When it comes to high school sports, all teams envision being on the biggest stage in Illinois. Competing until the referee blows the whistle. Hustling in between the lines. Chipping away to get closer to the goal. Racing through the waters to achieve the feeling- The feeling of representing your high school downstate.
From Heritage Hall to Entrance 3. Each step Wildkit Athletes take. Each step is guided by the marching Drumline. Each step marks them down in the History books. And with each step, all of these teams have something in common. State Qualifiers.
“We go ahead and parade them up H-Hall, all the way through West Wing, through the Gym Wing to Entrance three. Sending them off as everybody is coming out of classrooms and lining the hallways and cheering them.” Said ETHS Band Director Matthew Bufis “We’re happy to be a part of that school community and create that atmosphere for those student-athletes as they prepare to go downstate and represent our school.”
We rallied some of the best Athletes and state qualifiers in the past year at ETHS to talk about their state experience, whether that’s hotel nights with teammates, long rides to games, or reminiscing on the atmosphere.
“The energy at state is something that’s just incomparable than anything else I’ve been apart of, in the running world,” said senior cross-country runner Stella Davis
“To go to state was something we hadn’t done in awhile, but to do well added another level. We were bonding over the fact that we were doing something groundbreaking,” voiced senior gymnast Erik Van Leer
“It really means a lot to represent ETHS,” said senior field hockey goalie Bridget Lesch “We’ve made it so far in such little time.”
“It’s an accomplishment being [at the state meet], I think knowing that, appreciating that, and being proud of yourself is the most important thing,” said senior swimmer Jonas Nissan
“[State] is definitely very different, walking out onto the deck the energy is so high and intense,” said water polo senior Grace Cummins “[Making state] was a really big deal, after the program had not been so strong for so long. Making it there was a great way to represent Water Polo at ETHS, and the Girls Program in general.”
“Last year was probably the hardest year of swimming I had all four years, obviously it paid off. So just keep working hard,” stated Girls Senior Swimmer Cameron Corbett.
“It was the first year I was doubles partner with my [teammate]. We got closer over the season and the experience of going to state together was really fun, the road trip was fun. Yeah, I think it brought us closer and made us play better,” said badminton senior Delcy Garfield.
