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