Ever wondered what it’s like to be part of a sport that doesn’t get much attention? While basketball players at Edison High are often in the spotlight, athletes from “underrated” sports, like track, don’t get the same recognition.
Khoury Mason, captain of the Boys Varsity Basketball team, and Jaylen Johnson, a sprinter on the Boys Track team, shared their experiences competing in sports with different levels of attention. Despite the differences in attention, both are equally dedicated to their teams.
Mason’s days are packed. His schedule includes long practices that sometimes stretch until 7 pm.
“I wake up at 6 am, sometimes earlier for shoot-arounds before school and after school. I know that we have a very strict and rigorous practice schedule. We practice every day, Monday through Saturday, our only rest days, our Sundays. And we also have very long practices also. We have a whole bunch of stuff we need to cover. We have to make sure that we’re in tip-top shape,” Khoury said.
Basketball at Edison comes with a lot of perks.
“We get tons of resources,” Khoury said, grateful for the equipment and support the team receives. But there’s also pressure, “Teachers and staff notice you more, and sometimes that means they treat you differently,” Khoury explained.
Even with all the attention basketball gets, Khoury recognizes that other sports deserve more recognition. Every athlete, regardless of their sport, should feel valued. “Sports like badminton or handball need to be marketed more,” Khoury said.
Jaylen Johnson’s experience, however, is different. Track isn’t as popular, and that means less recognition.
“One of the biggest challenges is like most people that don’t run track, they tend to kind of discredit the hard work that goes into the sport. So dealing with that is kind of hard sometimes,” Jaylen said.
A standout moment for Jaylen was his first 300-meter race. For him, track is about personal growth, not the spotlight.
“I won by a long distance, and that moment made me want to keep running. Track taught me discipline and how to keep going, no matter what people say,” Jaylen said.
Jaylen encourages anyone thinking about a less popular sport to go for it.
“If you love it, do it,” Jaylen said, “It doesn’t matter if it’s not the most popular.”
Coach Gompers, head coach of the Boys Varsity Basketball team, understands the pressure of a popular sport. With 150-200 kids trying out for only 30 spots, “the hardest part is when we have to put our final cut list up and see so many faces get rejected,” Gompers said.
Coach also believes social media plays a key role in building recognition.
“We have a large following on Instagram @EdisonBball. Our graphics team consistently posts, and we have videos and posters that show the hard work we put in,” Gompers said. “We also have a great support system with people like Ms. Inderjeit, who helps with homecoming and decorations, and Ms. Sabella, who was an instrumental part in some of the decorations in the gym. The principal, Mr. Ojeda, and Athletic Director Mr. Sanseverino are always there to help the program.”
Khoury and Jaylen’s experiences may be different, but both share the same dedication.
Both athletes put in equal effort and passion, proving that dedication isn’t about the spotlight. Greater visibility for all sports at Edison would create a stronger, more supportive athletic community, ensuring every athlete’s hard work and commitment are recognized.
