Student-athletes share their Division One dreams and what it takes to get there
Going to a Division One sport means competing with thousands of other people who also want to reach the top. Every student athlete is striving for something different when it comes to their goals after high school.
Athletes like Micah Boo (12) see their sports career continuing after high school. His dream began when he was young. He said, “I’ve been playing baseball for 14 years.” Boo plays as a pitcher and first baseman for AHS and will continue to be a pitcher in college.
He realized he had to set realistic goals in order to reach his ultimate goal of competing D1. “When I was young, every baseball player’s dream was to go pro. Sometimes it’s not always realistic, but I wanted to take things one step at a time,” Boo said. “Time management is something I learned and improved upon over time. I didn’t learn it until my junior year. My freshman and sophomore year, I just lollygagged,” he said.
Like Boo, Shirina Shi (11) has also been playing her sport for a number of years, working to achieve her ultimate goal. “I started basketball in fifth grade and became serious about the sport in seventh,” she said. Shi’s love for the sport comes even with struggles as she fights with doubts about her height. She said, “As I step onto the court, I don’t necessarily pass the eye test, but playing with a chip on my shoulder helps me use it as motivation.”
Micah Boo (12) winded up to make a pitch to the opposing team (Photo Credit: Nancy Morgan).
Support from others helped Shi develop skills that she didn’t know she needed. Her club coach has been training her for years and has helped shape her confidence. She stated, “He’s not afraid to tell me what I’m doing wrong, and he helps me get better every day.”
Being recognized and having other coaches reach out to her made her dream feel more real. Playing in front of college recruiters solidified Shi’s goals and reassured her that she is capable. “People telling me, ‘You’re going to be special,’ helps push me to believe in myself.”
Samiah Seymore (12) has only been wrestling for 2 years, but her dedication drives her to be her best. “Wrestling is not an easy sport, but you are responsible for holding yourself back from greatness,” she said. Seymore’s goal of going D1 is fueled by a desire to represent girls in wrestling as they are generally underrepresented. Seymore said, “I want to show how much opportunity comes from this sport.”
She said, “Discipline is what separates different types of athletes. You have to want it more than the other people you compete against.”
Similar to Seymore, Tristan Duong has only been running track for 2 years. Yet he is already thinking about his next steps and what’s in his future. “The work I put in during the off-season will benefit me significantly more in-season,” he said. While off-season training sometimes suffers from a lack of motivation, constant support helps bring it back. Duong said, “I have friends that are more knowledgeable than me, and they keep me focused on my goals.”
Duong focuses on his mindset as a way to reach his goal. “Staying focused on myself and being optimistic is a mindset that helps me push through the tough days,” he said.
Boo stated, “In college, everybody’s Division I, and it’s just a hard level change. You want to prepare yourself for the drastic change.”
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