The Small School Athletic Advantage

Wardlaw+Hartridge is a small school compared to the schools we compete against in the Greater Middlesex Conference. We are small by design and have all heard about the benefits of small class size and the individual attention our students are afforded. 

Having coached here for so many years, I have seen the benefits of what most will see as a disadvantage. While our pool of athletes is obviously smaller, I believe this creates opportunities for our students that may not happen at a larger school. 

The Varsity Advantage

In a large public school, for example, a freshman or sophomore that competes at a high level with their club team may be stuck at the JV level for two years. At Wardlaw+Hartridge, the opportunity to play varsity in ninth grade is often a reality. I have heard from countless athletes over the years that after a year of varsity competition, they returned to their clubs with a distinct advantage over their teammates from larger schools who played at the JV or freshman level. 

A Chance to Take a Break

Our most committed athletes are often those who train at their sport 12 months of the year. They are often traveling to tournaments and competitions that act as college showcases for aspiring high school athletes. The time spent training can be a lot and can take a toll on the enjoyment their sport provides. Curiously enough, many of our high-level athletes have mentioned that the time playing their sport for Wardlaw+Hartridge varsity remains as some of the happiest moments of their athletic careers. Playing for a classmate and not getting lost in a work-related approach to your sport can make the experience more fun. Many point to experiences like singing on bus rides and the competitive excitement associated with scholastic sports as things that you do not see on the club level. I can remember our boys’ varsity soccer team getting mobbed by classmates storming the field after a penalty kick shootout victory in the state tournament. It is in these moments that lifetime lasting memories are created.

Playing Multiple Sports

Many “experts” will tell you that specializing in one sport for 12 months must be done to be considered a collegiate prospect. The Sports Institute at the University of Washington Medicine says their research proves otherwise: “Mounting evidence challenges a deeply held conviction among youth sports participants that specializing in a single sport at a young age is critical to success.” Many studies of high-level collegiate and professional athletes have proven that most elite athletes did not specialize in their youth. 

For this reason, I loved seeing W+H record-holding and next-level swimmer Coco Lee ’27 making clutch catches in left field for our GMC Division Champion softball team. Swimming is still her passion, and she’s still on track to be a collegiate swimmer. She still finds time to train in the pool, but the smile on her face is different when I see her celebrating with teammates after a volleyball win or softball championship.

Leadership Opportunity

Our own Enzo Virto ‘27 is one of New Jersey’s best high school soccer players. Enzo was unable to play for Wardlaw+Hartridge in grades 9-10. Enzo was playing for New York City FC (NYCFC) of Major League Soccer in their MLS NEXT youth academy. NYCFC’s academy players do not play high school soccer because the club invests in each player’s youth development, and the contract stipulates that they only play for NYCFC.

Last fall, NYCFC downsized its number of teams, leaving Enzo open to the possibility of playing for Wardlaw+Hartridge. Enzo did not hesitate. We had a talented boys’ soccer team this year, but compared to MLS NEXT top tier, it would be understandable if Enzo viewed high school ball as a step down. He quickly embraced his role as a leader and, with great enthusiasm, played his heart out for the Rams. The other high-level players on the team joined him as leaders and lifted the rest of the team to play at a higher level than most thought they could. 

Whether it is Coco leading our swim team, but also finding unexpected success and joy playing new sports, or Enzo sharing his love of soccer with his schoolmates, this is the beauty of high school athletics on display at Wardlaw+Hartridge.