Gavin Wang

Although I am not the largest in stature or the strongest, I am a fierce competitor. This trait stems from participating in many individual and team sports during my childhood. Thankfully, my parents were very encouraging when it came to trying new activities. When I was in 4th grade, I was introduced to the sport of short-track speed skating. I was instantly captivated by its speed and finesse. At first, it was extremely difficult to even stand on the skates without falling down. Through much practice both on and off the ice, I began to gradually improve. My first competition was the Greenheck Showcase in Wisconsin. I earned my first gold medal and set a new record for my age group. I started regularly attending regional and state competitions. Going into 6th grade, I was highly ranked in my age class. I qualified for Nationals late 7th grade, but unfortunately my family moved to Augusta, Georgia during the summer. This effectively ended my speed-skating career. However, my friends at my new middle school school showed me how to play a sport I enjoy to this day - lacrosse. I was instantly drawn to the teamwork and communication the game emphasized. Sadly, going into my Freshman year, I measured in at 115 pounds. Effectively, there was no chance of my parents letting me tryout. They simply did not want me to get hurt. It wasn't until Junior year where I was a decent size to play - and I was still one of the smallest kids on the team. But, I persevered and made JV and eventually Varsity come Senior year. My season was cut eventually short by the COVID-19 pandemic, but I was satisfied with my journey.