The alarm clock of senior Kate Harrington goes off at six a.m. to tell her it’s time to feed her animals, head to the gym, and squeeze in some unfinished homework. Then she tackles a busy seven-hour school day, before tackling both flag football and water polo practice.
From turf to pool, Harrington is no stranger to the world of Bearcat athletics. Harrington competes on the girls water polo, flag football, basketball, and beach volleyball teams on top of balancing her academics; she embraces it all. Though it may seem like a lot, Harrington truly enjoys athletics and expresses the importance of playing for herself.
With her packed schedule, Harrington has roughly 30 minutes of “free time” (when she has no homework, practice, or other responsibilities) a day. Many Bearcats avoid athletics, because they value their free time, but to Harrington, her lack of excess time isn’t troubling.
“I find a lot of joy in [sports] and it’s kind of like a free time for me, because I get to hang out with my friends and do something we all love and it’s very fun,” Harrington said.
Staying successful in athletics is a mental and physical game. Harrington tries her best to carb-load, stick to a high protein diet, and ice any sore muscles or joints; but for Harrington, the key to success is more of mindset.
“Don’t do [sports] because your parents are telling you to or your teachers, do it because it’s something you want to do and something you enjoy,” Harrington said.
Perseverance and focus is a huge part of being successful in sports according to Harrington. Pre-game anxiety is real and even Harrington gets those nerves, but she stays focused with the help of Spotify. When she needs to ease her anxiety, she puts on her calm playlist, but if she needs to get amped up her hype list is there to put her in just the right mood. Music is helpful, but Harrington also makes sure to remind herself of why she is there.
“Sports are meant to be fun. Yes there’s all the pressure from all the coaches and all the parents or whatever, but at the end of the day, it’s just to have fun,” Harrington said.
Burnout is a common occurrence in athletics, but last year Harrington didn’t let it bring her down. Her burnout taught her the importance of making time for herself and not letting the pressure get to her. Ultimately Harrington concludes that perseverance is a big part of avoiding burnout and achieving success.
“Perseverance is a really big word and just staying strong in your sports and trying to always remember the good things about it and keeping a good spirit,” Harrington said.
As the sun rises on Saturday morning and everyone else is sleeping in their beds, sophomore Liam Ellersick is up at 7:45AM getting ready to go to practice. He eats a small breakfast, laces up his shoes, as he gets ready for his long run.
From a young age, Ellersick had always been a good runner but he never had a role model to motivate him. He didn’t find these role models until his first season of running with PRHS during the 2024-2025 track season. Ellersick was seen for his speed and his commitment. As a freshman, he ran with senior Tyler Dalik, junior, Brian Arndt, and sophomore Luke Kleinman which inspired him to do great. “Last year was my first year and I really looked up to Tyler and Brian. They helped me decide that I wanted to do cross country this year,” he said.
After a successful track season that caught the attention of PRHS top runners, Ellersick is starting his first year of cross country with a bang. While placing within the top 5 on the team Time Trial loop, finishing 18th at the Arroyo Grande Invitational, and marching his way to place top 10 at Morro Bay, Ellersick has cemented himself as the top third runner for the varsity Cross Country team. But how does he do it? How can one stay so successful in both academics and sports?
After practice, Ellersick gets home and gets started on his homework. Despite his difficult classes, being on top of his work is what helps him run like clockwork. “On average I probably spend 35 hours on my homework and studying for my classes.” When he is finished with his work, he makes sure to be asleep by 10:30 so he is ready for his next practice.
To start his school morning, Ellersick has a carb heavy breakfast to hold him over till lunch, “I eat a bowl of yogurt with fruit, chia seeds, crushed granola, honey, and frozen blueberries.” Once the final bell of the day rings, he goes to practice and does his before practice routine. He stretches his calves, swings his legs, and takes a swig of water and is ready to go and be the top runner he is. His week is packed with different work outs and specific trails spanning from the minimum of 5 miles to the maximum of 12 miles. Whether it’s workouts on Wednesday, long runs on Saturdays, or his races, Ellersick gives his 100% and shows how he is a top runner.
