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By Betsy Clarke

Some Collegiate students are dedicated to two or three varsity sports, but others have interests in other areas, making it difficult for some students to meet Collegiate’s Upper School two-season sports requirement. From 7th through 10th Grades, this requirement is typically easier to meet, considering athletes can still play on JV teams. Once 11th Grade begins, playing at the JV level is no longer possible, forcing student-athletes to try out for varsity. This increases the level of commitment and lowers the chances of making some teams. Many teams end up cutting some Juniors and Seniors, often leaving these students with limited options other than winter or spring track. Although joining the track team is an enticing option, it is certainly not for everyone. Collegiate does have other athletic opportunities to complete the seasonal requirement, such as fitness and yoga, and there are other ways to fulfill the requirement, such as tutoring with the STAR program at Quioccasin Middle School or having a significant role in a musical or play. As noted by George Simonton (’24) in his December 2023 Match article about boys volleyball, adding more team sports to Collegiate athletics would open up opportunities for many athletes. 

A possible addition to Collegiate athletics is pickleball. The pandemic temporarily shut down many sports leagues and teams, causing a pickleball craze. People were bored and needed physical activity, so some turned to pickleball. It was a way to socialize with friends while keeping the mandatory distance at the time, and it was also surprisingly easy to pick up. While pickleball is often associated with tennis, it is much easier to learn. Pickleball lines have been added to many tennis courts, and a new Richmond pickleball facility recently opened in December 2023. Performance Pickleball, located in Regency Mall, contains 12 courts, making the sport more accessible.    

Collegiate faculty playing pickleball at Performance Pickleball. Photo credit: @collegiaterva via Instagram.

Pickleball has grown drastically as a sport, and it would be a popular option if added to Collegiate sports. The sport is not as physical as other options but is still a fantastic workout and requires players to stay active, making it appeal to many athletes looking for second sports. Maddie Jewett (‘25) is a competitive swimmer. She swims year-round for NOVA and is a member of the Collegiate varsity swim team and the varsity field hockey team. Jewett has expressed interest in participating in a spring sport but cannot find the right fit. Because of Jewett’s significant commitment to swimming, she needs a way to stay active in the off-season with low chances of harming her body physically. Pickleball could be the perfect fit for Jewett and other athletes looking to join another team sport that is not as physically taxing as others. Additionally, Jewett explained her reasons for wanting a pickleball team: “I grew up playing tennis, but it became too intense and competitive, so I started playing pickleball. I loved it because of its similarity to tennis and because it was a fun activity with friends and family.” 

While squash is not quite as easy to learn as pickleball, it could be another popular sport if officially added to Collegiate’s sports line-up for many of the same reasons. Squash is played by many Collegiate students outside of school, whether that is competitively or just for fun with friends. In the winter of 2022, a group of Collegiate Seniors created their own club squash team and played against other high schools. If the sport were added as an official team sport, it would attract a wide range of players. Despite the desire for the sport to be added, some complications come with it. Finding courts to practice on would be a difficult obstacle, as there are few squash courts in Richmond. Still, the possibility of adding such a popular sport to Collegiate’s official list of sports appeals to many squash players and students who are looking for more opportunities to fulfill their sports requirements. 

Squash. Photo credit: Artem Podrez via Pexels.

Though lack of facilities and equipment is a problem for certain sports, for others, such as cheerleading, there are little to no obstacles in adding it to Collegiate’s list of sports. Cheerleading may be less popular in Collegiate’s community, but there are still many benefits to adding a team. Campbell Bain (‘26) has done competitive cheer her whole life and feels strongly that Collegiate should add a team. She says, “Adding sideline cheer would be a great option, because it is easy to learn and does not require background skill. It would also add a lot of spirit to the school’s sporting events.”

Additionally, if a cheer team was added, it would be easier to make than other varsity sports at Collegiate, because the team would not be competing against other schools. Bain added, “You would not need to put excessive work into the team, because you aren’t trying to win anything; you are just trying to engage the crowd.” Collegiate used to have cheerleading teams up until the 1990s for both men and women, and it was a popular sport option among the students. Maris Smutz (‘25) states that “adding a cheerleading team would raise school spirit and make the student sections bigger.” Although Smutz does not see herself trying out for a potential cheerleading team, considering she already plays varisty fall and spring sports, the idea of having a team excites her because of the positive effects it would have on the school’s community. 

The Collegiate girls varsity golf team in 2023. Photo credit: @collegiaterva via Instagram.

Based on interest and in the spirit of opening more athletic opportunities for students, the women’s golf team was incorporated as a new sport in spring 2023 and opened up new opportunities for many students. The team has shown the popularity of expanding Collegiate athletics, as it has already become extremely competitive in only two years. Some players on the team had been playing golf their whole lives, while others picked up the sport after the team was added. Perry Smith (’25) joined the girls’ golf team this past year after playing soccer as her spring sport since 7th Grade. Smith stated, “If I’m going to be busy doing something after school every day, I want it to be something I am passionate about, and soccer wasn’t that for me. But golf is.”

Golf has been a way for Smith to meet the sports requirement through doing something she enjoys, and adding new sports would have a similar effect on other athletes. By enforcing a strict sports requirement, it is difficult for many students to accomplish this requirement through activities they genuinely enjoy; thus, the school should incorporate more opportunities for their athletes to participate by adding new teams.

Featured image courtesy of the Julia Williams Study and Archives Center.