Athletics
Athletic News
A Letter from Director of Athletics Chris Ziemer
This has been an extremely challenging stretch for everyone across the globe. The current situation hits everyone differently, but it has impacted all of us in some way. Our Coyote student-athletes, coaches and teams experienced added disappointment when high school sports seasons were cancelled across the country.
We had been holding out hope, however slim that hope was, that we would return to the fields, courts and tracks to watch the Coyote spring teams in action. Unfortunately, that won't happen, and that makes us truly sad. Instead of practicing and competing together, our teams have turned our efforts to providing virtual opportunities to keep our student-athletes and teams connected and active. Of course, we would be lying if we said that zoom meetings and workouts from home were close to the same as the real thing. They aren't.
We have always tried to use our athletic teams and sports as a vehicle to learn about ourselves, about others, and about working together. And sports teach us how to succeed graciously, how to fail gracefully, and how to overcome obstacles tenaciously. We find ourselves calling upon those skills more than we may have expected.
We are especially sad for our seniors, who won't have the chance to wear the SA uniform with pride again in an official sporting event. Senior year is often a culmination of four years of hard work. There is no magic formula that ends every career with a Michael Jordan fadeaway shot for the winning basket. However, in most cases, our seniors become leaders, both in performance and attitude. They are appreciative of the opportunities that come their way in their final season, knowing that at some point all good things come to an end. And that includes being a high school student-athlete.
To our seniors: we want you to remember why you decided to play a sport at SA, or even outside of SA. For some, it was social; for others, it was for the exercise; others may enjoy the competition. For those with the talent, drive, and motivation to compete at the next level, we are confident you will take these experiences with you. For those who planned on making SA sports your last stop as a competitive athlete, this doesn't mean you can't continue to find ways to do the same thing in the future.
The lessons you have learned--commitment, discipline, teamwork, time management, just to name a few--will live on with you. The friendships you have created don't have to end, and new friendships are right around the corner. If health and exercise were your motivation, you will find plenty of ways to stay active in your future. For those that love to compete, trust me when I say that competition will exist as long as you seek it out. My hope in all of this is that we can all appreciate the opportunities that come our way in the future, and more importantly, continue to seek out these types of opportunities for the rest of our lives.
I can imagine years from now, the Class of 2020 spring student-athletes will be telling stories about their senior season. It will probably go something like this: "I was getting ready to lead my team to the league title when coronavirus hit," or "I probably would have gone pro if they didn't stop the season." If there is one saying that holds true about former athletes, it is the older they get, the better they were. The stories for this season are going to be epic.
Hang in there, Coyotes. We miss seeing all of you in uniform, and when we get back in uniforms in the fall, we will not only be playing for ourselves, our teammates, and our amazing school, but we will also carry on with added motivation for the Class of 2020.
Keep on howling, Coyotes!
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...the only private, independent, college preparatory high school in Sonoma County. On our beautiful campus nestled at the base of Taylor Mountain in Southeastern Santa Rosa, our students are able to explore their interests and passions in a rigorous and inspiring environment that develops a lifelong love of learning and prepares them for college and beyond.
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