The competitive spirit of high school students doesn’t fade at graduation, a sports team banquet or their last game.
For several alumni now competing at the collegiate level, the lessons, culture and communities they found at the high school continue to shape their athletic careers long after.
New York University freshman and soccer player Sydney Freese, who was also a two-time state tournament semifinalist during her time at the high school, said soccer was more than just a sport for her; it was a way to find her place within the school and town. After moving from Chicago to Brookline, she found a community in the town’s competitive youth soccer program that helped her settle in.
“The soccer community became really important to us and helped us integrate,” Freese said.
“The people were amazing — great girls, a competitive environment and coaches who really believe in you. Being around that growing up really helped grow my love for soccer.”
Freese said the demands of the girls soccer program at the high school prepared her for the more challenging world of collegiate athletics. That structure, Freese said, made time management a useful skill she brought with her.
“You have so much on your plate, but you still have responsibilities in both athletics and academics,” Freese said. “Academics come first, but doing both is a privilege. And doing one helps the other: sports give you a break from school, and school gives you a break from sports. [BHS] handled that balance well.”
At Boston University (BU), former record-breaking Brookline swimmer Zach Lee said he leans on the same sense of teamwork that shaped him during his high school years. The freshman said the high school’s strong team culture prepared him well for the next level, especially in a sport that is often individual.
“My experience at [BHS] was really different from any club team I’d been on,” Lee said. “The team community was much stronger. It wasn’t just an individual sport anymore, and that made it a lot more fun. I actually looked forward to it at the end of the day way more than club practice.”
According to Lee, while BU’s culture is similar to the high school’s, the college environment ramps up the intensity and has a stricter schedule.
“College is definitely more competitive and all-encompassing,” Lee said. “It affects every aspect of your life, not just when you’re in the pool. They want to make sure you’re doing well in school, eating well, everything. It’s more of a lifestyle in college.”
University of Massachusetts Amherst runner and three-time state champion freshman Altamo Aschkenasy said the relentless mindset he gained from high school became an advantage as a college freshman adjusting to a new level of competition.
“Brookline gave me that mentality of consistency,” Aschkenasy said. “Even if the weather was terrible, we still ran. Not everyone here has that mindset or that drive, so that gave me an advantage.”
Aschkenasy said the biggest adjustment from high school to college running is the difference in team dynamics.
“In high school, everything clicks because you’ve known your teammates for years,” Aschkenasy said. “In college, you’re suddenly surrounded by completely new people. Being friends and being teammates are two different things, and you have to learn how to be both. You have to show up for your teammates, not just be cool with them. That transition can be tough, but coming from Brookline, where we already had that culture, it felt more natural.”
Aschkenasy said the high school’s mantras, teamwork, discipline and resilience stay with them from wherever they are competing and whatever uniform they wear.
“It wasn’t just about competing,” Aschkenasy said. “It was about showing up for your teammates, pushing yourself and being part of something bigger than yourself.”
