Some of Milton’s top athletes play their sport at the national level, including Bridget Hunt ‘27 (USA lacrosse), Sara Callahan ‘27 (USA lacrosse), Liana Bolosova ‘27 (Slovakia pole vaulting), Charlotte Sze ‘28 (USA squash), Sam Li ‘28 (Hong Kong soccer), Emily Ramirez ‘29 (USA squash), and Henrik Pang ‘29 (Hong Kong ice hockey).
For many of these elite student-athletes, their family serves as the foundational inspiration for their athletic paths. Hunt credits her parents, stating, “my mom was my biggest motivator because she’s my number one cheerleader, but my biggest inspiration is my dad because… his drive is really unbelievable.” Similarly, Callahan’s passion for lacrosse was ignited by her father, who “coached all [her] teams,” and by her sister, whom she describes as “just super motivated all the time, and is really easy to look up to.” For Li, his drive is deeply connected to his faith and the people around him, who “push [him] to be better and be [himself].” Pang also acknowledges his father’s key role, saying, “When I was growing up my dad always taught me, drove me, and… got me into the game.”
But how did these top athletes end up at Milton? For Sze, the decision to attend was due to a need to change from her old school during the Covid pandemic, as she notes, “at Milton there’s so many more things I can do than at my old school where I had a lot less autonomy.” For Li, the decision was athletically strategic; he explicitly “chose Milton because of the soccer team,” after researching and determining it was “one of the best programs” that could provide him “the best opportunity to reach [his] goal.” Ramirez and Pang cited Milton’s supportive community as a key factor. Ramirez said, “I chose Milton because of the community… the people and the teachers. They’re all so kind and welcoming, and I felt like if I came I would be very supported.” Pang’s decision was also influenced by family ties and fit. “A couple of my cousins went here and I had already visited the campus a lot,” Pang states. He continues, “it also fitted my need for academics and athletics.”
Competing for a national team demands discipline that most high schoolers never experience. Yet these athletes master the rigorous balance between academic commitments and professional level training. For example, Hunt explains, “you sort of have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. And so if that means staying up late and doing your work, then so be it, as long as you’re also doing what you love to do athletically.” Ramirez shares this approach: “I play squash every day so it can be tricky with schoolwork, but I do it somehow. After school I go straight to squash and train and do fitness. Then after I get all my homework done and study for any quizzes.” Similarly, Sze emphasizes the importance of “going to extra-help” and using time well during free periods to get “homework done.” Managing the dual responsibilities “becomes a routine,” according to Pang. Bolosova also attributes her discipline to the habits she developed early on, saying, “I’ve learned to do it since I was young.”
Callahan highlighted a hope for her destiny that she not only is looking forward to her college years at Stanford for women's lacrosse, but also “passing [lacrosse] down to future generations of my family.”