By Evie Beale 

Staff Writer 

Whether on or off the court, track, or field, R.J. Reynolds sports teams help provide student-athletes with a second home. They provide a unique place to develop life-long relationships with teammates and coaches.

     Personally, I play on three different teams: soccer, cross country, and basketball. In each sport, I have created amazing bonds with my teammates, and each sport has provided me with a sense of community.

     I joined the cross-country team my freshman year at RJR.  I wanted to get to build a good relationship with my teammates and improve my endurance. I love that here at RJR coaches try to provide their athletes with the best possible experiences, great practices, unforgettable meets and games. Last year, we went to a race at Atlantic Beach and we spent the night. I stayed with people I didn’t know that well, and it helped me to feel like I belonged on the team.

    This past year, I also tried out for the basketball team and made the varsity team. I was super scared because I was one of the youngest players on the team, and I wasn’t as skilled as everyone else. I was nervous that the seniors weren’t going to interact with the freshmen, but that wasn’t the case. The team was so encouraging and made the locker room a fun place for everyone. Whether it was filming TikToks, or celebrating a win, we were always having a good time. This year I am a sophomore on the team and confidently believe that the community is still thriving. We love playing fun games in the locker room pregame, and we are constantly checking up on each other to make sure everyone is feeling connected.

     I also tried out for soccer last spring. I practiced with the varsity team and played games with the junior varsity team. It was so hard to flip back and forth, but both teams took me in and made sure I was doing well. About five games in, I switched to varsity. I thought it was going to be a hard transition but the switch-up was made easy because of my amazing teammates. One thing I really enjoy about soccer is accountability buddies: a system where you are given a partner on the team who you don’t know very well and you do drills and check-ups with them. It allows you to feel more a part of the team, and become closer with your teammates.

     Sports at RJR have really provided me with an amazing community. If you are looking to go out and try out for a sports team here at RJR, DO IT, because you won’t regret it. In fact, you will be so glad you put in the time to try it out!