Lakeside School

Led by head strength and conditioning coach Cam Williams and assistant coach Erica Pitman, the Lakeside strength and conditioning program's committed athlete platform recognizes student-athletes who demonstrate qualities and characteristics that exude commitment, leadership, and confident competence in the weight room.

Lakeside student-athletes who exemplify the following traits are looked at as potential committed athletes:

• Consistent attendance to training sessions that have been arranged;
• Consistent attendance to training sessions beyond regular in-season team sessions;
• Appropriate effectiveness and training intensity of workouts;
• Proactive communication with strength and conditioning staff; 
• Punctuality;
• Positive attitude toward self and others during workout sessions; and,
• Leadership example.

Student-athletes (one boy and one girl) who are selected will be featured in the weight room with their name written on the wall for all to see. Those selected will also receive a strength and conditioning t-shirt that highlights their accomplishments.

Williams recently named Hoops R. '27 and Ani L. '26 as Lakeside committed athletes.

Coach Williams commented on the efforts of these two newest members of the committed athlete group.

"As winter turns to spring, it’s time again to honor two more committed Lakeside athletes. Winter in the pacific northwest can sometimes be a dark and gloomy time of year, but these two athletes didn’t let the dark days keep them from working hard to achieve their goals. So it’s our pleasure to announce Hoops Rawcliffe and Ani Li as our next two committed athlete award winners. Both of these athletes have been working hard all year but really set themselves apart from the rest over the past few months by staying dedicated to their training during a time of year where it’s easy to take your foot off the gas and coast. So join me in congratulating Hoops and Ani for demonstrating what being a committed athlete is all about."

After learning of their selection as Committed Athletes, Hoops and Ani talked about what it means to be recognized.

Hoops R.:

1. Describe what being a committed athlete at Lakeside looks like to you.

Being a committed athlete means showing up and working hard, even when you don't really want to, and constantly pushing yourself past what you are comfortable with.

2. How have you benefited from being a part of the strength and conditioning program at Lakeside?

Being part of the strength and conditioning program has helped me improve myself by allowing me the space to work towards my goals as an athlete, and by teaching me the skills to achieve those goals.

3. As a student-athlete, what would you pass along to your peers about becoming more of a committed athlete?

I would emphasize consistency and effort as the two most important things to focus on. Effort is how you improve in the weight room, and consistency in that effort is how you compound those small improvements into big changes.

Ani L.:

1. Describe what being a committed athlete at Lakeside looks like to you.

Being a committed athlete at Lakeside to me means showing up even when you don't want to and staying on top of other obligations, so that I can prioritize sailing.

2. How have you benefited from being a part of the strength and conditioning program at Lakeside?

I feel so grateful to Coach Cam for letting me participate in the strength and conditioning program, despite not doing a Lakeside sport until this year. It's benefited me immensely and has allowed me to sail the ILCA 4 and 6 at higher levels than I ever thought I could. Additionally, the work I've done in the program helped me be able to more easily jump into doing Flag Football for the first time this year.

3. As a student-athlete, what would you pass along to your peers about becoming more of a committed athlete?

To become a committed athlete, you have to love the sport, for me that is always the priority. While putting in the work and consistency are important, it is also important to know when to take breaks. Without love for the sport, it is hard to be committed.

Congratulations, Hoops and Ani!

Follow Lakeside Athletics on Instagram at lakesidelionsathletics.