Powerlifting

“BLS Powerlifting has […] unconditional unity. […] Because powerlifting is an individual sport, people have their own routines to set up each lift, but we are always very sure to show up for every lifter,” says Kate Lincecum (II). The lifters sit on the ground right in front of the competition platform so that each lifter can see and hear their team cheering them on. Lincecum adds, “We truly are a pack, sticking together through the meet and training.”

Sailing

The BLS sailing team has several traditions of their own. While they are split up on the water, they make sure to take time to do things as a team. Elio Kohn (III) comments, “Every day before practice, we do a run down and back along the pier in all our gear.” On the first days of practice, they all bring juice jugs, with Tropicana being the favored brand, to cut open and make into bailing jugs. On that same theme, they give their seniors personalized bailing jugs as a thank you and a goodbye at the end of the season.

Soccer

“After every away soccer game, we roll down the window of the bus and sing ‘Baby’ by Justin Bieber and ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey to anyone on the streets who will listen,” says Ilana Schwartz (II). This is just one of the BLS varsity soccer team’s many traditions. Other rituals include printing out quotations and putting them in their socks on game day, improvement cards, spirit bags and team dinners at Bertucci’s. This year, the team captains also began a tradition of writing individual letters to all the players at the end of the season.

Tennis

Since tennis is often a more individual sport, athletes sometimes have differing personal rituals. Either way, they always make sure that they are properly fueled for their matches. “Tennis is an individual sport, but we find ways to connect as a team before and after with meals and [make] sure to cheer our teammates on,” says Harkin Lee (III). When playing doubles tennis, they always make sure to high-five or congratulate each other after every good point or set.