Brooklyn Kimball. Submitted photo.
BETHEL — Sports have helped shape who Brooklyn Kimball is. From her involvement in recreation programs to being a three-sport athlete at Telstar, the senior has been heavily impacted by her playing time on the fields and court. So, when it was announced late last year that traditional sports this winter would not be happening, the news was crushing.
“I was disappointed not to being able to play basketball this winter,” Kimball said. “I feel like playing sports has given me a purpose and without them it has been very strange.”
Although there was no basketball. the Bethel resident did have the chance to play field hockey last fall and despite the shortened season, was grateful for the opportunity. She was also named field hockey team captain, another accomplishment to go along with the many times she’s been recognized as athlete of the month. Though for her, competing in a sport goes far beyond the accolades and awards.
“Playing high school sports has meant a lot to me. It’s been about community pride and playing alongside friends,” Kimball said. “I am proud of my town and my high school and I feel very lucky representing them.”
“I would like to thank all my coaches for guiding me to be the best athlete I can be. Also I would like to thank Gail White and Lori Davis for generating my love for field hockey,” Kimball added.
Kimball plans on trying out for the UMF Field Hockey Team this August, but as of now is focused on a possible spring sports season at Telstar. If athletics do happen this spring, Kimball will have the chance to represent her town and school one last time on softball diamond. She’s hoping for a regular sports season and would like to see upcoming events, such as prom, graduation and other end-of-year celebrations to return to a somewhat normal setting, also.
“I’m hoping spring sports will happen. It’s been hard to connect with friends in school. I miss sitting with friends at lunch, I miss dances, I miss supporting and cheering on fellow student athletes,” she said.
Kimball thinks things in her life will start to return to normal at college this fall, with many people in her age group expected to be vaccinated by then. She plans on majoring in Physical Education and Community Health at UMF.
“I chose this major because of the positive experiences I had playing athletics for Telstar High School,” she said. “School has been a struggle for me in certain subjects. Knowing I was successful in athletics has given me confidence and strength in other areas of my life and in school. I have grown to love myself and my abilities. By majoring in Physical Education & Community Health I hope to help others who struggle in school find their strength by being active and healthy in physical education.”
Kimball also plans to tryout for the field hockey team at UMF in August and wants to earn a minor in Coaching. The latter is something she got into early in her high school career.
After playing rec basketball through the end of middle school, when Kimball decided to start coaching rec basketball her freshman year along with Mike Pelletier and Ryan Kimball. Kimball and Pelletier help run the rec program and also coach boy’s high school basketball at Telstar. She helped coach the rec team with them her first three years of high school and said the devotion both showed for their players and the game itself inspired her to choose a minor in Coaching.
Outside of coaching and sports, Kimballs presence is still felt in the school and community. She’s been class president all four years as well as a student council member, including serving as its secretary this year. She works as a hostess at the Millbrook Tavern, as a substitute with preschool aged children at her mother’s daycare and as a server at Steam Mill Brewing, which her parents and cousin own.
While her community engagement and passion for sports will benefit her in the next chapter, for now Kimball’s goal is to salvage what she can from her senior year, which will hopefully be a softball season and a few more months of making memories with friends.
“Representing Telstar has allowed me to create bonds between my teammates and classmates. Telstar is a small school but we have a large and strong support system for students and athletes in our community. I’m proud to represent Telstar because as students we can put our individual differences aside and we can encourage and cheer on everyone’s individual accomplishments.”
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