SPRING 2017
Lessons Learned on High School Playing Fields Carry into adulthood for AHS Alums
Emmalee Ezzell ‘ 20 Contributor
Sports are an advantage that students are eligible to take part in while they are in high school . Many participate for the experience , and because of their love for the sport . However , they might not realize now , the impact playing sports could have on their futures .
Students create unbreakable friendships and stories for their personal history books while partaking in high school sports . Joseph LaPointe , Jr . ’ 03 was a star member of the boys ’ varsity soccer team throughout his high school career . He easily recalls what it was like and how much it meant to him . “ Soccer was my life . I will never forget the memories I made with my teammates throughout my four years at Abington High School ,” said Lapointe .
While some retire from their favorite activities once high school is over , others will carry the sport with them throughout their life , whether by participating , judging or officiating , or as in LaPointe ’ s case , coaching .
“ It was too hard for me to give it up . So , I pursued ( soccer ) through coaching .” Now , coaching the Abington Girls Youth Soccer team is a major part of his life . Playing soccer in high school helped him become a coach . He is so thankful he discovered and grew his love for the sport . “ I hope to one day get the opportunity to coach my daughter ( with wife Kaitlin Ingemi LaPointe ’ 05 who was also a student athlete ) in soccer , and I have AHS to thank if I ever do ,” said LaPointe .
Brittany Ezzell ’ 11 ( my older sister ) played varsity basketball and softball all four years at AHS . Ezzell was captain of her teams , and like LaPointe , she took valuable lessons away from playing high school sports . “ As captain of the softball and basketball teams I learned how to think for the team , and to have everyone ’ s best interests at heart , not just my own ,” said Ezzell . She also thinks participating in sports taught her to deal with all types of people and their individual personalities , a skill that is helpful in many parts of life . But , most importantly , Ezzell says she learned that hard work pays off .
As for myself , I am only a freshman at AHS , but so far , I have taken part in both the fall and winter varsity cheerleading teams . And , although I still have three more years ahead of me , I have already made memories and developed a love for the sport that will undoubtedly last me a lifetime .
PAGE 5 Brittany Ezzell and classmate Zach Littman were voted Most Athletic for the 2011 Yearbook
Joseph LaPointe ’ s 2003 Yearbook Photo
A Trip and Tournament to Remember Abington Elite Soccer Team Travels to Disney
Kayli Tobin ‘ 20 Contributor
Traveling to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World was an amazing experience for my teammates and me . Last July , our team , the Abington Elite Soccer Club , traveled to Orlando to play in a soccer tournament against teams from all over the world . We met players who didn ' t speak English , and we learned a lot from this experience .
It was not easy to go to Disney . First , we had to raise money . With the help of our coaches , Marion Zulon , Rich Grafton and Bill Duchaney , we put in many hours canning , holding car washes and yard sales . Together , we made this trip happen .
Prior to this tournament , we were just a spring town team . While playing our normal Abington games we never thought we would be going to Disney together . Coach Zulon brought the idea of going to Disney to our parents and they were all for it . Family members were welcome , so it depended on them if everyone would be able to attend . Personally , I didn ' t go with my parents ; I stayed with a teammate . We played four games in the tournament . It was unusual for us to play teams from far away . We were so used to playing teams from the South Shore ; the farthest would be no more than an hour away . So , traveling on a plane to play was a very different experience . We played against Puerto Rico , Panama and two teams from Florida . Each had a different playing style , and we learned many things from this including how to move the ball around and how to communicate better . We also learned to adjust to the other team ’ s style . We gained knowledge and experience from game situations that we hadn ’ t been used to . It is a great experience to play soccer with people that speak other languages , and to see how they communicate with one another on the field . After each game , we got to interact with them for just a couple of minutes . We would trade our team pins and some teams even gave us a little flag with information about where they were from . It was very cool to meet people from places that are not like where we live , a truly great experience . Toward the end of the tournament each team would find out if they had made the playoffs , but not all the teams made it . It would have been an honor if we did . Abington Elite is not a team anymore , but we all still play soccer . Most of us play for the Abington High girls soccer teams , but a couple play for private schools . As a team , we worked well together . We communicated and we treated each other well . I ' ve known my teammates since we were very little . We didn ' t grow up playing on this team , but we grew up playing together for other teams and the town . We are all still close and will always cherish the memories we have made together . I will always be grateful for the opportunities I ' ve had while playing soccer , and I will always remember this trip . I got to spend a week in Orlando with all my friends ; we learned a lot and had fun . I would love to go back again , but if not , I am grateful for the opportunities I ' ve had .
Hannah Liebke ' 20 , Maddie Grafton ' 19 , Brianna McCadden ' 18 and Kayli Tobin ' 20 at Wide World of Sports at Disney World
“ I will always be grateful for the opportunities I ' ve had while playing soccer , and I will always remember this trip .”
Kayli Tobin ‘ 20