Stay in Shape Saturday

Finn Lincoln '21
Student-athletes are among the many groups that have been significantly impact by this crisis. With school campuses and many centers of athletic activity closed, these dedicated athletes do not have an opportunity to get the same amount of exercise. This submission highlights one of Hawken’s student athletes and the way that he has stayed active, both physically and with his team, during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order
This Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has hit the United States, along with many countries across the globe very hard. While the most devastating consequence is the widespread loss of life, its effects have been far-reaching in ways we never would have anticipated.

Student-athletes are among the many groups that have been significantly impact by this crisis. With school campuses and many centers of athletic activity closed, these dedicated athletes do not have an opportunity to get the same amount of exercise. This submission highlights one of Hawken’s student athletes and the way that he has stayed active, both physically and with his team, during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order.

Staying in Shape with: John Ratino '20 Captain (Boys Lacrosse)
John Ratino is a senior captain of the lacrosse team. He plays attack and has committed to Otterbein to play college lacrosse.

How John stays in shape:
Physical:
Weight lifting and body weight exercise
Both long and short distance running
Footwork drills
Skill Work:
Wall ball
Shooting drills
Inside finishing and dodging drills
Footwork --> shots
 
How John stays connected with his team:
“We have been doing team competitions online over Zoom to help stay in touch with each other. First we did Hawken Trivia and the second one was a house scavenger hunt. Both were great times, and it was great to be able to be with the team again.”

More about what lacrosse at Hawken means to John:
            Ratino has been a 4-year member of the Hawken Lacrosse Program. He has lead the team in goals for both his sophomore and junior season and likely would have repeated that accomplishment this year. Ratino was named captain last year, a reflection of the respect that he commands from his coaches and peers. His commitment to the team has earned him this respect.
            John was devastated when he found out about the cancellation of the 2020 season. “To put it simply, it just sucks. A lot. This is the first time I have tried to put the feeling into words, and words almost do not really do the feeling justice. I think what is the worst is just thinking about how much potential we had as a team for this season.”
            Unfortunately for Ratino as well as other members of Hawken’s senior class, the virus will likely result cancellation of their final season as high school athletes. This heartbreaking scenario left Ratino thinking about the goals he had hoped the team would accomplish in his final season. “All of us were looking forward to creating a  culture this so strong that we would come back in 20 years or so and still see crucial pieces of that culture still preserved. We just had so much to look forward to, and to have that ripped away so quickly was just devastating for everyone.”
            With goals larger than just winning games, the fact that the season was cut short was very hard to swallow for Ratino. As he stated, the hope was that this season would be revolutionary in the culture of the program, stretching success farther than just a win percentage. For someone committed enough to the sport to play in college, the loss of the final high school season is crushing.
            Ratino says that despite all of the goals that he had in mind for the season, the camaraderie would be the aspect that was most missed. “I’ll for sure miss being with the boys in the locker room getting each other hyped before games, the atmosphere of Friday Night games, and competing with your competition team. It doesn’t get better than that.”
            The reality that John, one of the more decorated players in the programs history, will likely never step foot on a field again wearing the red and grey is saddening. His lofty goals and work ethic have been critical in the team’s success, and the seniors’ contributions will be greatly missed next season.
Back
An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12

Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135 

Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106

Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106

Directions  |  Log in  |  440-423-4446