten members, the club is always expanding and is open to newcomers. Members praise Pickleball Club and believe it is a great way to exercise and have fun after school.
Although some may not view dance as a sport, the BLS Beginners Ballet Club proves otherwise. Created in 2022, Avani Shah (II) says that the club “introduces the fundamentals of ballet to those who have never danced before.” They only have a few consistent members but hope to have an increase in participants next year. The club starts with barre, which is a simple yet technical form of ballet. The officers of the club are experienced dancers and love to share their passion and knowledge of dance with other students. Ballet is an art form but also requires athleticism and endurance to perform at high levels, even more so than some stereotypical sports. The club is completely recreational since it was created to teach beginners the simplistic components of ballet and to get people dancing. Shah hopes to hold small performances and work with the BLS Sports Department to create a competitive dance team. She believes that the Sports Department should also collaborate with existing dance clubs such as BLS Step Squad or BLS Dance Club.
Evidently, BLS offers so many clubs for various athletic and academic interests and each one is unique to fit students interests.
