With the spring season in full swing and the school year finishing up, many seniors not only are looking toward their future, but are also looking back on what they have accomplished throughout their years at East. From early morning workouts to must-win games their high school careers are full of challenges, life lessons, and unforgettable memories. One senior athlete shares what he has learned from his four years of playing lacrosse and soccer.

Hunter Sobus (‘26) tore his ACL twice on the same leg and unfortunately missed out on countless soccer and lacrosse games throughout his career. He wanted incoming freshmen to appreciate the little things of being on a team that many people wouldn’t notice. Since he missed out on so much he wants incoming athletes with their whole careers ahead of them to not take anything for granted. Due to his injuries it led to him developing a new perspective that other athletes maybe would overlook.

“I’d tell freshmen to always enjoy the moment. It goes by fast, enjoy everything you can get,” he said.

Through Sobus’s experiences he learned many lessons, one of the most important was to avoid judging someone before getting to know them. Oftentimes, the way you think about somebody is different from who they actually are. Being a part of a team not only means overcoming your own challenges but helping others overcome theirs by holding teammates accountable and supporting each other.

Sobus wanted to drive home the fact that preparation before the season is just as important as what you do during it; he strongly encourages incoming athletes to condition in the offseason.

“It will make the start to your season 10 times easier if you’re conditioned going into the season,” he said.

Staying in shape not only makes the season easier but makes you a better player as a whole. Beyond being an athlete Sobus understands that being a student comes first. Oftentimes student athletes struggle to balance school with athletics especially if they play more than one school sport.

As a new student it might not seem like your athletic career will come to end one day but when it does the most important thing you can have is a good future set up for you.

“It’s always super important to put your grades and well being first. Always be honest with teachers and coaches to make sure that you’re doing well in school while playing a sport,” said Sobus.

He believes that having a balance between academics and athletics is a very important skill for everyone to have, especially incoming freshmen. Having good communications with teachers and coaches can not only help you become a better student but also a better athlete.

With the school year coming to a close, seniors athletes look back on what they regret not doing during their time at East. Sobus regrets not always living in the moment and always thinking of the next practice or game. He wanted to make sure incoming freshmen have the right mentality going into their first year as a high school athlete, and more importantly, as a student.