“Your friend just completed a run. Go give them kudos!”

As soon as I come back from my daily afternoon workout, my phone lights up with notifications. While I complete my afternoon post-workout stretch, I simultaneously scroll through Strava. Strava is an app that allows athletes to track their own activity and see their friends’ progress, creating healthy competition between teammates and athletes across the globe. People of all ages, athletic abilities, and sports pop up on my feed. The posts are as diverse as the people who share them: They may consist of song lyrics, long rambling streams of consciousness, an adorable dog sighting, or a love letter to a pair of shorts. Many titles and descriptions go far beyond just describing their activity as they give greater insight into their lives. This app for so-called mentally tough athletes can get very personal.

When athletes upload their activities, the app can track distance, time, and repetitions. “Likes” are measured in “kudos,” and the more interesting the caption or more important the race, the greater the amount of kudos. Strava is mainly designed for individual sports like running, swimming, and biking, where the activity is continuous and the competition is mainly individual. Although Strava is not very far-reaching as a social media platform, it provides athletes a far more personal support system that offers social and physical benefits, unlike mainstream platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat.

Part of the reason I love Strava is its unique ability to connect athletes across sports. While I primarily run, I am inspired by the determination and drive of swimmers, bikers, and even triathletes. As a runner, I am aware of the kind of training and mindset the sport requires, so the best part about Strava is getting to see other athletes’ training schedules and how hard they work for their sports. When I befriended some swimmers and bikers through initially commenting on their posts, and later meeting them in person, we decided to start a Strava training group to log our activities. After seeing how much everyone enjoyed their own sport, we were persuaded to try each other’s. I have since tried biking for far longer than I am used to and have discovered that it is very enjoyable. To further push my training, my group intends to do an adventure triathlon in a couple of months. We have created a Strava group to log mileage and time for this endeavor and to hold members accountable for sufficiently preparing to compete in the triathlon. As we all have been focused on our own sports, it was crucial at first that we mimicked each other’s training plans since a triathlon requires training across running, biking, and swimming. This increased sense of accountability has helped all of us tremendously in staying motivated.

The special thing about Strava is being able to see the different ideas, thoughts, feelings, and experiences people have while doing their activities. It is difficult to know what goes on in a teammate’s head during a workout. While one person in a group might struggle during a run, others could have had a great time and think the run is easy. After workouts, when our heavy breathing limits conversation, checking on Strava is a great way to reflect on the run, learn from peers, and identify ways we can improve. If someone is upset after a bad race or elated after a win, a teammate may mention it on a Strava post. Seeing the comments under my workout creates an unexplainable connection and sparks real life empathy and support. Strava also allows people to see the training and activities of professional athletes, making role models accessible. It is amazing to see that at any level, athletes have high and lows within training plans and workouts. As a massive sports science nerd, I enjoy following their training and progress, being able to see their workouts, and more importantly, mentality while training. Every athlete should download Strava to have a built-in support group of motivated athletes who are elated to give “kudos” to your workout every day.

Striving with Strava



“En garde … ready … fence!” Lunge forward, step back, spring forward again. Eleni Staikos ’22 performs a complicated footwork sequence as she sizes up her opponent. She takes a deep breath, steadying her hand and her nerves. Using a combination of dynamic technique and quick thinking, Staikos conducts an extremely methodicical attack. Her strategy is to always strike first, forcing her opponent to defend. While watching her, it is easy to see her love and dedication to the sport.

Staikos began fencing when she was 12 after watching her cousins compete in matches. Her initial interest in fencing was also sparked by her imagination as a young child of what fencers were like. Books and movies depicted fencers as strong and powerful people. As a self-described introvert, that is exactly who she wanted to be.

“I read a lot. Every time I think of fencing, I just have this image of a warrior princess in my head,” Staikos said. Although she competes and is successful in several other sports, she admits fencing was her first love.

“I horseback ride and do [modern] pentathlons, which include fencing, swimming, running, and other events. I also ran cross country. But fencing was the first sport I tried,” Staikos said.

This multi-sport background has definitely helped with her fencing. From riding, Staikos gained a better center of gravity and awareness. Through running, she attained the cardiovascular strength needed for long fencing bouts. Staikos is very accomplished in the sport. She has competed at regional meets with the PHS Fencing Team and placed first in individual foil events at high school district meets.

“She’s had great successes and huge goals, like placing at the elite Cetrulo-Santelli event … one of New Jersey’s biggest fencing events. She’s been a leader since she came on the team and her ability to win for the team really supports that,” said PHS Head Fencing Coach Sam Blanchard. In the future, Staikos plans on accomplishing more with the fencing team.

“We have our eyes on at least taking regionals as a team. Placing as an individual in my event would also be nice, but I’d really like to make it out as a team this year. We have the capacity to improve because now the foil girls team is mostly upperclassmen,” Staikos said.

Now, she looks forward to leading the fencing team as girls foil captain this year and making connections with underclassmen. Although official practice has not started, the team has already begun to form friendships through bonding events.

“Eleni is positive and always communicates with everyone on the team. She’s made me very excited about the upcoming season,” said teammate Wendy Jin ’25.

Looking forward to fencing for a college team or club, Eleni knows she wants to continue competing at the next level.

Athletes of the Month: Eleni Staikos ’22: fencing


You may have heard Jack Godfrey ’22 singing in the hallways of PHS, observed flyers in the hallway promoting a “Get Yolked” mindset, and seen many athletes lifting weights in the gym or doing lunges outside on the grass. All of these recent developments can be attributed to the work of the PHS Fitness Club. Due to recent construction, the weight room at PHS is currently closed. While the closure was frustrating for many, it resulted in a group of seniors forming a fitness club while waiting for the weight room to reopen. Under the management of Godfrey and fellow fitness enthusiasts Aaron Munford ’22, Oliver Cai ’22, and Matthew Ellsworth ’22, the PHS Fitness Club is quickly gaining popularity. These leaders are athletes hoping to guide their classmates through instructional lifts on Tuesdays during break.

Although they are limited in terms of equipment, leaders and members bring their own weights. Workouts usually consist of weight circuits and, occasionally, cross training, which includes cardiovascular work and stretching. PHS Fitness Club helps not only experienced weightlifters but also those just starting their fitness journey. Regardless of a person’s current athletic ability, the club’s main purpose is to help members improve their overall health.

“The club is a great way of teaching and helping people achieve their fitness goals, whatever [they] may be. We don’t discriminate based on where you’re starting out or where you want to go,” Ellsworth said.

Although the fitness club helps members begin their fitness journeys, they must put in work outside of the club in order to see results.

“The main point of the club isn’t necessarily working out once a week. You have to do it on your own,” Munford said.

By understanding and acknowledging the correlation between restrictive diets and body dysmorphia in teenagers, club leaders ensure that their members receive proper nutritional advice. Recognizing every person has different dietary needs, they use their own experiences to provide examples of healthy diets. Overall, they recommend the use of protein powders and supplements to help their members improve fitness and gain muscle.

“We give recommendations on healthy sources of carbs, fats, and proteins as well as how to have a balance between them. We are big advocates of protein,” Munford said.

On their Instagram, the PHS Fitness Club posts motivational singing videos every day to countdown the time until the weight room reopens. Godfrey is often featured in these videos, where he sings a song picked by the club’s Instagram followers the day before. Music choices range from pop ballads like “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen to rap like “Hotline Bling” by Drake.

“[The] club is definitely a positive force within the school. It helps bring people together and motivates them to be their best that they can be,” Godfrey said.

Maintaining a “Get Yolked” mindset, PHS Fitness Club is rapidly growing in popularity


For the first time in recent history, the PHS Girls Varsity Soccer Team has made it to the State Championships. After an undefeated season, they played the state finals November 21 at Kean University.

In the final moments of the game, Sophia Lis ’22 striked the soccer ball into the lower right corner of the net, winning four minutes into overtime. The PHS Girls Varsity Soccer Team (21–2) had just won against Lacey High School in the Group 3 State Semi Final 1–0.

The game against Wayne Valley High School was electric. The PHS Tiger Cage showed up in full force and cheered for every play. Tigers in the audience watched closely as the direction of the ball changed countless times. Throughout the match, they jumped and shouted, drowning out the opposing teams’ remarks of dissent every time a player shot at the goal. At the end of the second half, the score was tied 1–1, with Lis’s goal. However in overtime, with just 2:38 remaining, Wayne Valley High School scored. Although the Tigers did not win, having such a close game and even qualifying for the states was a huge success.

“Our game against Wayne Valley was tough, and of course we would have loved to win our last game, but at the end of the day, we’ve had a great season and still gave it our all,” Lis said.

Although not winning the state tournament, the girl’s soccer team won the division and sectional titles in the Colonial Valley Conference for the first time since 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Part of their success this season is thanks to the “Packed Cage” that supported them with enthusiasm throughout the season, but especially during their last game. On the morning of the state final game, students and Principal Chmiel boarded a bus from PHS to Kean University in their “Blue Out” attire. The long drive made the Tigers even more excited for the upcoming final game.

Further contributing to their successes was team chemistry. The team spent a lot of time together not only in practices but also in team bondings, such as dinner parties.

“It was all done through creating a sisterhood with every player on the team no matter what year they are in,” said Mojisola Ayodele ’22.

But, it was their hard work, camaraderie, and dedication in every practice that allowed the team to push themselves to the highest levels.

“Every game, we have played our hearts out and stood by one another by supporting each other,” said Annie Kosa ’22. The PHS Girls Varsity Soccer Team has come so far since they met during preseason in August.

“This year has been so unexpected. In the beginning of the year we had no idea how it would go, and we ended up playing in the state final,” Kosa said.

Younger teammates agree; inspired by the leadership of older players and excited by the prospect of playing in big matches, they rose to the occasion.

“This season was such a nice introduction to soccer at PHS. I honestly surprised myself with how hard I was able to play each match and how we were able to advance past so many rounds,” said Ava Tabeart ’25.

PHS Girls Varsity Soccer Team has unprecedented season, making it to NJ state finals

Squeak, pivot, swish. The sounds of the basketball court are music to Kyle Keegan ’22’s ears. He pauses practice as he weaves between the sea of people gathered around the net, demonstrating the next play. Keegan emphasizes the necessity of rhythm and precision. He encourages his team, reciting new strategies to move the ball down the court. Although the tall senior in athletic clothing could be mistaken for a student-athlete, he is actually a student-coach, leading the boys basketball team to numerous victories.

“I’ve always loved the game, but I was never good enough to play on the varsity level. In freshman and sophomore year I was able to showcase my basketball IQ and make a lot of friends on the team. So when a fall league team was created to practice for the winter season, my teammates thought I was best quali ed to coach,” Keegan said.

After persuading boys basketball Head Coach Patrick Noone, Keegan was appointed co-coach. Keegan, or Coach K as some of his players call him, admits the change was not easy. However, he already had both the basketball knowledge and teammates’ support to ease him into his new role.

“Kyle is a good motivator and holds us accountable. His belief in the team and knowledge of the game is unparalleled. It was a no brainer that he become our coach for the fall league, said athlete Connor McDowell ’22. Although Keegan has experienced success, he acknowledges that there are numerous di culties that come with being a young coach.  e biggest challenge, in his opinion, is drawing the line between his role as a coach on the court and as a friend off the court.“

It’s been di cult to separate ... Kyle, their friend, and Kyle, their coach. I feel that I’ve done a good job of  ipping that switch so far though,” Keegan said.

But in reality, it is the duality of his role as a student-coach that has resulted in the PHS boys basketball teams’ success.

Keegan has been able to help his team improve both on and off the court by acting as both a friend and a coach. As a friend, he is able to increase team spirit and unity. As a coach, he is able to implement specific new strategies that have helped the team overcome many of their closest rivals.Keegan motivates his players by listening to music with them while they carpool to games together. Rapping along to “Dreams and Nightmares” has become a tradition before every game. Keegan also hosts team dinners before games to encourage camaraderie and team bonding.

In addition, Keegan is proud of how he acts as a coach to the team, the most memorable coaching moment being a hard-fought first win of the season.

“We lost the lead late in the second half [but we] showed resilience and came out with the win in overtime. I reminded my team to stick to the program and trust the process.  e most important thing was for the team to trust each other and remember not to be sel sh when they have the ball,” Keegan said.

This year, PHS basketball is on the rise. Rebounding from a losing record last year, they are more determined than ever to improve this season. Keegan has been working with Noone in order to implement changes.

The combination of Keegan and Noone’s varied leadership styles provides a mix of experienced guidance and new ideas. Under Keegan’s innovative and experimental tutelage, the team has implemented several new strategies that address last year’s isues with communication and teamwork.

“I’ve been working with Coach Noone to implement a new system. We are trying to rotate new players in and re-acclimate returning players as well. We play our best basketball when we use our PHS brand of fast-break basketball, and in this pre-season we’ve been trying to build chemistry,” Keegan said.

Keegan has not only brought new strategies to the team but also created more interest in attending the boys basketball games. A proponent of the “Pack the Cage” mentality, Keegan puts special emphasis on making the games exciting to watch and instills a sense of camaraderie within his team.

“We see every team as a rival. No matter who we play, we expect to beat them by 50,” Keegan said.

Demonstrated by their winning record, the new strategy and energy Keegan has brought to the team seems to be working.  e boys’ fall league has improved, with three wins and one loss under Keegan’s mentorship. They, along with the rest of the school, cannot wait to see what the winter season brings.

“You can expect a great year from the Princeton Tigers. If we play our normal strategy of Tigers basketball, I am completely sure that we’ll come out on top,” Keegan said.

PHS athlete turned coach Kyle Keegan ’22 coaches boys basketball team to victory


Every Sunday morning I wake up and yank my banana-yellow referee shirt over my head. I pull on my knee-high socks that are so long they extend past my thighs. Lastly, I loop my pink whistle around my neck. Although many may not be aware, there are countless challenges that come with being a referee, especially one my age.

One of the biggest challenges a referee faces is dissent from both parents and coaches against the decisions he or she makes. This can come in the form of a more tame “Oh come on, ref!” or some more colorful language. In one case, a coach actually ran onto the soccer field and tried to talk to me while the play had continued. In these cases, it is important to remember two things: abide by the rules of the game and trust your own instincts and judgement. Coaches and parents tend to be biased, and it is more likely that you are correct in your decisions. Even if the parent or coach may be right, it is important to act with confidence in all of your decisions. Especially as a youth referee, you may not be given the same level of trust and respect that older and more experienced referees have. Although that may be the case, younger referees are generally more quick and agile and have better eyesight. These characteristics allow them to follow the game better. The decision of a referee must be made rapidly in the heat of the moment.

At this time, I faced not only dissent against the decisions I was making but also protest against state regulations. One coach on the sideline refused to wear his mask during a time when mask regulations were required for all youth soccer coaches. Again, having confidence and using your voice are of utmost importance in these scenarios.

Another job of a referee is to make sure the game is safe for all children, especially when there are children with different abilities playing. For example, when there was a child with autism on a team, it was important to tell coaches from both teams and ask how best to proceed in case of a sensory overload so everyone is safe and enjoys the game.

These challenges can even come from other referees in the sport. I have been yelled at before by a male co-referee because my shorts were “too short.” As a female referee, I have to admit the outfit has its drawbacks. My shirt is so oversized that when I tuck it in it still billows out from underneath my shorts. I simply could not wear the given shorts as they would fall down if I tried to run. In moments or situations such as these, I find that remaining calm and collected helps when diffusing situations.

Overall, the main job of a referee is to facilitate the game and make sure it runs smoothly. Unlike the players, the goal of a referee is actually to have as little of an impact on the game as possible. Don’t be afraid to speak up against the inequities in the realm of refereeing! We need more young referees in the game.



The challenges of being a youth soccer referee


Nutrition is one of the most important aspects of sports, but it is not emphasized nearly enough in high school athletics. The reality is that the majority of high school athletes do not know how to properly fuel themselves. This problem has dangerous effects like injury, burnout, and deficiencies which can later hurt their college careers.

In high school athletics, nutrition can be a major factor in performance. Ashley Chen ’23 attests to this, saying the quantity, quality, and timing of eating food can dictate the quality of her performance.

“Sometimes when I eat right before practice I feel really sick. Also, if I skip breakfast or eat [a] quick, light [breakfast], I definitely notice it impacting how I feel during my [tennis] matches,” Chen said.

But with a lack of information regarding nutrition, these instances are unfortunately the norm for many athletes at PHS. With the new schedule, student-athletes have to get home when school finishes at 1:00 p.m. to prepare lunch and eat before practice starts two hours later. Two hours is not nearly enough time to digest food and can result in feeling sick during practice.

Athletic performance requires two main aspects: energy for movement and muscle growth to repair body tissues broken down by exercise. Carbohydrates and proteins are respectively responsible for these aspects. As such, it is of paramount importance that athletes eat not only before practices and matches to give them energy but after to help their muscles recover.

But, what is “enough food?” This varies from athlete to athlete. While some may feel full after two apples, others need a full meal to feel prepared. As a guideline, in an article published by childrens.com in 2021, doctors suggest that “athletes should eat a balanced meal containing carbohydrates, protein, and fruit or vegetables.” Athletes should also try to eat three to four hours before playing in order for proper digestion to occur. Snacks can also be a good way to get some nutrition in before big games.

The effects of improper nutrition are traumatic. They can lead to injuries and deficiencies, which prevent people from doing the sport they love the most. These consequences were experienced by runner Audrey Peel ’22, who has been suffering an iron deficiency for the past couple of years.

“Having an iron deficiency made my muscles feel really weak while running, which was especially noticeable in my races. I think that the hardest part was when I didn’t know I was iron deficient and saw my times going up; it made me really second guess my athletic ability,” Peel said.

If a student consumes too little iron, over time, their body can become iron deficient. Examples of iron-rich foods include meat, eggs, leafy green vegetables and other iron-fortified foods. If Peel and other athletes who have these deficiencies were aware of the consequences, they could have gotten tested for it earlier and had the problem resolved earlier.

However, fueling is not all that makes up sports. Although it is important to eat healthy and enough food, athletes should remember not to go overboard. Eating ice cream three days before your game will have negative effects on your performance.

The confusion around eating and athletics is largely because the “correct” foods that maximize athletic performance varies among the different athletes and sports. But, general guidelines and awareness of the issue can be spread to ensure that athletes know how their fueling impacts their athletic performance and prevents dangerous consequences. However, it is encouraged that all athletes remember that nutrition, although important, is not the end-all be-all to athletic success. Attitude, mindset, and other factors play an equally important role.

The problem with nutrition and high school athletics

Pivoting towards her opponent, Chloe Ayres ’21 stretches her arms away from her body. Staying light on her toes, she contemplates which technique to use to score the next critical point. Filled with anticipation, she awaits the whistle. Although she may be nervous, Ayres knows that she’s wrestling for much more than herself. She is fighting for all of women’s wrestling.

Despite beginning to wrestle at a late age, Ayres’ experience with wrestling goes back to when she was a little girl. Her father, Chris Ayres, is the head wrestling coach at Princeton University. Watching matches and videos of elite college wrestlers and seeing them succeed firsthand from a young age, Ayres learned what it took to succeed as an elite wrestler. Not only does her father help her refine her wrestling skills, but he also takes on the job of helping her balance her wrestling life and school activities. Through their relationship, Ayres learned the values of self-accountability and leadership.

Ayres has taken the values she learned from wrestling professionals and applied them to her own high school team. Taking on the role of captain this year, she has made sure to guide her team so that they can improve as a group.

“I think that there's a lot of extra responsibility that goes into being a captain, and I try to lead by example. … But I'm really proud of my team this year; they’ve done a lot of great things. We’ve grown a lot together,” Ayres said. 

Although trying to be inclusive in her role as captain, Ayres herself was initially nervous about fitting in in such a male-dominated sport. Women’s wrestling has trailed behind men’s wrestling ever since its founding. Even now, there are few options on a middle school or high school level for women to get involved with the sport. Despite this, women’s wrestling has gained popularity in the past few years, and because of wrestlers like Ayres, women wrestlers are able to show what they are capable of. For Ayres specifically, credit must be given to Princeton High School Head Wrestling Coach Jess Monzo, who has been instrumental in supporting her journey as a female in wrestling. 

“We try to keep it fun in practice. [I] let them know that it’s a safe place for them to talk. If something’s bothering them, they come to me with what it is because at the end of the day, we'll figure it out. And we’ll get to put it behind us and move forward,” Monzo said. 

Not only does he take the time to check in on wrestlers, Ayres believes Monzo also creates a protective community for wrestlers to share any struggles. Creating a safe environment is something unique to Princeton High School wrestling that Ayres believes is not easily achieved anywhere else. 

“I think that as a woman in a male dominated sport, at times, it can be hard to feel accepted into a room... He’s done a great job at creating a line of communication with me to make sure that all my needs are met. And I think that that is something that I’m really grateful for,” Ayres said.

Despite previous years of success, this year has been especially challenging for Ayres. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the wrestling season has been shortened, and announcements of continuation were made surprisingly late. 

“Usually, I have about a two-month transition period… but with COVID, I wasn't sure if we were having a season. … By the time that they announced that we would be wrestling, I only had two weeks to transition. So that was definitely difficult,” Ayres said. 

Facing numerous pressures outside of wrestling, Ayres has learned to be strong both on and off the mat. Sometimes this even meant compromising academic, social, and leisure time for training. Although some may see this as too much of a sacrifice, her willingness to put wrestling first only displays her commitment for the sport she loves. 

“When you love something you make time for it and it's something that I enjoy. So it's not really a chore. It’s something that I look forward to each day. But [by] just giving a positive attitude to the sport and embracing the fact that I'm doing it because I love to wrestle has helped me mentally devote more time to it,” Ayres said.

More than loving the sport, Ayres’ hard work has earned her numerous accomplishments in the world of women’s wrestling. Going back to 2018, some of Ayres’ accomplishments include winning the NJSIAA Girls State Championship three years consecutively, becoming an All-American at Fargo (National Freestyle Tournament), triumphing at the Super 32 tournament, and placing in many more out of school tournaments. 

Planning on wrestling for Princeton University in the fall, Ayres is filled with immense appreciation for the sport that she has admired for so long. Remembering her initial apprehension to try out women’s wrestling, she encourages others to see the beauty of the sport and the wrestling community.

“Wrestling has a lot to offer, whether you’re new to the sport or you’ve been around it before. It’s a very positive community of people that are going to be there to lift you up and help you grow to your full potential. It’s definitely worth a try,” Ayres said. 

Athlete of The Month: Chloe Ayres

“Swimmers, take your mark!”



Prior to his descent into icy waters, Owen Tennant ’21 steadies himself with a deep, calming breath. Remembering the day’s conversations and jokes with fellow swimmers and coaches, he prepares himself for the difficult moments ahead. Now breathing quickly, he begins to mimic the racing conditions he will soon be under. Savoring the last of his uninterrupted air, Tennant visualizes his arms and legs moving in turn with his breathing. 



“Beep!” 



On solid ground just moments before, Tennant smoothly plunges into the still water. Although Tennant has long been accustomed to the feeling of the ground leaving his feet, this was not always the case. Playing soccer for five years prior to highschool, Tennant realized his love for swimming only after winning a local race.



“A lot of my friends urged me to do it. I decided that I’ll go along and try, and I ended up coming second. And that’s how I started swimming,” Tennant said.



After making the permanent decision to switch from soccer to swimming in high school, Tennant quickly rose to become one of the most successful and versatile swimmers for Princeton High School and the current varsity co-captain. However, success did not come easy for Tennant. Choking on water and stopping in the middle of a relay race freshman year, Tennant got his team disqualified. Upset with himself for letting down the team, Tennant quickly learned the value of self-confidence.



“Just don’t overthink the races and remember to stay sane beforehand. You’ve practiced for this moment, so you [are] prepared,” Tennant said.



With this new relaxed attitude, Tennant became a valuable contributor to the team. Head Coach Carly Misciewicz agrees with this sentiment, lauding his flexibility and attitude as his greatest assets.



“He’s very light hearted. He’s very easy going. If I need him to swim a certain event one week and a different event the next, he’ll say sure, whatever the team needs,” Misciewicz said. 



This attitude paid off. Apart from swimming breaststroke as his main event, Tennant is also accomplished in a variety of other events including the butterfly and 200-meter sprint. During his Princeton High School career, Tenant swam in every event at least once, demonstrating his versatility in a multitude of swimming strokes and styles. 



More than just competing in many different events, Tennant has found success in them all. Since freshman year, Tennant has been a scorer for PHS in every event; he placed in the top three of the county every year in breaststroke and has been able to place in the top six in all of his events. Head Coach Misciewicz remarks that his willing and confident attitude in the pool is a substantial factor.



“He’s a big contributor, whether it’s dual meets or state, but he always steps up to the plate with a smile, too. And he does it well,” Misciewicz said.



These admirable characteristics have allowed Tennant to find success outside of the pool as well. When COVID-19 hit and pools closed, he found it especially challenging to interact and practice with his teammates. However, he has overcome these obstacles by holding Zoom meetings to prepare the team for their modified indoor season. Understanding the motivational struggle this year due to the pandemic and the impact he has on the incoming group of PHS swimmers, he shares tips on out-of-water workouts, techniques, and creates a game plan for the return to the pool.


“I think this year it’s especially important to be a good role model so that younger kids have someone to look up to,” Tennant said.



Taking on a new leadership role as co-captain this year, Tennant has made sure to pass on his knowledge and experience to new members of the team. Whether it’s by joking around with teammates before each event or by leading by example with his own confidence and strength in races, he ensures that the whole team knows how to approach swimming and racing with composure and confidence. 



Taking these experiences gained from high school to the next level, he will be swimming for Colorado College next year. 



Athlete of the Month: Owen Tennant

As schools around the United States accept gender as a fluid concept, students have become more comfortable with how they identify . PHS has started practicing gender inclusion by establishing a gender-neutral bathroom, a step in a positive direction to giving students who are uncomfortable and scared to use traditional bathrooms another option. However, in high school athletics, students are not given the alternative of competing outside traditional boys’ and girls’ leagues. Due to these limited options for competition, the relationship between athletes’ self-identified genders and the sports leagues they compete in remains unclear.

So far, there are 16 states that have rules which accommodate transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming high-school athletes. This means that 34 states, including New Jersey, do not have these accommodating policies and instead make decisions on a case-by-case basis.

Generally, transgender people are able to identify and express who they are . But in sports, their gender identity is determined by something other than self-identification. Gender in professional sports is sorted into two categories determined by levels of testosterone. Those who wish to compete as women must be able to maintain a testosterone level of at most 5 nmol/L for six continuous months. This amount is still higher than the average woman’s levels of 0.1-1.8 nmol/L.

However, some believe when it comes to sports categorized through gender, it is necessary to take other factors into consideration. The medical transition period,  the in-between time after a person has come out and takes action to change their gender, must be taken into account. The length of transition periods varies from a couple of months to a couple of years. During this time, transgender athletes may go to gender doctors to confirm their gender dysphoria and may then start taking hormones. So while transgender athletes are transitioning, should they be able to compete in the gender they self-identify as?

“If their hormone levels are similar to [those] of the average woman or man they identify with at that point in time, they should be allowed to compete on that team,” said Anonymous, a transgender student who wishes to remain unnamed.

On one hand, it is immoral to deny people’s rights as human beings to play for what they consider their correct gender, but it is difficult to completely disregard testosterone and estrogen levels.

As a student-athlete herself, tennis player Ashley Chen ’23 believes that people who come out as transgender should be accepted for who they choose to be.

“I think that they should be able to play in whatever league they want to. I don’t think it matters because they’re athletes. They’re all playing the same game,” Chen said.

Although being accepted for who you are in all aspects of life is ideal, it is not always that simple. Unfortunately, biological factors play a large role in athletics. Women and men are built differently, preventing an easy transition between genders. Scientifically, men have a larger lung capacity, a greater bone density, and a higher muscle mass. This distinction is apparent on a high school level in sports teams at PHS. For example, on the track team, the fastest male mile-runner has a quicker time than the fastest female mile-runner. However, their times are never compared because the events are separated by gender. If men and women were placed in the same event, the competition wouldn’t be as entertaining because the outcome would be too predictable. Most likely, women would lose to men due to biological circumstances that are beyond their control.

Another physiological disparity was observed in an assigned female at birth swimmer transitioning to a male.

“I know a trans man who swims. The major issue is that he has never gotten to the level of cis boys,”  Anonymous said.

This difference in strength applies both ways. When a transgender woman decides to play for the female team, she is typically stronger than all of her teammates because of natural genetic variation. However, these physical challenges are not the only ones these athletes must face. In fact, distinction in body composition also has psychological effects, preventing trans athletes from feeling completely accepted.

“There are kids that know they are trans, that know they are in the wrong body, but they can’t go to the doctor either because of their family or financial issues. They want to continue playing sports, but the feeling of playing on the wrong team is inescapable,” Anonymous said.

While transgender athletes may feel that they stick out on strict female and male teams offered at the high school level, it can be argued that sports are a good way for these athletes to be themselves. It is well known that regular exercise has its health benefits, with engagement in physical activity often used to promote physical health and manage mental health. Transgender people report higher levels of depression and anxiety in comparison to the general population and can thus benefit significantly from the stress relief and community that can be found in high school sports. The increased risk of mental health issues and loss of passion caused by their inability to compete with people of their self-identified gender could be dangerous. This negative consequence is apparent in an account of a transgender athlete who quit playing a sport for some of these reasons.

“I used to play sports, but I felt so scared [of changing leagues]. There would [have been] issues with coaches not liking you, people not liking you, feeling so different,” Anonymous said.

In order for transgender athletes to relieve stress by doing the sport they love while still feeling validated, there are a few possible alternatives to just men and women leagues. Piper Sullivan ’21, a gender-neutral student-athlete, presents a potential option.

“Ideally, you combine the two gender teams into just one. But I think a lot of people would be unhappy with that. And it might not be fair. So, I think, even making a third team that anyone can join would be really helpful,” Sullivan said.

Many students agree with Sullivan, and confirm that if the change were to be made they would be open to joining the new team. Kyleigh Tangen ’24, who competes in girls cross country and swimming, adds that change would have to come from the athletes themselves.

“I think it would have to be up to the students. But, if there was an option for mixed-gender sports, I would like that. If there were such a team then I might try out actually,” Tangen said.

When determining the relationship between sports and transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming  athletes, it is important to acknowledge the unique challenges they must face both in and out of their sport. If New Jersey decides to implement a decision on these high school athletes, they must understand that human rights are ultimately more important than sporting events.

The Tower

Sayuri Bhatia's Work

The Tower