Some independent schools mandate that every student participate in an interscholastic team sport. Thomas Jefferson (TJ) is not such a school. Yes, every student enrolls in either a team sport or an afternoon athletic activity, but you’ll receive no pressure to go out for a team.
That said, countless students with little to no background in team sports decided to give it a try at TJ and not only liked the experience but also made a name for themselves. Indeed, we belong to an athletic conference (the MAC) with similarly small schools that have a primary focus that is certainly non-athletic; we participate in tournaments; and we celebrate the seniors’ athletic accomplishments in a ceremony each spring. Yet these all lie in the shadow of our academic program. So while other schools may have 30 hours of practice a week, we practice fewer. While some schools will travel hundreds of miles for a game, we rarely travel more than 50. While in some places, a loss to a rival may bring on the gnashing of the teeth, at TJ we don’t seem to dwell on setbacks – since we all have work to get back to for the next day. In other words, even if you never pictured yourself playing an interscholastic sport, you may have found the one school in America that will allow you to test the waters.
Built in 1952 on the plans of famed local architect Richard Bernoudy (a student of Frank Lloyd Wright), TJ’s gym underwent an overhaul in recent years. Now at its centerpiece sits a new oak basketball floor, with the Greek word for “human excellence” adorning the lanes. This is the rallying cry for TJ’s teams. Adjoining the gym is a newly built annex containing team rooms and an impressive fitness center, which houses weight machines, dumbbells, medicine balls, physioballs, a mirrored area for dancers, and other fitness equipment.
Varsity Sports These usually meet four days a week for hourlong practices. The teams compete against other schools our size, both in regular games and weekend tournaments. TJ offers three varsity sports for both boys and girls:
- Soccer
- Basketball (JV also)
- Volleyball (JV also)
Intramural Sports These usually meet twice a week, and times will vary depending on the activity (somewhere between 45 and 90 minutes). In recent years, offerings have included:
- Tennis
- Yoga/pilates
- Weightlifting
All students participate in the athletic program. Occasionally, however, a student may wish to continue with another athletic interest outside of school (like swimming, baseball, dance, or karate). In such cases, TJ’s flexible afternoon schedule allows such a student to pursue this interest in place of our own offerings.