During athletes’ off season, there are a variety of different ways that athletes can stay in shape. One way is participating in club sports. These are competitive teams that athletes normally pay to join, practice multiple times a week, then travel to intense competitions. 

Senior Violet Lueck plays for Impact Volleyball Club. She joined the club to get into more serious playing.

“I started doing clubs because it was fun and all my friends were doing it. I went to a bigger club for more serious volleyball, and it would help me get to play volleyball in college if I wanted to,” Lueck said.

Although playing club sports is very beneficial, there could also be some negatives that go along with joining a club. Senior Grace Werch practices at Progressive Pole Vault, Polebenders, and competes with AP Vaulting. Werch practices multiple times per week in Waukesha, Freedom and De Pere.

“The drive to practice can get boring, and it can be hard to keep motivation. In this sport you put a lot of work into something you see very little progress right away, but in the long run, it pays off. It’s hard to have bad practices when you drive so far just to not do well. That’s why it is important to think about the positives; there is always something you can learn from,” Werch said. 

Junior Jackson Bartol plays for the Wisconsin Crusaders basketball team. Like Lueck, he likes the high level of competition.

“I get to learn from multiple other coaches and also get to play against higher level competition,” Bartol said.

All three athletes say they enjoy spending time with other elite athletes. Club sports give student-athletes a chance to play at large clubs and meet many new people.

“I love forming connections with my teammates. Practices are so much fun once we get to know each-other. The tournaments are also so much fun, if we do well. I also like just spending time with the team and hanging out with them,” Lueck said.