Student-athletes compete for prizes
By Elyse Foreman
A t the end of a long school day, freshman Sarah Ginsburg settled on the gym floor to do some pushups. Meanwhile, two bleachers full of Lowell student-athletes cheered her on.
On Aug. 28, Ginsberg was one of several hundred Lowell students who attended an assembly for student-athletes held in the gym during Block 8. This was organized by High School Nation, a company that hosts giveaways and live events at high schools across the country. Speakers at the event included a professional athlete and the event’s sponsors. Students were invited to compete against each other and professional athletes in various sports games to win merchandise and athletic equipment for themselves and their teams.
Ginsburg was encouraged by her friends to participate in a push-up competition against senior Andrew Ren. She performed over 60 push-ups in one minute, winning the challenge, and a gift bag containing a shirt, towel, water bottle and a pair of push-up stands. This spontaneous competition was a learning experience for Ginsberg. “This [activity] taught me to try new things because you’ll never know how they work out,” Ginsburg said.
The Lowell athletes overflowing the bleachers also cheered on senior Pablo Herrarte as he competed against Jrake Stanley, a professional soccer player from the L.A. Galaxy. Their goal was to steal a soccer ball from each other. Although Herrarte didn’t win, he left with a prize and was glad that he participated. “It was a good experience being under pressure and representing the team as well. It was awesome to play against a professional player,” Herrarte said.
The event’s finale pitted the captains of every Lowell sport team against each other to win Razor scooters for everybody on their respective teams and a MyoBuddy athletic massage device worth $500 for the team captain. The event relocated to Lowell’s basketball courts and a small track of cones was set up and a flood of Lowell athletes surrounded the court. The captains raced each other on Razor tricycles, cheered on by the cheers of their teammates. After many rounds of elimination, the boy’s soccer team was rewarded with secured personal razor scooters for every team member.
Students who didn’t attend the assembly are also able to share the winnings. High School Nation’s sponsors donated exercise equipment to Lowell’s P.E. department. Hampton Fitness donated a set of 5lb-50lb dumbbells, a set of 5lb-50lb kettlebells, a set of 20lb-110lb barbells, jump-ropes and resistance bands. From their Hampton-Hero line, Hampton Fitness donated wall balls, medicine balls, slam balls, battle ropes, racks for weights and plyometric boxes. The ABS Company donated an “Ab Coaster” machine and Smart Squat donated a “Smart Squat” machine. Finally, Myobuddy donated two Myobuddy athletic massagers.
High School Nation selects high schools to add to their American sports tour based on need. Lowell was selected based off of our free and reduced lunch ratios and the event was cleared through Lowell’s P.E. department heads. This is High School Nation’s first year branching into supporting high school sports. In the past, they have donated to arts and music programs across the United States.
