When the Comp Turns to Co-op

Most ELHS sports are played with fellow Vikings who roam the school halls daily. Teams consist of neighbors and classmates; teammates see eachother everyday. Many athletes befriend their teammates who are also their classmates, and those who live just minutes away from each other. However, students who play cooperative (co-op) sports, which combine programs with other schools, may have teammates that live as far as an hour away.

Co-op sports form teams of athletes from separate schools when they do not have enough players at a singular school. Although it can be difficult to thrive with your teammates, it can also create great opportunities to build friendships.
There are many co-op teams that ELHS students participate in, the most popular being gymnastics, ice hockey, and wrestling. Mia Williamson, senior and captain of the Woodstock Academy girls’ ice hockey team, drives almost an hour for practice and games, multiple times a week.

Woodstock Academy girls’ ice hockey team mainly consists of girls from Woodstock, but there are also athletes from Ledyard, Wheeler, Norwich, and EL. The team is closeknit, despite the distance between teammates. With pizza parties, partner exercises, and holiday gift exchanges, the players stay connected. Williamson’s week usually consists of practice on three days and games on two days.

Williamson and her teammates have learned to step up for each other, even through ups and downs. “We try to focus on being positive. It’s definitely hard when you have girls from a bunch of different areas, and especially because not
everyone has played together in youth. We are constantly adjusting,” Williamson said.

While the challenge of being involved in a co-op team is difficult, Williamson explains that it has made her more aware when welcoming new players on other teams. Co-op teams can build both athletic and social skills, and even new friendships.

Williamson compares the dynamic of the ice hockey team to the EL volleyball team saying, “It is definitely different. We can’t really do dress ups on game days. With volleyball we would do pasta parties, but my hockey team can’t really do that because it’s so far away.”

Like Williamson, sophomore Karya Yigiterhan plays on EL teams, field hockey and lacrosse, while also keeping up with year-round gymnastics.

“Some of my closest friends are on the field hockey and lacrosse team at East Lyme, and that’s probably because I see them at practices and at school, but I’m also really close with my gymnastics friends,” Yigiterhan said. She does gymnastics with girls from Waterford, Groton, and Old Lyme, and still stays close with them despite not going to school with them.

Gymnastics is time consuming with three practices a week. Fortunately, Yigiterhan’s drive for practice is not far, and the girls from gymnastics all live close. “I spend a lot of time with the girls at gymnastics because practices take up a lot of time, so if anything, it only strengthens the relationships I have with them,” Yigiterhan said.

“The dynamics are definitely different, but that doesn’t mean that one relationship is worth less than another. I just think that it’s different because we rely on one another in different ways,” Yigterhan said when comparing her school friendships to her gymnastics friendships. Although going to school with teammates can build friendships sufficiently, it does not mean that being away from them during the school day weakens the relationships.

Cooperative sports teams require hard work, but it is worth it to play a sport you love.

“I grew up playing hockey, and I just fell in love with the game. I really miss it when I’m not able to play. It’s all completely worth it,” Williamson said.