As a culminating activity to Bronxville’s Spirit Week, more than two dozen student-athletes spoke to the elementary school students about the importance of sportsmanship, hard work and character on and off the field.
Bronxville High School junior Ellie Walsh - who is a member of the field hockey, basketball and lacrosse teams - impressed the importance of teamwork and perseverance on the third-graders, adding that sports are about more than just what the scoreboard reads.
“It’s really important that they understand that it’s not only about winning,” she said. “There’s more to it. In sports, you really have to make sure that in order for a team to work well, you have to become teammates.”
The day concluded with the high schoolers fielding questions from the elementary school students about their careers in sports, balancing academics and athletics and the responsibilities that come with joining a team come middle and high school.
“I think the most important thing they learned was the idea of sportsmanship,” senior Matthew Bettino - a golfer, basketball player and co-President of the Bronxville High School Athletic Council said. “A lot of kids that are young when they play a game or new to it, don’t really know how to conduct themselves on the field; but, I think as they mature and hear from older kids, they learn how important respect and sportsmanship are to the game.
“Goals are important, but sportsmanship trumps that, because if you’re nota good sport, you’re not a good athlete.”
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