Erik Sandvik collecting varsity letters at multi-sport athlete at Steamboat Springs
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — The challenge for junior Erik Sandvik this upcoming spring is to determine whether or not he can achieve his fifth varsity letter this year at Steamboat Springs High School. A varsity letter is an award earned by students across the United States for demonstrating excellence in school activities. Commonly, a student can complete a school year earning three varsity letters, one in each season of athletics. Having already received four so far this year, Erik鈥檚 ambition inspired him to get creative. It was settled that he would try something completely new.
During the first months of the 2021-2022 school year, Erik played defense on the boys’ varsity high school soccer team. He supported the team on their journey聽of聽a prosperous season that took them to the state playoffs.
Subsequently, during the months of overlapping seasons from August to November, Erik decided to put his goal-scoring soccer skills to beneficial use as a kicker for the varsity football team. After encouragement from his coaches to give it a try, Erik quickly became very intrigued and passionate about kicking. He has since been granted opportunities to attend camps and one-on-one assistance with a coach down in Denver. Erik had never played football before, but this would only be the first brand new sport Erik attempted this year.
After the fall聽seasons聽came to an end, training for the Steamboat Springs High School Alpine Ski Team picked up in December. After qualifying in both disciplines (slalom and giant slalom) during the regular race season, Erik headed off to other states to compete with the varsity team. There he placed strongly in the top 20 of competitors. Finally, Erik just received his Academic Letter Certificate as a second-year recipient. This means he has maintained a 3.75 or higher聽GPA, two semesters in a row, and has done this for multiple years.
Erik reveals that he was able to manage all these sports and academic responsibilities at once with the support of his family. He gave the example that to help keep track, 鈥渕y mom put up a whole poster in my room and then put all of the dates on it.鈥� This allowed him to organize priorities while maintaining accountability for each of his commitments. Overall, 鈥淚t really wasn鈥檛 that bad,鈥� says Erik.
With that statement in mind, Erik saw the potential of an upcoming off-season in the spring with nothing to do鈥nd decided he would take on the challenge of playing lacrosse for the first time ever. When asked what Erik expects from trying a second brand new sport this year, he replied honestly, 鈥淚 think that I鈥檓 going to be pretty bad. I don鈥檛 even know if I鈥檒l like it because it鈥檚 new.鈥� While Erik has expressed serious doubts about actually successfully playing on the boys’ varsity team this season, it is an ambitious goal that he enjoys setting for himself. Ultimately, Erik declares, 鈥淚 just want to enjoy it.鈥�
Of course, if lacrosse doesn鈥檛 work out the way Erik hoped it would, he added in good humor, 鈥淢aybe I鈥檒l just join track instead to get the varsity letter. Just to flex.鈥�
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.