With the school year coming to a close, students have been running, sprinting, and swinging their way to the finish line. Communications High School (CHS) is home to a variety of athletes. From softball players all the way to golfers, these students are able to handle anything that comes their way.

Sophomore Helena Szep of Middletown is running past the competition at Middletown High School North on the varsity track and field team. She reflected on her own personal journey to becoming her best.

“Coming into this season, I had myself fixed on building strength and cutting down on my times from last spring season,” Szep said, “I wasn’t ready for how physically taxing the sport was last year, so the adjusted mindset coming into this one ended up being beyond helpful.”

During the rest of Szep’s season, she plans to keep pushing herself towards a lower mile time, but that drive to be better isn’t the only reason she is passionate about running.

“I love the sense of community in my sport, particularly amongst the distance runners. No matter how competitive of a race I’m running, everyone lined up with me will find one way or another to connect on the basis of nerves and talk up until the very second before the gun goes off,” said Szep.

Junior Aki Sykes of Tinton Falls is currently playing for Monmouth Regional’s varsity softball team. She has hit three home runs, bats an average of over .450 and plays as the captain of the outfield.

“One time there was a ball between the right fielder and I, and I was able to call her off, catch the ball, and throw it to home to make a double play,” Sykes said.

While this may be her best play currently, her favorite part about the game is the connection she is able to make with her teammates.

“I love connecting with my teammates and seeing each other grow throughout the season,” Sykes added.

Sophomore Shawn Retta of Keansburg is currently playing his second season on the Keansburg Titans varsity baseball team. The team recently ended their playoff run with a tough loss to South Amboy Middle High School.

“Even with the subpar ending, the season was definitely fun to say the least,” Retta said, “If we are going to succeed in baseball, it has to be next year because I believe with the division change we can win the Coastal Division.”

Even though Retta’s season may not have ended the way he hoped, he knows that next year is their year to win it all.

“There is improvement needed, but we’ll be practicing in the offseason and getting better for next year when we will win that division title.”

Sophomore Joseph Raynor of Ocean Township just finished his second season on Ocean Township High School’s varsity golf team.

“Genuinely I love everything about the sport, whether it be playing a round with my teammates or birding a hole,” said Raynor.

Although his goal of parring the course and winning states drives him to keep playing his best, it isn’t the only thing that motivates Raynor. “This sport pushes me past my limits and helps me grow as a person as a whole. On top of this, the satisfaction of hitting the ball perfectly when I play is unmatched,” Raynor said.

All of these students’ efforts this spring season have shown how powerful the CHS Beast is within the student body. The goals they have accomplished and fun times they’ve had not only inspire the athletes themselves, but also the people around them.