Every year, new athletes bring fresh experience to our school, while the returning athletes continue building their skills during the season. The experience of athletes can be different from that of other students, or different compared to their previous school, and their perspectives often bring a new light to their new field and community.
New Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey member Lydia McLean ‘27 details her experience at Milton so far, stating that “it has been nice to meet new people and learn about all of the different opportunities at Milton,” noting that she always “welcome[s] the reprieve of field hockey practices in the afternoons.” McLean’s field hockey journey began in 7th grade, when she eventually built the skills to play for the varsity team of her previous school, Hanover High School. And, as McLean states, Milton’s varsity team is “much more competitive.” She first noticed this drive during the infamous one mile run, recalling how “the majority of people, for field hockey, finished under 7:30.”
Caden Prinsen ’28 recalls similar feelings, mentioning that “Football has been very hard here” compared to his old school, but he believes that every practice is “worth it.” Meanwhile, he compliments the environment the football team has created, stating that “people show up for each other and everyone takes it very seriously but can still have fun.” The blend of laughter with hard-work builds a welcoming community for every new athlete, structuring connections that support their second home.
This welcoming community, however, extends beyond individual teams. McKenna Ruland ‘27 mentioned that “there [are] a lot more fans that show up” to games in contrast to her old school. Moreover, she comments on our diversity: “women’s sports get recognized a lot more [here] than [at] my old school . . . As [one of the women] in athletics at Milton, I’m grateful that people support us.” Now, Ruland is able to fine-tune her skills more thoroughly with both supportive teammates and a supportive community. Ruland’s journey in ice hockey began with skating when she was three, and she started playing traditional ice hockey when she was “four or five.” Given her experience, Ruland became a Milton hockey player as a freshman; from then on she has enjoyed the environment of the team and “[has] so much fun every time [she] gets to be on the ice with [her] teammates!”
Girls’ Varsity Basketball player Jennifer Xue ‘29 describes her experience as a new athlete: “the girls on the team have a bond not only on the court, but also off of it as well.” Xue connects this tight-knit environment with our motto: “Dare to Be True,” mentioning how “having everyone be their true selves … has helped foster a unique and diverse culture.” When Xue began her basketball career in fifth grade, her first coach “showed clear favoritism, which left [her] feeling overlooked and doubting [her] abilities.” Some time after she took a break from the sport, “a club AAU coach reached out and invited [her] to join his team.” She states that accepting the invitation was “the best decision [she has] ever made.”
As for soccer, Varsity Boys’ Soccer Coach Chris Kane reached out to Ty Villella ‘27 during Villella’s application process. When Villella first stepped foot on the campus, “the community and…collectiveness and…how everyone is supportive of each other” surprised him. In contrast to his previous school, Milton athletic teams are “more communal,” supporting each other in the process of improving as much as themselves.