I remember my Thirds Girl’s Basketball season in the winter of my Prep year. After being cut from the JV team, I was devastated. But Thirds gave me purpose again. It taught me the joy of not giving up. None of us had fancy dribbling or perfect passing skills, but what we did share was a burning spirit that carried us through the season.

At first, I was embarrassed to admit I played on a Thirds team. But we had games to play, rivals to beat, and peers who came to cheer for us—just like Varsity and JV. By the end of the season, I was proudly saying: “Hey, I’m doing Thirds Basketball!” I will never forget our final game, when the Varsity and JV girls came to cheer us on. Applause erupted when we scored. That night, the label “just Thirds” disappeared. Our game was worth watching. Our team was worth supporting.

For me, Thirds wasn’t just an opportunity to play basketball, but a place to belong. As a Prep still searching for community, the team offered inclusion, friendship, and a space where effort and passion mattered as much as skill. That’s why hearing about the elimination of multiple Thirds teams this year hit me so hard.

Mr. Dempsey Quinn, director of athletics, wrote, “The decision came down to participation numbers and coaching shortages.” He confirmed that volleyball, field hockey, and basketball will not have Thirds teams this year. The logic makes sense: fewer players plus fewer coaches has to equal fewer teams. But we should pause to think about this issue beyond the numbers.

If Thirds teams disappear, we lose more than a web page for the school’s athletics. We lose a rare space where anyone, no matter prior skill or ability, can step onto the field and be celebrated. For some, Thirds is the first time they experience what it’s like to be part of something bigger than themselves; for others, it’s the reason they stay connected to sports at all. Thirds has always been a reminder that athletics are about more than just skill level—they’re about joy, community, and the simple act of showing up, too.

Yes, there will be club sports now for golf, pickleball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. These are welcome and exciting opportunities that will keep people active. But they aren’t the same. Club athletes don’t wear uniforms or play other schools in front of classmates. Club sports are fun, but Thirds were teams—with rivalries, pride, and bonding memories.

Maybe this change is temporary, maybe it isn’t. But I hope it is. For me and so many others, Thirds was never “just Thirds.” It is the sound of sneakers on the gym floor, the hot air trapped in the field house, the cheer of friends in the stands, and the comfort of belonging.

At the end of the day, the school’s athletics will always shift to meet new needs. But Thirds teams deserve to stay alive on this campus.