By: Chris Ha, Theodore Do
Athletes of MHS continue to play their sports in the offseason through club sports. With hopes of improving as better athletes, students go around the Bay Area for the help Junior James Westfall said.
Milpitas High offers a variety of sports throughout the different seasons; those are winter, fall, and spring. Since most seasons are in a span of three to four months, athletes have longer offseasons, Westfall said. Some athletes choose to relax during their offseason, while others choose to improve themselves by playing club sports. Club sports are organizations outside of MHS that offer a different range of sports to students.
Since players choose to continue out into their offseason, a lot of time goes into the particular sport. “I don’t think it is a waste of my time,” Westfall said. “It is just a good way to better yourself,” he added. It helps him progress as a baseball player, both mentally and physically, he said.
Athletes get a sense of improvement by constantly playing Junior Aneterea Lealao said. They have many forms of coaching, so they can really know and feel what they need to improve on and what they really thrive in.
“I feel like it helps me more to progress as a person in basketball and succeed,” Lealao said. “With extra workouts and practice, the hard work definitely pays off in the end.”
Certain athletes use their club sport as a way to improve for the school team. Since colleges come to scout athletes at high school games, that is their chance to show them what they have been working on, Westfall said.
“Well I do both for the extra practice. I am just trying to get better because doing it for school is where it counts more,” Westfall said. “That is where colleges are going to notice you. If I do try to keep going with this; that is how I am going to get noticed for it.”
When it comes to the preference of whether club sports or school sports are better, athletes vary with their opinions. The coaching and having that bond with your teammates plays a big role, Lealao said.
“I prefer to be with my AAU team because the people over there have helped me from sixth grade to now. By doing simple stuff and they have more workouts for us to do rather than the regular team” Lealao said. He has spent six years with his club sport, the South Bay Scholars. Having that bond with his coaches really helps him be a better player, Lealao said.
The ultimate goal is just to become a better athlete in all aspects you can. You can always improve, no matter what, Westfall said.