At a school that offers a wide array of extracurricular clubs and sports, it seems as though there are unlimited possibilities for anyone to excel at their talents and find their passions. Boston Latin School offers an astounding 20 sports to students at all different levels and points in their athletic careers.
Sports are undoubtedly a positive contribution to the growth of a student — they give students an opportunity to escape from the pressure of their academics while also offering several benefits, such as improvements in physical health, discipline, teamwork and leadership skills. In team-based sports, communication, cooperation and open-mindedness are necessary skills to succeed in not only the sport, but also in school and beyond.
At BLS, many students excel in a variety of sports and receiving awards and recognitions. Beyond these tangible achievements, sports also play an important role in a student’s development. Participating in a sports team develops skill, fosters friendship and prioritizes recreation. These attributes, however, are not specific to the alma mater.
What sets BLS apart is the variety of sports it offers, allowing students to find something they enjoy and build a community around it. With sports like rowing and sailing, BLS’s vast expanse of athletic opportunities allows students to gain unique experiences that they might not get at another school.
At BLS, sports are either funded by Boston Public Schools, BLS itself or the Boston Latin School Association (BLSA). The BLSA is an independent nonprofit organization that supports BLS and funds departments such as the Arts Department and the Athletic Department.
BLS Athletic Director Mr. Jack Owens explains that the “BLSA, through their hard work and philanthropic efforts, is responsible for the remainder of the budget which allows BLS to compete at the Division I level in one of the best leagues in the state, the Dual County League.”
For example, the BLSA funded all of the renovations to the Roche (Upper) Gym, improvements to the Costello Fitness Center, uniforms and equipment, facility rental fees and more. The BLSA financially supports both Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) sponsored sports as well as sports that are not MIAA-sanctioned, such as crew, fencing and sailing. Aside from the BLSA, BPS provides funding for things such as coaching, transportation and officials.
While BLS offers many of the more popular sports, such as football, basketball, track and field, soccer and more, some have noticed that other sports, such as field hockey or rugby, are not offered. Although there was a rugby club in the past, it was halted due to both COVID-19 and leadership graduating. Field hockey is also not deemed a popular sport in Boston; there are very few programs, and many fields are not suitable for field hockey.
Mr. Owens notes, however, that the “athletic department is always open to new sports, so long as there is interest, a plan for sustainable longevity and growth, and it works within the construct of the BLS Athletics budget.”
Although funding for each sport offered at BLS differs, athletes are rewarded with coaches who are passionate and encouraging, as well as the opportunity to build lifelong connections in a like-minded and supportive community.
Anna Carey (V), a current member of the BLS crew team, reflects on how crew has helped her grow: “It gave me a large sense of community […] and helped me realize how one little thing that someone does can affect so many other people.” Carey furthermore brings to light the fact that crew is accessible to all. She points out how crew has given a sense of community and support to those who want to participate in other sports but have impeding long-term injuries or disabilities.
Not only do sports benefit physical wellbeing, but participating in BLS sports also gives students a sense of belonging.
The BLS sailing team offers a sense of togetherness, connectedness and inclusion. Anne Kashiwagi (III) describes how for her, sailing was a transition from an individual sport to a team sport, stating that after joining sailing, she “learned what it is to be a team,” how to “work together” and the benefits of “playful competition.” Sailing also helps foster relationships between BLS and other schools, as “there are even people on the BLS team that come from other schools that don’t offer a sailing team.”
Sports are essential to BLS’s mission to thrive — it is important for students to pursue their interests alongside others with the same passions and form social connections, which further strengthens the BLS community. These opportunities are all greatly beneficial to the BLS community and they provide an outlet for healthy recreation and connection.