As the winter approaches, skaters are drawn to ice rinks to practice twists and turns, as skiers prepare for their descent down snowy slopes. For North students, the wintertime brings about a new season of sports.
Sophomore Isaiah Bunte currently plays hockey for the Kansas City Stars, with this year marking his first time on a high school team. He explains that he practices three to four times per week in separate training and hockey sessions.
“Training is pretty much just working out. It’s pretty general exercise. It’s not difficult because, obviously, I’ve done it for so long, but hockey is definitely a challenging sport to learn,” Bunte said. “When you’re learning it at first, it is very difficult, but once you really get passionate about it and you get better at it, it becomes a lot easier.”
Bunte, who has played ice hockey for seven years, expands on how the sport gives him a sense of purpose.
“I think hockey really helps me stay happy,” Bunte said. “I think it gives me a sense of purpose, especially during winter when school is happening and homework and grades can be a lot, but it’s a way to escape. It’s very helpful for keeping mental health good.”
Despite the benefits of the sport, Bunte finds that he faces challenges as an individual on the team.
“I would say that being a smaller kid playing against kids who are obviously seniors in high school, it’s very good to be versatile and to be able to continue to persevere and be a good player,” Bunte said. “Even when other people have that advantage, you just have to work through that and just be the best you can be yourself.”
Bunte, who has previously won a peewee-level championship in the Midwest Hockey League, explains that hockey is rewarding since it is a less popular sport.
“I think that one of the really rewarding things about hockey is doing something that is very unique because I know people that are soccer players, baseball players,” Bunte said. “But, there’s only four people I know in the school that play hockey, and I’m sure there’s a lot more that have been involved with things like soccer.”
In contrast to Bunte, freshman Izzy Blythe finds that showing people the skills she’s learned through ice skating is rewarding.
“Showing off [is rewarding],” Blythe said. “I know that sounds kind of counter-intuitive, but one of the best parts is when you show someone something, [and] they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh. I’ve never seen that before. How do you even do that?’”
Blythe has participated in figure skating for five years, drawing inspiration from watching figure skaters on TV. She explains the process of learning to skate.
“I did take the classes for about my first year, but then I passed all the classes they gave, so I stopped taking the classes,” Blythe said. “I have a private coach, and then I go to club ice during the week.”
Blythe currently ice skates for the Silver Blades ice skating club at the Blue Hawk Advent Health Center ice rink. She shares that she ice skates because she finds it enjoyable.
“Ice skating makes me the happiest,” Blythe said. “It’s something that I love doing so much that winter is probably my favorite season, just because whenever I go to the rink, I just get this happy feeling.”
Despite the joy that ice skating gives her, Blythe explains that competition with others is a challenge she faces.
“Since it is a solo sport, you’re always competing against other people, and not just during competitions,” Blythe said. ‘It’s difficult for me because I want to be good at my sport, and I push really hard to be good at my sport, but there are just people who are naturally better or have more time to practice.”
Blythe shares that she perseveres through the challenge of competition by continuing to work hard.
“I have to remember that other people’s successes don’t make my successes less,” Blythe said. “I keep working hard and going to the rink every day and being kind…and I have a lot of friends there, so it helps.”
