CHS's Year-Round Athletes

This article orginally appeared in the February 2010 edition of The Columbian, the CHS student paper. It was written by Dana Busgang, a junior.

"I think it's great. I encourage it, and I think every kid should play three sports," said Columbia High School Athletic Director Dave Curtin on the few select students who choose to make the commitment to participate in three sports during the school year. Melissa Carelli, '10, Ginevra Czech, '10, and DJ Roberts, '10, all participate in a different sport for every athletic season.

Along with starting on the varsity lacrosse team since her sophomore year, Carelli starts on the varsity girls basketball and volleyball teams. "For volleyball I have to do strength training, but for basketball and lacrosse I mostly run," said Carelli.

Making the decision to play sports year-round means that Carelli has to devote many of her afternoons and weekends to her athletics. "Most of the time I practice about four or five days a week, with a game on the weekend," said Carelli. Even with the major time commitment, Carelli does not find her grades suffering, and she still manages to get her schoolwork done. "Since it's my senior year, I don't have a lot of classes, so it's not that much work," said Carelli. "But last year I had a heavier class load so it was more difficult." Carelli received an athletic scholarship to play lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, a Division I school.

Czech also finds most of her days taken up by practices. She plays soccer during the fall, acts as the girls fencing captain in the winter, and plays lacrosse during the spring. Combined, her sports require practice six days a week. "Playing a sport consistently keeps me in shape all year long, so the most training I do is running," said Czech. "I usually don't go to a gym."

Though Czech is most passionate about lacrosse, she holds the coveted B-strip position on the foil squad for CHS Fencing. Along with Carelli, she plans to continue playing lacrosse at the collegiate level. Czech has committed to Rollins College in Florida, a Division II school.

"I practice every day," said Roberts. "I don't get straight A's, but I'm doing okay." Playing three sports keeps him in shape for every season. "I run a lot for track, and indoor track takes me straight into outdoor track," said Roberts. "I also run a lot for football, with strength and conditioning training as well."

Roberts takes his sports seriously, having the same determination and focus for each one, but he is most passionate about track. Roberts has won four All-American honors as the anchor of the boys track team 4x400 relay and for the sprint medley relay.

"I've never really had a problem with [playing three sports]," said Czech. "It just always works out."