Page 10 - 2017 ESC Sports Awards Dinner Journal

Simone Manuel, Team USA freestyler and Olympic gold and silver medalist, tweeted last month that “sports empower us, sports inspire us, and sports make us strong leaders.” We see these words lived out every day through each of our athletes at each of our practices and competitions.
Sports do empower us. Whichever sport you dedicated yourself to teaches the lesson that your level of success is directly proportional to the amount of focus and effort you invest. We have a moment-by-moment choice as to how we practice and compete. We get to choose whether we are going to strive for excellence or settle for average. We are empowered to excel, not only in sports, but in all areas of life when we recognize that, as Aristotle said, “Quality is not an act, it is a habit.” Through the lessons they teach, sports empower us to realize that we have the ability and power to excel, should we choose to invest our effort, time, and dedication toward a particular goal.
Sports also inspire us. This year we were inspired by athletes who, through grit and determination, refused to give up, refused to sit down, and refused to lose, even when their bodies were not able to go much further. This year we were inspired by teams that were, by all measures, expected to lose a particular contest. The players themselves did not accept that prediction and fought their way to victory. This year we were inspired by watching some young coaches and a group of young men play in memory of their beloved coach, even when it hurt. The lessons of fortitude, resolve, and determination inspire all of us to weather difficulties and trials and to persevere.
Sports make us strong leaders. I have seen our student athletes, through Athletic Council, Eagle Nation, team captaincies, and informal leadership roles, model excellent and selfless leadership for the betterment of our teams and our school. I have seen our student leaders motivate each other by modeling discipline and sportsmanship and by challenging each other to be better individually and as a team.
Our students have learned many invaluable lessons this year on the fields, courts, rink, and in the pool. I am confident that they, should they allow these lessons to transcend sports, will be successful in any aspect of life.
I would like to thank our coaches for modeling and fanning these attributes into flame. I would like to thank the parents and the Sports Club for echoing these same beliefs and for their constant support of our students and athletic program.
Congratulations, Eastchester Eagles, on an outstanding 2016-17 school year!
In pursuit of excellence,
Dr. Jeffrey A. Capuano
2 Stewart Place ∗ Eastchester, NY 10709 ∗ (914) 793-6130, ext. 4221 ∗ Fax (914) 793-1920 jcapuano@eastchester.k12.ny.us
EASTCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL Jeffrey A. Capuano, Ph.D., Principal
Dear Student Athletes, Parents, and Coaches,