Sun 25 Jan 2009
Thanks to Jeff for the links regarding two new Ephs, Class of 2013. I wanted to make sure we had these articles in the archives because I bet we will be hearing more about these young men.
Chris Sheahan, from Wolcott High School, was class president, captain of the football, weightlifting and track teams, and a member of the National Honors Society. He also did a year at The Gunnery, where he made High Honor Roll and was honored as a first Team All-Colonial League Selection. He will be playing football at Williams.
Darren Hartwell, a three-sport athlete ranked ninth in his class at North Reading, will be playing baseball and football for the Ephs. And as Jeff noted, it sounds as if he chose Williams over Harvard.
Welcome, gentlemen!
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9 Responses to “Future Ephs”
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PTC says:
Good deal. I hope they take the time and have the support to enjoy everything that Williams has to offer. A semester abroad… some time hanging at the CDE… and of course, beers at the local legion.
Seriously, I worry that athletes may lose more than they gain because of the focus on sports… I know I did.
I know your son is a jock right sophmom? Is he going to do a semester abroad… or anything outside of the box, or does his sport prohibit him from taking full advantage?
January 25th, 2009 at 6:43 pmfrank uible says:
Welcome, 2013s! I have known thousands of athletes, at Williams or other levels, and to my knowledge, PTC is one of the infinitesimallly rare ones expressing general regrets about their athletic participations.
January 25th, 2009 at 8:58 pm1980 says:
I agree Frank. One of my children spent a semester abroad last spring in a program which included a number of athletes from NESCAC schools. My sense is that most NESCAC athletes make the most of their college experience on many levels.
January 25th, 2009 at 9:25 pmPTC says:
1980/ Frank- What is the % of Williams students play sports in two semesters, like one of the young men mentioned above?
Are people able to reflect back and truly understand the impact of not doing what they could have done, had they not played sport X in year Y and Z?
In my case, I took the semester abroad fall term, senior year. If I had had the ability, I would have definitely done another one. I have the foresight of having actually made the choice to stop playing a varsity sport to peruse something else.
I think we should also take the time to mention injury. It is very easy to sustain an injury in College athletics that might close doors for a person or restrict them from doing any number of things later in life (like walking past age 65). I bet there are a lot of former college athletes out there that look at their spent joints and battered bodies after the multiple surgeries and question how much it was really worth it… using their bodies in such a way that did not involve a career. One of the reasons I did not Wrestle my senior year was that I was quite literally saving my body for something I felt was more important.
Athletics do a lot of good for people. For me, Wrestling was the only reason that I even got into the College that I did, and the only reason that I stayed in high school. It had a positive impact on me. However, as kids turn into young adults, I think it is important that they take more time to asses the full impact of what sports are doing to their bodies and their ability to broaden their studies.
I do not think my perspective is that unique.
January 25th, 2009 at 10:00 pmJonathan '05 says:
I know someone else who chose Williams over Harvard
January 25th, 2009 at 10:23 pmfrank uible says:
I do.
January 26th, 2009 at 12:13 amPTC says:
frank- I know a lot of athletes in mid life. Many of them think about what we did to our bodies at a younger age.
Work out regimes have changed, to try and reduce impact and slow down stress related injuries that cripple men.
Sports put into place new rules to try to recuce impact related injuries caused by contact.
People do think about this kind of stuff- especailly after the second, third or fourth back/knee/hip/shoulder operation at age 38.
I am just saying- there is life after college sports, and it is worth taking a look at all impact and the options on the table that could have a more lasting impact on their lives, vice those last two years of hockey.
I encourage every athlete to think about it… take that semester abroad if you want to… even if, or especially if, you feel pressure because you are a tip.
January 26th, 2009 at 6:24 amfrank uible says:
Apparently you know a different class of former athlete than I do. I have been or am friends or acquainted with hundreds of former footbal players, who have creaky and artificial or otherwise surgically repaired joints. I have NEVER heard any of them express anything to the effect that he regrets having played football.
January 26th, 2009 at 7:50 am97 jock says:
I agree with PTC on this. I was a 2 sport guy. I plan to encourage my kids not to play sports in college. The opportunity cost is just too high, and the social blinders too limiting.
January 26th, 2009 at 9:44 am