Freshman Edyn Mettling stays involved through sports, academics and school activities. From golf and soccer to church and Young Life, Mettling balances a busy schedule while maintaining strong grades and building connections with classmates and teammates. Participation in multiple activities has helped create a memorable first year of high school for her.
“Golf was my favorite sport, because it was really fun, and we made it to state as a team,” Mettling said. “I just enjoy golf a lot.”
Along with golf, Mettling also participates in tennis, basketball and soccer during the school year. Traveling with teammates and competing at a high level became one of the highlights of the season.
“We went to Carey Park Golf Course in Hutchinson,” Mettling said. “Our team placed sixth, and I placed in the top 20.”
Balancing four sports with schoolwork requires careful time management and organization. Long practices and competitions often leave limited time for homework and studying during the evenings. Despite a demanding schedule, Mettling continues to focus on academics and classroom responsibilities throughout the year.
“Normally, I have to do a lot of studying and homework after my sports practice, and I prioritize my ACE time,” Mettling said.
The transition from middle school to high school has been positive for Mettling. Support from classmates and teammates also created a welcoming environment during the adjustment to high school.
“It has been really fun, a lot better than middle school, and I have enjoyed all the sports and the freedom high school brings,” Mettling said.
Upperclassmen on sports teams played a major role in helping Mettling feel included. The soccer program especially stood out because of the positive attitude and encouragement shown by older teammates. Those relationships helped create confidence both on and off the field.
“All the upperclassmen are super nice and inclusive,” Mettling said.
Outside of school, Mettling attends church and Young Life while also spending time traveling with teammates during golf season. One favorite memory came during regionals when the golf team traveled to Kansas City and stayed overnight in a hotel. Experiences like those allowed teammates to become closer during the season.
“I can’t wait for next year and to get more involved with other things,” Mettling said.
As high school continues, Mettling hopes to become more involved in unified classes and other activities. Helping others and building relationships through school programs remains an important goal for the future. Participation in additional activities could create even more opportunities to connect with classmates.
“I want to do unified because I think that would be fun, like helping out and everything,” Mettling said.
Mettling’s future goals connect with the teamwork, leadership and communication skills learned from sports and activities during freshman year. Being involved in these activities has helped build confidence and taught important lessons about working with others and helping people succeed.
“I hope that in five years I am in college at KU majoring in elementary education,” Mettling said.
