Seventh grader Ellise Baidel is a tri-sport athlete competing in basketball, soccer, and golf.

She’s been playing basketball since third grade.

“I feel like this season got me more into [basketball] and just made me feel a lot more for the sport. It made me realize how much I enjoyed playing and practicing,” Baidel said. “After a year of online school, coming back to the court definitely got me more active and just like made me feel a lot better with both my mental health and my physical health.”

Another sport that she enjoys playing is soccer, another game that she feels helps her socialize.

“On the field, where it was necessary to communicate, we really bonded as a team more,” Baidel said. “We were kind of running the show where everyone was saying what positions they wanted to be, and just talking, which was really awesome.”

Baidel has also been playing golf for as long as she can remember. She grew up with her entire family playing, which has impacted her view on the sport and the memories she has associated with it. 

“A lot of people say golf is really boring – which sometimes it can be – but that’s usually just watching golf,” Baidel said. “Actually, playing it is much more enjoyable and especially when you go out with your friends or family, ready to get out in nature to the beautiful courses is a lot of fun. It’s a relaxing time where it’s not super physically challenging and you just go and walk and hit golf balls. It’s really calming, especially if I’m playing by myself. I can just have a moment outside just to relax. And I feel like a lot of people will do that with walks or runs, but I feel like with golf there’s more of a goal.”

Sports are a great way for her to get out and spend time with people she likes to be with, and she is able to have fun while doing something productive that she enjoys.

“When you’re on the field or court or course,” Baidel said, “it’s definitely a social time where you’re playing, but it’s also a great way to communicate and bond with people.”