Students participate in club, school, and recreational soccer teams for extracurricular activities.
Senior Alex Markowitz is currently on the Fútbol Club 13 soccer team, coached by George Hopkins. Markowitz is playing club soccer to better prepare himself both physically and mentally for the upcoming high school season, he said.
“I like club soccer because I can meet people from other schools,” Markowitz said. “Normally, I don’t have the chance to do so.”
Senior Will McDonald plays for Don Eidam’s Piedmont Soccer Club team, the Die Hards. McDonald said he plays because he likes to keep in touch with his elementary school friends and have fun. He has been a part of the team since second grade.
“I look forward to September because I get to play with my friends on Die Hard,” McDonald said.
Sophomore Laila Adarkar said she plays club soccer because of the competition and because her teammates and coach make her work harder.
“I practice four times a week,” Adarkar said.
Adarkar said she preferred her club soccer team over her high school team last year.
“It depends on the year and environment the captains make,” Adarkar said.
According to the Center for Disease Control, America continues to face an obesity epidemic and children and adolescents should do 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day.
“With an hour and a half long practices twice [a week], I am able to get my necessary exercise,” Markowitz said.
Outside of school and club sports, Markowitz said that he does not get to exercise very often.
“Club sports are a great way to stay in shape,” McDonald said.
