Eight Siegel Athletes Earn Class of 2022 Valedictorian Honors

Athletics are about so much more than their physical benefits. This is especially so when sports activities are incorporated into a young person’s life. Studies have shown a direct correlation between physical activity and academic performance. A University of Kansas study looking at the performance of students in grades 9 to 12 showed that more than 97% of student athletes graduated high school, 10% higher than those students who had never participated in sports. Athletes were also shown to have better G.P.A. outcomes than non-athletes.

Looking at the list of Siegel High School Valedictorians is proof that athletes perform not only on the courts and fields but in the classroom. Eight of the twenty-one of Siegel Valedictorians competed on the courts and fields for the Stars this past year. We are proud of each of their accomplishments in the classroom and on the courts and fields.

Congratulations to the following student-athletes that represent Siegel as a Class of 2022 Valedictorian:

• Alison Lalance – Soccer
• Jessica Hoeft – Golf
• Anna Baum – Tennis
• Elizabeth McQueen – Tennis
• Braden Kaiser – Football
• Hank Dillard – Baseball
• Patrick Clemmer – Bowling
• Stephen Field – Tennis

These student-athletes developed many skills over their time here at Siegel that will carry them through life.

Time Management

Think of all the different commitments an athlete needs to juggle: competitions, strength and conditioning, team meetings, sports physiotherapy — and these are just the sports-related obligations!

Necessity demands that athletes learn valuable time management skills, otherwise they would never be able to keep up with academics and sport. Effective time management planning is part of why employers should consider hiring a former student athlete.

Communication Skills

While it might not be as obvious as sitting down and discussing a group project, athletics take a lot of communication — both spoken and unspoken. Communication skills are key in maintaining a functioning athletics, whether it’s listening to locker room pep talk, picking up on nonverbal cues given by other players, or expressing a thought during a post-game debrief.

Decisive Action

Sports plays happen fast, and athletes develop the skills needed to make effective snap decisions. Whether it’s a basketball player deciding to shoot or a soccer player realizing his best move is to pass to a teammate for the assist, athletes learn critical decision-making skills that will benefit them both during and after game time.

Any athlete who has played in a championship game knows the meaning of pressure. Sports create an environment where athletes learn to conquer their natural “fight or flight” instinct to make consistent and difficult decisions under high pressure situations. This ability to function under pressure translates to person who is better at making deadlines and working in stressful situations in the future.

Teamwork

This is an obvious one. Teamwork is all about collaborating with others to reach a common goal. The diverse pairing of personalities and scenarios will help your athlete become adaptable, persistent, and patient. Athletics also teach a sense of group and individual responsibility.

Build Self-Esteem and a Sense of Community

Team sports are said to bolster the five C’s: competence, confidence, connections, character, and caring. At the heart of this is self-esteem – an increased sense of self as a result of better social interactions, stronger relationships, and higher academic performance.

Team sports provide athletes with a natural community. Youth who play sports have higher levels of social support, and that the sense of community created with teammates, coaches, and family members incubates the perfect setting for critical self-esteem development.

Congratulations to the following student-athletes that represent Siegel as a Class of 2022 Valedictorian.