Mater Dei has an incredible reputation for sports. From football to sailing, there is a wide variety of options available for every student. However, some students have an interest in other sports that are not offered at school. Sports like cycling, rowing, and a plethora of others are popular among students who play extracurricular sports.

Rowing is a demanding water sport that targets muscle groups like the legs, arms, and back. Students like senior Ava Kellman pursue rowing as a sport because of personal tastes and the benefits the sport offers.

“I [row] because I feel like it’s made me a better person, and I think I’m really good at it,” Kellman said.

Even though the sport is not offered at Mater Dei, Kellman would consider the thought of joining a team if there was one offered at school. 

“I think just because I’m a senior and I have like, three months left, I wouldn’t [join the team],” Kellman said. “But if I was a sophomore or a freshman, I’d join a Mater Dei club [team]. I think [Mater Dei] would be able to cultivate a fast team, and get together a good group of athletes.”

Students like sophomore Noah Hoffman enjoy sports like cycling because of its competitive nature. Similar to rowing, cycling is a very demanding sport, which takes a lot of practice to improve and grow in physical skill.

“I started [cycling] when I was nine. I just really liked racing against other people and getting going fast and being inches away from them,” Hoffman said. “[For practice,] I usually bike six or seven days a week.”

Sports offered at Mater Dei, including swimming, are one of many that are also offered in clubs outside of school. Sophomore Vivian Tsai likes swimming with a club team because of the chance to gather experience over time and the welcoming environment.

“I did [swim] lessons when I was younger, and eventually transferred to a [swim] club,” Tsai said. “I currently swim on a high school team [outside of Mater Dei].” 

Plenty of sports are offered at Mater Dei. Some students, however, want to take another direction based on personal preferences and play club sports, or sports not offered at school. Sports like rowing, cycling, and club swimming create a sense of discipline and teamwork, and they help athletes feel comfortable with their choice of sport. While Mater Dei provides a strong athletic program, students who play extracurricular sports show their personal dedication and commitment that goes beyond what the school offers.