Contributor, Ms. Inniss Eastmond

This Saturday, March 8th, at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex, our very own Gavin Wynn will represent Avenues and Independent Schools in the 1,600-meter run at the New York State High School Indoor Track and Field Championships. ​NYS PHSA A

A Season of Dedication and Achievement

Gavin's journey to the state championships has been marked by dedication and outstanding performances. Recently, he set two new school records in the 3,200 meters with an impressive time of 9:41.23, and the 800m time 1:59.38, showcasing his relentless commitment to excellence. Gavin is no stranger to Federation as this will be his third appearance at Federations!

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A Proud Moment for Avenues

Competing at the state level is a significant achievement, reflecting Gavin's hard work and the support of the Avenues community. His participation not only highlights his personal accomplishments but also brings pride to our school and inspires fellow student-athletes.​

Cheering for Gavin

We encourage everyone to support Gavin as he competes this Saturday. The event will be held at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex, with doors opening at 7:30 AM and opening ceremonies at 8:15 AM. His race will be arund 3pm. For those unable to attend in person, live coverage will be available on MileSplit. NYS PHSA A

Join Us in Wishing Gavin the Best

Let's come together to celebrate Gavin's achievements and cheer him on as he takes on this exciting challenge. Best of luck, Gavin—your Avenues family is behind you all the way! We are So Proud of you!

Balancing It All: Kyla’s Approach to Juggling Varsity Sports and Band

For many students, balancing one varsity sport and academics can feel like a full plate. For Kyla, a senior at Avenues and a tri-season varsity athlete, the challenge extends far beyond that. Not only does she compete in basketball, lacrosse, and ultimate frisbee, but she’s also a Second Dan black belt in Taekwondo and a dedicated member of the Advanced Band, where she plays the alto saxophone.

A Packed Schedule
Kyla’s days are jam-packed, and her roles speak to her leadership and dedication. She co-captains the Girls Varsity Basketball team, plays defense in lacrosse, and is an active member of the ultimate frisbee team. In Taekwondo, a year-round commitment, Kyla competes in fall tournaments. Meanwhile, she’s also been a cornerstone of the Advanced Band since freshman year, having switched to the saxophone after years of playing piano and clarinet.

When asked how she manages this demanding schedule, Kyla explained her straightforward yet effective strategy: “I’m always doing the things I need to get done.” She credits her ability to compartmentalize tasks and stagger them based on energy levels. For example, she breaks up sending emails (a task she jokingly says feels like it takes a year) by doing them between homework assignments. “It keeps me moving while still doing thorough work,” she said.

Finding Balance Through Breaks
For Kyla, productivity doesn’t mean constant activity. “Although bus rides to away games can be a productive time for others, that doesn’t work for me,” she said. Instead, she builds in intentional breaks during the day to reset, allowing her to maintain focus and energy for tasks she isn’t as excited about. Prioritizing sleep is also non-negotiable. “I need to feel alert to maintain this type of productivity, so I really prioritize getting sleep,” Kyla said.

Navigating Overlapping Commitments
With sports and band, schedule conflicts are inevitable. Communication is key, Kyla shared. “I am always in close communication with both my coaches and teachers and make sure to talk through methods of prioritization in advance.”

She gave an example of balancing Advanced Band morning practices with lacrosse. While attendance for both is essential, Kyla’s proactive approach to discussing compromises with her coaches and band teacher has allowed her to honor both commitments. Even when game nights and performances collide, Kyla finds a wayoften rushing straight from the court to the band room.

Motivation Through Joy and Community
For Kyla, staying motivated comes naturally because of her genuine love for what she does. “Having something musical and something sporty happening in my life at all times is really important to me,” she said. The variety in her activities keeps her energized and fulfilled, with each passion fueling the other.

Beyond the activities themselves, Kyla finds motivation in the communities she’s a part of. “I have great communities in these spaces,” she said. “Even when I feel tired, there are people around me who keep me motivated and push me to show up fully.”

Advice for Other Students
Kyla’s advice for students trying to balance their own commitments is both practical and inspiring. “Find systems of organization that work for you, practice effective communication, and just do the stuff you have to do,” she said. She also encourages students to find joy in what they’re doing and lean into that energy. And most importantly? “Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Kyla’s story is a testament to how balance and passion can go hand in hand. Whether on the court, field, or in the band room, she’s found ways to thrive—and inspire others along the way.

Varsity Squash program continues to Grow

Our varsity squash team has grown in leaps and bounds. Not only in numbers but continued in spirit, teamwork and collaboration.  This year we were also excited to be able to offer an all girls team since our program has been growing. During the 2023-2024 season we brought up 8th grade athlete Andrew Reitler, who was an experienced squash player, so it was no surprise to repeat that for this year inviting 8th grade, Brady Cooper, brother of a senior on the team, to join our roster.

For this edition's spotlight, we highlighted Brady Yang on his experience. Click here to read the interview!

Interview by: Wavey Cole, AAC Student Body Liason

Q: What was your initial reaction when you found out you made the high school varsity team as an 8th grader?

A: A large reason I joined the team was because both the coach and many seniors on the team asked me to join. Furthermore, I've played the game for a while.

Q: How does being on the varsity team compare to your previous sports experience? What are some challenges you’ve faced so far?

A; On my previous 7/8 team there was no team spirit. Unfortunately I didn't make any lasting connections with anyone on the team and during practice there was very little conversation or speech at all. On the varsity team, every practice felt like a family reunion; all the players were set on working with their peers to improve, and during games, there were pep talks, coaching from peers, and other supportive acts that made the team feel welcome. Furthermore, many of the players approached me outside practice to talk and just be friends. Performance-wise, although it's a varsity team, squash is more a sport of endurance rather than strength, so practices aren't any more challenging to an 8th grader than they would be to a junior.

Q: How do you balance being an 8th grader with older teammates on the varsity team? Do you ever feel out of place, or do you feel like part of the team?
A: The team quickly welcomed me as their own and most times I didn't even notice that I was much younger than the rest of the team. However, it may have been easier to connect with the team for me rather than the average 8th grader, as I have older siblings and therefore am more used to talking with older people casually.

Q; What’s the atmosphere like at practice and during competitions? Do you feel the pressure of competing with older athletes?
A: I am confident with my skills in the sport and am used to playing against bigger and stronger opponents. In fact, 4/5 of the people I've played so far have been tall seniors who only know how to hit the ball hard, to which I beat almost all of them (I have a 4-1 win rate right now). In addition, I understand that as an 8th grader, I'm likely the underdog in most matches, so there's no shame in losing when I'm practically half their height.

Q: How do your high school teammates support you? Have they helped you adjust to the demands of being on a varsity team?
A: The high schoolers give the team pep talks and coach each other on what more could be done. This did help me understand the stakes of the competition, but because my older siblings have played on varsity teams, I was already well acquainted with what being a varsity athlete entails.

Q: How did you first get into squash, and what do you love most about the sport?
A: I first got into squash when my dad took me to his college club and enrolled me in lessons. At first, it was a chore to go up to Bryant Park on Mondays and fail to get the ball even halfway across the court. But eventually, I got better and learned to love the strategy of the game.

Q: Can you describe a memorable match or tournament you've competed in? What were the key moments or takeaways from that experience?
A: There was one tournament where I was going against someone completely better than me, they were about a rating point higher than me (which means a lot in squash rating) and were the favorite to win the tournament. Knowing I was the underdog, I stayed confident and made sure not to give up. With that mentality, I ended up earning large amounts of points each game and even taking a game off him (which is very impressive for how much higher his rating was compared to mine). Overall, demonstrating how being confident will make you better in every scenario.

Q: What are some of your personal accomplishments or accolades in squash so far? Are there any wins or achievements that stand out to you?
A: I’ve reached a rating of 3.4, which is a mid-intermediate level. Although I don’t have any particularly impressive achievements.

Q: What skills or strategies do you think are most important in squash, and how have you been working on improving them?
A: Likely the most important quality in squash is spatial awareness, as throughout the game you need to know where your opponent is, so you can hit the ball in the corner that will stump them the most. Furthermore, you can get points if the opponent is in the way of your shot or swing, which is another important application of spatial awareness. I’ve been improving this skill by reminding myself to keep an eye on the opponent and practicing hitting in all 4 corners of the court.

Q: How do you stay motivated and continue improving in squash, especially with the level of competition you face on the varsity team?
A: The level of competition is actually what motivates me to keep improving, as next year, I'm likely going to be the 3^rd seed on the team, so if I fail to improve, the team will likely fail with me. Furthermore, once you get older the opponents only get better, so in order to call yourself good at the sport, you need to either match or exceed the talent of your opponents.

Interview by Jesminder Vega, AAC Chair of Communications

Gavin Shines at Federation Meet

In this issue, we’re thrilled to spotlight one of our exceptional athletes, Gavin W, who recently competed at the prestigious Federations meet. Reflecting on the experience, Gavin shared, "It was very fun and an honor to take part in. It was a really special way to end my high school cross-country career." Competing alongside some of the top athletes in the state, Gavin embraced both the challenge and the moment.

Preparation for such a high-stakes meet requires intense focus and effort. "It was hard," Gavin admitted, but he credits his success to a well-structured training plan. "I worked very closely with Coach Krupa, our head cross-country coach, to prepare for a meet like this." His regimen included early morning runs, cross-training, and building the mental toughness needed to perform at his best.

For Gavin, success has been a team effort. He highlighted the incredible growth of his team over the years, saying, "When I joined as a freshman, we were just six runners, and there weren’t any girls on the team. Now, we’re 30 strong, running two full teams and competing in major meets like NYSAIS." He also expressed gratitude for his teammates and coaches, emphasizing the camaraderie and encouragement that defined his experience.

One moment stood out to Gavin during his race: hearing his teammate Santiago cheer him on from the backwoods of the course. "It’s inspiring to see others excited about a sport I love so much," he said.

Gavin also stressed the importance of balance, including recovery and nutrition, as key to his success. "You have to listen to your body and make time for rest," he noted, underscoring the value of a holistic approach to training.

His advice to younger athletes? "Stay consistent and never underestimate the power of a strong support system."

Congratulations to Gavin for his outstanding achievement and for proudly representing our community at Federations!