Not Like Other Sports: A Look Into Some of Samo’s Niche Athletes
By Olivia Stephansen (Staff Writer)
While Samo offers many popular sports at school, there is a variety of sports that are not offered at Samo that many students participate in. These sports call for different equipment, routines and commitments. Whether it’s horseback riding, rowing, fencing, or anything else, many students on campus are a part of these niche sports.
Maggie Purcell (‘24) has been rock climbing since she was seven, and started competing at eleven. Purcell climbs with the non-profit nationwide program organization called USA Climbing. At the gym where Purcell climbs, she has gotten the chance to expand her social circle.
“A couple of people on my team go to Samo, but most are from Pali high or private schools,” Purcell said.
Last year, Purcell and her team all made it into nationals. The organization is set up so that teams move up together in competitions from regionals, nationals, divisionals and so on. Besides major competitions, climbing is scored separately for each individual. The rock climbers climb on their own, score on their own, and rely on their own skills.
“I find it really fun. There’s a lot of problem-solving involved, and I get to do a sport and be active.” Purcell said.
It’s the beginning of a new season for Purcell, and right now she’s training to prepare for the rest of the year. With a chance to go to nationals and beyond, it’s a crucial time for her and her team to get ready to do just as well as they did last year.
Another student, Sadie O’Connell (‘25), Irish dances at the Power Academy of Irish Dance. Starting when she was seven years old, O’Connell has participated in many competitions, even winning 14th place in a regional competition (California, Oregon and Washington) in 2019.
“It’s definitely pretty diverse. Not only are there competitions and classes, there’s also shows and Irish festivals.” O’Connell said.
O’Connell is in the champs level of her dance school, which is the higher level of two. In the lower, dancers compete in seven categories of dance, while in champs they focus on three.
“I’ve competed with teams in the past, but now I’m only doing solo competitions.” O’Connell said.
Irish Dance means a lot to O’Connell, especially as it is a less common sport in California. It connects her to her Irish heritage, and she’s always happy to share her knowledge on the sport with anyone who’s curious.
Shannon Stuart (’25) has been rowing with the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey for two years, with two hour practices five days a week. The strenuous hours are no problem for Stuart, since she’s motivated by her love of the sport.
“I like the competitive nature of it. And we are a smaller team, so we are all really close,” Stuart said.
Stuart and her team typically compete in Long Beach against other teams from around the area, but they also go to bigger races from time to time. Colleges commonly recruit rowers, so staying consistent with workout routines, even on days off, is necessary to get a school’s attention.
“On the two days of the week that we don’t have practice, we usually get a workout from the coach to do at home.” Stuart says.
All the practice pays off, as Stuarts’ team placed first in nationals last year. Now in her third year of rowing, Stuarts’ success is likely just starting, and it seems she and her team will have many more wins to come.
Taking initiative to join a sport is a big responsibility, but these students and many others put in the work to participate in them. A sport not being offered at Samo shouldn’t hold anyone back from joining-- it’s never too late to discover something you could be passionate about.
Shannon Stuart (’25) (far left) and her team approaching finish line in her at Sarasotaw