Upper Arlington High School is known for its high-achieving athletics program, which includes 33 varsity sports and 151 state championships. UAHS takes pride in its sports teams, not because of the number of wins, but because of the student-athletes who contribute to the school and community’s well-being, improvement and support.

These student-athletes use their gifts, talents and skills to impact their community positively. Whether it’s teaching little kids a new dance or harvesting fruits and vegetables for a food bank, no job is too small when it comes to helping others. 

Numerous UAHS teams provide their athletes the opportunity to give back to the community. Some coaches prioritize team volunteering by implementing community service into their team’s core values. 

“Our coach is a big believer in community service,” junior Brant Berg, a UAHS boys water polo player, said. 

The boys water polo team contributes to the community by volunteering at the Mid-Ohio Foodbank and at the Ronald McDonald House. In August, the junior water polo players hosted a bingo at Carsonies to fundraise for the Ronald McDonald House. At the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, the team worked at stations and handed out food to those in need. The team also harvested fruits and vegetables at the food bank’s farm. 

The team practices in the pool over 18 hours a week, but the handful of hours they volunteer during their season sets the team apart from competitors. 

“Water polo practice is a lot of doing this, doing that, but through community service, a lot of my teammates have found their place instead of just listening to our coach,” Berg said. 

While the coach directs and instructs the players in practice, the players take on the responsibility of being a “coach” during volunteering. Strong leaders are essential to the success of the team’s service projects. 

“When we went to the food bank, a few of my teammates stepped up and ensured stuff was getting done,” Berg said.

Although hundreds of non-student athletes volunteer, the effect community service has on the water polo players can be used in both sports and everyday life. 

“Volunteering as a student athlete is important because it builds character that can be used in practice,” Berg said. “It builds humility so you’re not cocky when you’re playing.”

The boys water polo team is just one of the UAHS teams that participates in community service. Senior hockey player Henry Thackeray discussed his role when the team participates in community service. 

“Last year, one of the captains and I got to help organize the toy drive we did with Nationwide Children’s Hospital,” Thackeray said. 

In addition to the toy drive, the hockey team volunteers at the Near Northside Emergency Material Assistance Program (NNEMAP) and for the Columbus Chill Youth Hockey Association (CCYHA) Special Hockey Program. Their goal is to grow hockey within the community, but that is not the primary reason they dedicate time to volunteering. 

“We volunteer because we like paying our respects to the community because they show us respect,” Thackeray said. “Our message is to stay positive and work with others because it’s really important.” 

It can be hard to keep a positive mindset when working with kids. Teaching those kids a new sport is an even bigger challenge. To Thackeray, it can be a struggle, but the reward makes it worthwhile. 

“I got to help a kid named Dylan learn the rules, skate and I made a friendship with him,” Thackeray said. 

Thackeray made a new friend, and his team became closer and developed a better sense of everyone’s personalities. Thackeray also benefited from the lifelong lessons that came with volunteering. 

“I’ve learned a new sense of empathy and a new sense of caring that I wouldn’t have gotten from playing sports alone,” Thackeray said.

Senior basketball cheerleader Ella Chandler has also gained a greater sense of empathy from volunteering. Chandler has helped lead clinics held by the UA Youth Cheerleading program. The UAHS cheerleaders teach elementary school and sixth-grade dances and cheers to perform at varsity basketball games. Many of those high school cheerleaders participated in youth cheer when they were little. 

“I always had so much fun as a kid and it’s cool to see the little girls finding so much joy in cheer,” Chandler said. 

Approximately 150 youth cheerleaders participate in the program, but only 50 high school cheerleaders volunteer. The high school cheerleaders must be patient and positive to manage all 150 youth cheerleaders. 

“Teaching young children requires you to have to have a different mindset,” Chandler said. “We encourage them to try again even though it can be hard.” 

Ultimately, the stories from the water polo, hockey and cheer teams prove that the true success of Upper Arlington athletics isn’t just found in the trophy case. It is built on the character and humility that athletes like Berg, Thackeray, and Chandler developed when they stepped off the field and into the community. From learning patience while teaching a new dance to finding a new sense of empathy at a food bank, these experiences shaped them into better leaders and better people, not just better athletes. This commitment to giving back is what truly defines UAHS sports and ensures their positive impact lasts long after the final buzzer.