LEIA SHEARER TOMMY DUVER KAI POLOZIE STAR . SENIORS

Quick stats

• 2022-2023 season is his first season

• Decided to try track instead of baseball this year, so he took up indoor track to prepare for the spring season

• Progressed throughout the season by trying a variety of different events such as the shot put (his favorite), the weight throw, relays, the 600m, and the 1800m

• Plans to run recreationally with his friend Thomas Riveros at Cornell University while majoring in applied economics

Duver feels very lucky to be participating in indoor track his senior year, saying that it helps him be more active, relieve stress from the school day, and balance a rigorous work schedule. It is not always easy being a top athlete and top student, Duver shared. Duver’s favorite memory from this season was learning how to weight throw as “[he likes to] try new things on the track team.” Reflecting back on this season, Duver tells The Howler he will miss being able to compete athletically: “I did not compete on sports teams before my junior year and I wish I had started earlier. I have always been very academically focused, but joining a team has been a very positive experience.” One piece of advice Duver would like to share with underclassmen on the track team is, “invest in a good pair of shoes. The dollars per mile ratio is very important.” He also tells his younger teammates to see track as “something you get to do, an opportunity to make you a stronger person and build character.” •

Quick stats

• Been a part of HAC swimming since the 7th grade

• Born with a talent for swimming and was encouraged by her mother - a past varsity swimmer - to compete. Not a big fan of the other winter sport offerings.

• Improved most dramatically from 8th grade to junior year, and continues to get better every day with impressive times such as 27high for her 50 free, and 102-high for her 100 free

• Plans to attend a 4-year college for exercise science and swim at the intramural level

Quick stats

• Been a part of Pittsford Crew for 6 years, staring competitively in 8th grade

• His dad - also a rower - encouraged him to try the sport after he stopped playing lacrosse

• Became stronger and more efficient over the years, which helped land him a 3-seat

• Recruited by coach James Lister to continue rowing for Hamilton College while majoring in Psychology

Shearer reflects very positively on her senior swimming season, telling The Howler, “I feel really lucky that I had this opportunity to play this amazing sport on this amazing team.” Shearer’s favorite memory from this season was her HAC invitational where she could interact with more people and have fun between each event, even making friends on opposing teams. When asked what she will miss most about her sport, Shearer emphasized the importance of her friendships developed both within her team and with other teams. Shearer states, “It is great. We are not competing against each other as people, we are just trying to beat each other’s times. We are all in this together.” One piece of advice Shearer would like to give underclassmen on the swim team is to support one another: “Yes, we compete individually, but at the end of the day we are still a team. Focus on fostering friendships and that will lead to success.” •

Polozie’s favorite memory from his senior rowing season was having the best placement for Pittsford Crew’s 8-boat in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, the largest regatta in North America. Polozie came in 35th place overall out of over 1000 participating teams, an incredible feat. Polozie will miss the community and friends he’s made during these past 6 years in Pittsford Crew. He tells The Howler, “They have been a great support system outside of school. Kids on the rowing team are some of my best friends. Shout-out to Mason Laundry and Chandler Tan.” One piece of advice Polozie would like to leave underclassmen on the rowing team is, “you will never be able to outwork a bad diet, eat good food and get sleep!” He also stresses the importance of building a solid aerobic base, as it is much more important than having strong lifts. •