dents at Sandy Spring Friends School are responsible for some truly amazing things. These achievements run the gamut from exceptional artwork and an outstanding number of community service hours completed, to nationally ranked athletes. At the end of the school day, several students forget about the troubles of their day and participate in a sport at the national level. These athletes include, freshman Evan Becker- a member of the nationally ranked mounted games team Swat, senior Manita Seith- a nationally ranked trampolinist and senior Aaron Lewis- member of the U.S. Virgin Islands U-23 Olympic team.

“Playing a sport at this level is hard, but it’s worth it. It’s cool being good at something. It uplifts your spirit,” said Seith.

Part of the second best mounting games team in the nation, Becker has spent the last seven years involved in the sport. Mounted games are a series of 50-60 types of relay horse races. These races range from events where the rider must bend through five cones then pass the baton to the next rider, to vaulting type games, in which the rider must jump off of the horse while moving, run on five overturned buckets, and then jump back on.

“I think one of the reasons I’ve never gotten tired of mounted games is because there are so many kinds of games. They are all really fast and exhilarating from start to end. It’s like a really close basketball or soccer game; you’re racing next to the team that wants to beat you,” said Becker.

Becker grew up around horses. Both his parents rode: his mom in shows, his dad a proficient huntsmen and exceptional fox chaser. Becker, who has been riding for as long as he can remember, traces his early riding days to the Pony Club.

“I’ve been riding pretty much forever. My mom did a lot of shows, and my dad is still master of the hunt. When I was really young, my mom put me in the Pony Club, and I loved it while getting better. I’ve just always been around horses,” said Becker.

Becker, along with his four other teammates, practices once a week during the off-season and three times a week in the heat of the season, fall and spring. In addition to practices, Becker takes part in numerous paired competitions.

“Practice doesn’t interfere with school. Nationals are during the summer. I may miss a day or two in April for the Price Phillip Cup [national qualifier]. Either way it doesn’t bother me because I love doing it,” said Becker.

Two years ago, Becker and his team qualified for nationals in Lexington, Kentucky, where they won first place. The following year, The Swat Team traveled to nationals and placed second out of 21 teams. This season, The Swat Team looks to place well in the upcoming Mid Atlantic Challenge, and ultimately prepare for the Prince Phillip Cup in April.

“This is going to be a great season for us,” said Becker.

Currently the Olympic Committee is discussing whether mounted games should be an Olympic sport. Becker, who hopes to pursue the sport in college, and says he would benefit from the change.

“I hope they make it an Olympic sport, so hopefully I can get a scholarship,” said Becker.

Like Becker, Seith is a nationally recognized athlete. Where Becker finds his comfort on horseback, Seith describes a similar feeling on a trampoline or in the air.

“Something about aerial acrobatics, or just being in the air in general, is liberating,” said Seith.

Over this past summer, Seith was invited to compete at the Trampoline & Tumbling National Championship in Memphis, Tennessee, where she finished third in the nation. Seith attributes her success to a rigorous practice schedule comprised of three practices a week- close to three hours each and bi-monthly competitions.

“It’s difficult sometimes. I have less time to talk to my friends than I’d like. There isn’t enough time to relax during the week, making it hard to work efficiently, but I always feel gifted,” said Seith.

Seith looks to follow her passion into her collegiate years.

“If I can, I’d love to play. If not on a team, then at a local gym,” said Seith.

Unlike the other athletes, who have to participate in their sports beyond Sandy Spring grounds, senior Aaron Lewis has shined in his athletic endeavors both inside and outside of school. The co-captain of the 2007-2008 Men’s Varsity Soccer Team, Lewis missed the first few days of school to play with the U.S. Virgin Islands’ National U-23 team.

“Well, my Dad’s from the Virgin Islands, and he asked me to send in some soccer clips. They responded and said, ‘We [The Virgin Islands coaches] were thoroughly impressed,’ and wanted me to play. So I went down to play for a couple of days at the qualifying tournament for 2008 Summer Olympics, and played the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands,” said Lewis.

The coaches started Lewis in both games, allowing him to play all 90 minutes in both. They said, “Lewis is part of our future. He did incredibly well for being one of the two 17 year olds, competing against 21-22 year olds.”

“I loved the intense international competition,” said Lewis.

In addition to playing for an Olympic team, Lewis is part of a club team called the Bethesda Mavericks. His team is among the top 25 teams in the country, and second in Maryland, a highly competitive region by national standards. Practice and games for his club team accounts for an extra 10 hours in addition to his scholastic requirements.

“I have no problem saying soccer takes up a lot of my time. Competition on this level causes soccer to constantly be on my mind, whether I want it or not. With three practices and one game a week on top of the school team, soccer is a huge part of my life,” said Lewis.

Lewis credits soccer for teaching him many things.

“For me soccer is more than a sport, it’s a way of life. So far I’ve cherished two things: one, the brotherhood formed when you join a team and two, the three ups. When I was five, my dad told me the three ups were get up, shut up and don’t give up, and all of those things have stuck with me to this day,” said Lewis.

Although Lewis played for the U.S. Virgin Islands, his dream is to wear the jersey of his native country, The Philippines. He also hopes to play the sport in college.

“I feel that my past and future have been so influenced by soccer, I no longer have a choice,” said Lewis.