Most athletes can’t say they have been on varsity all four years of high school. It is a big accomplishment to be a freshman making a varsity sport. Bridget Durkin, Sienna Seyferth, and Rory Malia, all a part of the class of 2026, have been on varsity since their freshman year. Durkin has been a part of the soccer team and is committed to Northeastern University. Seyferth played both field hockey and lacrosse as a varsity freshman and will continue playing field hockey at Denison University. Malia made cross country and lacrosse her freshman year and will also be continuing her lacrosse career at Denison University.
When freshmen come into high school, some have high expectations of making varsity, and others just want to have fun playing their sport. At Evanston, each sports program is different, but they share a common rigor. Each program is built on hard work and dedication. To be on a varsity team as a freshman and continue for all four years of your high school career is a grand accomplishment.
A unique experience that comes along with being an athlete on varsity throughout their whole high school career is watching the team develop and change, but you also get to see how you, as a player and person, develop and step into new leadership roles.
“I felt more uncomfortable, probably for lacrosse just because I wasn’t fully developed as a player, and I didn’t really feel like I knew my place on the team yet, whereas cross country, I kind of had to step in and be one of the leaders on the team right away,” said Malia.
This awkwardness of being a freshman is a common feeling for those who make varsity at such a young age.
“I was the only freshman on the team. I came in with low confidence, and I was just so happy to be a part of the team, and now this year, being able to lead the team, the difference is truly remarkable,” commented Durkin.
As a freshman, stepping onto a varsity team can be hard. Being a young athlete going on to a team made up of mostly upperclassmen is different from previous years and teams that most athletes have been on. ,
“I think that the biggest challenge for me was confidence in myself. I know how to play field hockey and am good at it. I just needed to remind myself of that because playing with older girls was intimidating for me,” noted Seyferth.
Scary at first, the freshmen are usually welcomed with open arms by the older girls, taking the pressure off.
“Being a freshman on varsity was intimidating at first, but the older girls were very welcoming, as I had known a couple before high school. After my freshman year, I have always tried to be like those girls to others,” remarked Seyferth.
Seyferth and Malia learned from their older teammates and captains that it is important to be welcoming and motivating to the incoming athletes. It is easy to be scared as a new person on a team.
“My captains have always treated me great. They were always super comforting and motivating to everybody on the team, and I wanna make the new players as comfortable as they can be and try to make them as confident as they can be no matter how old they are or their skill level,” said Malia.
Making a varsity team as a freshman is not an ‘I made it’ moment. It is more like the beginning of a long athletic journey to come. Making an impact on the team as a first-year can be incredibly helpful when looking to get recruited.
“Being on varsity freshman year opened me up to playing with five division one commits, and they all reached out to me to train in the off-season,” said Durkin. “I was able to be introduced to so many more people in the soccer world, and so many more aspects of training that really helped me get recruited.”
Durkin, Malia, and Seyferth have spent the last four years learning, growing, and adapting to their positions and roles on a Varsity team. As the skills continue to grow, so does their confidence and self-esteem as leaders. Luckily for the underclassmen, they have these female athlete leaders to guide, care for, and support them. Being a four-year varsity athlete helped all of these players commit to and continue their passion for their sport at the collegiate level.
