What do you call a high school athlete who never takes a break? Here at Harrison, they are part of an elite group called triple crown athletes.
The recognition of triple crown athletes was first introduced to our high school around 1990 and in our middle school in 2008. A triple crown athlete award is a way we recognize our above and beyond student athletes who push themselves to complete 12 seasons of sports in the entirety of their high school career. This covers an athlete’s fall, winter, and spring season with very little of a break in between each sport for all four years of their high school career. After all their hard work throughout all four years they are recognized in many different ways like on social media, at their senior banquet, and they are mentioned to their fellow peers at the practice graduation. They also receive an award for their hard work: a plaque that recognizes their hard work. Their names are also inscribed into a board that is hung up on both of our high school and activity center’s walls to represent them and all the hard work they’ve done. Students have a variety of choices in sports in the beginning of their career and many different responsibilities throughout their years of high school. While we have many athletes qualify for this honor, below are four examples of the amazing students who work for the triple crown athlete award and how they manage to do so.
“I found out about the triple crown athlete when I got the award,” states freshman Heidi Watts. She was deemed a triple crown athlete in middle school by participating in cross country, basketball, and track since her 7th grade year. Heidi participates in girls golf currently and plans to be a part of girls basketball and girls track and field. She also plays off season club basketball with AAU. Although she gives her all in every sport she participates in, she considers basketball to be her main sport. Furthermore, she hopes to continue basketball in college. Although as a freshman she isn’t quite set on her future plans just yet but she is currently considering the University of Cincinnati. As a student she always manages her schoolwork by finding time in between both school and practices. However, she finds herself to not have that much homework, only being a freshman right now, with many more years of school and sports to come.
Sophomore Tucker Ward plays golf, basketball, and baseball. He has had this combination since he was young and has pushed himself to be the best he can be. Tucker doesn’t consider himself to have a main sport and describes as all blending together, when one is done he just goes straight to the next. “I want to play at the best college possible that is available, but if that time comes, we will see what happens,” Tucker said when asked if he has any current plans in college athletics. His teammates and coaches have been some of his supporters in improving his skills and helping him become the best he can be. When asked how he manages his school work he said he receives support from both his parents and brother. While he only played basketball for our middle school he has played in both baseball and golf club teams to better his performance and help him work towards his goal of becoming a triple crown athlete. He first learned about this achievement in middle school and has worked with great intention to earn it. He is close to being halfway done with his golf seasons coming to a close as beginning basketball season approaches.
Kayla Morris, a contender to be a triple crown athlete, somehow manages to complete not three, but four seasons of sports within a school year! She starts her year with a season of cheerleading in the fall and continues to complete a second season in the winter. While still cheering she also completes a season of high school swim. Finally at the end of the season she completes her full four yearly seasons with track. While she loves all of her sports she considers cheer to be her main sport, which she has been doing since the first grade! Although she’s not quite sure of her future in cheerleading, if anything arises she would most likely take the opportunity. Kayla first became a triple crown athlete in middle school with two seasons of cheerleading and a season of track, for the two years you can participate in sports in middle school. Like many she learned about the award in her middle school years and has worked for the high school version ever since. Her motivation to thrive in an athletic environment is, as she states,”The diversity of movement and experiences it gives me, along with all the friendships I build!” Kayla has always been in multiple sports throughout her childhood, she participated in five sports total, those of which were two of her current sports. As well as her sports Kayla also takes her academics very seriously, when asked who she manages her time she said, “I enjoy having things to do, so building my study habits and time management skills not only help me accomplish all I need to get done, but help me prepare for my future as well.”
Rj Toepfer is entering his senior year and has just two seasons left of his twelve to complete his triple crown. He has just recently completed his fourth and final season of soccer and prepares to move on to his senior year of bowling. He also does track and field in the spring, with his main event as discus. He has done track since middle school and considers it to be his main sport. When asked about his motivation to take on multiple sports he said, “I was motivated to do 3 sports freshman year because I already had 2 that I played from before high school and I thought bowling sounded like a fun sport to be a part of.” The second sport he is referring to is soccer, which he has been doing for quite some time outside of school before high school when he joined our high school team. While he doesn’t plan to continue his athletic career in college he still wants to continue with them as a hobby with friends. Being a senior and a multisport athlete takes a lot of time and energy, when asked how he manages to do both his school work and attend sports he said, “I just handle the workload by telling myself that if I start to slack off then everything that I have already done to be a good student athlete has been a waste, so I use that as motivation to get my work done after practices.” He first found out what a triple crown athlete was in his summer of his 8th grade year and has worked to become one ever since.
These students all work hard to maintain their work in both the athletic and academic aspects and push to be some of the best. Staying active all year round is just one of the many benefits of being a triple crown athlete, as well as making new friends, improving in your sports, or even to prepare yourself for the high levels of college sports. So, if you are able to, have the space on your schedule, or are still a freshman missing a spring sport, you should consider picking up a spring sport to complete a triple crown. Unfortunately however to qualify you need to complete a full 12 seasons, but if you have siblings coming in from the junior high you should provide them with this information and encourage them to join something great.
