A Look Back: Paint Branch Athletes Reflect on 4 Years as a Panther
May 23, 2019
Tyler Przygocki Football – Wrestling – Lacrosse
My greatest memory as a PB Athlete has to be…
Scoring a “pick 6” (interception for a touchdown) in my senior year football game vs Springbrook. Also, turning up in the locker room with the boys after winning games
My advice to my younger self would be…
Be more confident in yourself and your abilities. Don’t take anything for granted, enjoy practices and quality time with your team while you can.
My advice to those I leave behind is…
Work hard and put in the effort, do what you have fun doing. Make the most of your time in high school, the four years go by very quickly.
Varen Gupta Soccer
My greatest memory as a PB Athlete has to be…
Sweeping Springbrook senior year. The nonstop back and forth prior to the game, the stares, the disrespect. All of it made the games exciting. Pushing your what felt like “enemies” to the limit and seeing at the end who would be the ones going out with a smile on their face, and who would be going out wondering what went wrong. Both times we faced them we walked out with our heads up, and two dubs right behind us.
One thing I will take with me from high school athletics is…
Sports create a bond with people you would never imagine. Making friendships and family with people who were once strangers. Without high school athletics I don’t know where I would be; probably getting into UMD.
My advice to my younger self would be…
Be active, talk to people, ask questions, and figure stuff out. Enjoy the time you have and stick with soccer – it’ll get you far.
Ezra Dessie Cross Country – Track
My greatest memory as a PB Athlete has to be…
Placing 3rd at Counties against two elite runners who placed top ten in America.
One thing I will take with me from high school athletics is…
Running isn’t about how fit you are but how mentally strong you are.
My advice to my younger self would be…
Don’t look at others and wonder how he is a great athlete, become that person.
My advice to those I leave behind is…
It’s not how you start but how you finish!
Sarah Nguyen Field Hockey – Lacrosse
My greatest memory as a PB Athlete has to be…
Going on the Delaware trips for field hockey tournaments.
One thing I will take with me from high school athletics is…
You can’t do it alone. Teamwork is one of the most critical components on a sports team and in order to make it as a team you have to understand and work together. The more I got to bond and get closer to my teammates, the more our communication skills developed and that helps tremendously when in practice or games.
My advice to my younger self would be…
Go out and don’t be timid. Making mistakes is all a part of the journey and sooner or later you will come to realize that you are so much more capable than what you are portraying right now. You are strong and fierce, so go out there and show them what you’ve got.
Ritika Hutchinson Swimming – Track
My greatest memory as a PB Athlete has to be…
Going to meets with all my team members and cheering each other on during our events and then going out to eat as a team afterwards
One thing I will take with me from high school athletics is…
Always try your hardest even if it’s something small or not as important as you think; each detail is a part of the process.
My advice to my younger self would be…
Even though you think that you can’t do better than what you’re doing now, there’s always room for improvement.
Myla Oliphant Volleyball – Softball
My greatest memory as a PB Athlete has to be…
All the team moments, the laughs, and beating Blair.
One thing I will take with me from high school athletics is…
To always take care of my body and stay in shape. I will also take the importance of a team effort and being there for your teammates.
My advice to my younger self would be…
Maintain self-confidence! Have confidence in everything you do.
My advice to those I leave behind is…
Never feel ashamed or nervous to speak up for yourself, whether it’s on a sports team or just in general. It is important that your voice is heard.
