Senior Randy Milliken is not only captain of the CCHS soccer team but plays for a travel team as well. Photo Credit: JP PORTRAITS
BY DAVID DEACON
Some athletes play high school sports, and others play on travel teams. However, every once in a while, some star athletes will come along that can do both simultaneously. These superior athletes are unique in a fashion, not only being surrounded by sports, but handling other aspects of life as well. Most athletes are committed, but these athletes are doubly dedicated.
The final bell rings, signaling that the school day is over for the majority of students, but a select few stay behind to start another day of intense practicing. There is no time to waste, and the athletes all eagerly hustle to the field. Everyone suits up in their practice jerseys with a quick round of small talk. Suddenly, the coach’s whistle blows and everyone attends hut, beginning to focus on the difficult practice that is about to go into fruition.
“It is these types of moments being in the locker rooms with teammates before a practice or a game that creates a brotherhood like feel,” six year doubly dedicated hockey player Oscar Teran said.
At the end of a difficult practice, many exhausted and beaten-down team members finally get to go home. However, for a few, this is not the case, and after spending over eleven hours at school, a well-deserved break is needed. Unfortunately, the break is short, since round two of practice is approaching. The players strip their gear and perhaps get a quick bite to eat before heading back out to travel practice, proving there’s no rest for the weary.
Arriving at a travel practice, it is customary to switch from school practice shirts to travel practice shirts; in fact, it has become a ritual for some doubly dedicated athletes. This changing of the shirts also shifts the tone for travel practice. Instead of formal, small talk, inside jokes are made between players that wouldn’t make sense to outsiders of the team. One thing that does reoccur is the coach calling for attention so that the practice can commence. Once again, every player quiets down, knowing that with a game on the weekend each of them must make use of all the time they have.
After another three hour practice ends, it’s finally time for doubly dedicated athletes to retreat home only to have to repeat the process the next day.
At the end of the day, when each doubly dedicated athlete was at practice, those that play one sport or none at all could carry on with ease. These students have the time to catch up on their sleep, finish their homework, or hang out with friends and maintain a social life: everything doubly dedicated athletes don’t have the option of doing.
“Soccer definitely takes up the majority of your time, and I feel that I don’t have time for a social life because I spend so much time with soccer,” CCHS soccer team captain and six year doubly dedicated athlete Randy Milliken said.
Though playing for two teams takes up the majority of a person’s free time, being doubly dedicated does have its benefits. With all the practice that comes from doing double the work, it becomes natural that a player continues to advance in skill. Instead of practice three times a week, now there’s practice six or seven times a week. The experience aspect of the game allows players to become more efficient, making the players and the team better overall. The benefits of playing well on a high school team or travel team aren’t just limited to one though, as these skills often carry over.
“I have to use my travel soccer skills in high school to stay up to par with the competition and help my team as a whole,” Milliken said.
It’s normal that students sometimes make one team a priority. Travel teams are often taken more seriously than high school sports, and they usually have tighter bonds between the players. Then again, there’s no better feeling than winning a high school sports game, the bleachers filled with ecstatic fans that just happen to double over as your peers.
“Although travel is a bit more serious, high school hockey is still very important because you’re playing for the pride of your school,” Teran said.
Whether you’re a sports fan, or just a regular, single team athlete, respect is demanded for these doubly dedicated players work ethic and commitment to the games they play.
