Student Athlete Leadership Training

Haley Browne '25 Cross Country and Track & Field

"On the Student Athlete Leadership Team, I learned the importance of sharing issues on the team, whether big or small, and hearing the perspectives of other students in regard to the problems at hand. Understanding where athletes may be coming from, their mindset, how it affects others, and the impact it has on the team as a whole is important to discuss to have the team be as successful as possible. Reaching our full potential is possible when everyone is in the same frame of mind, with a common goal and a sense of community on the team. I learned the importance of communication and leadership on SALT, and this was invaluable to me."

Andy Vitello '25 Tennis

As a part of the Varsity Tennis Team since 8th grade and captain during my junior year, I was always looking for ways to increase team spirit and improve our performance. SALT allowed me to connect with athletes from other sports, letting me gain new perspectives on leadership. SALT helped me motivate and inspire my teammates, especially during tough matches or practices when we'd lose focus. It was very useful to hear about other teams' challenges and how they tackled them. Being a part of this group helped me build confidence as a captain, and the tips I learned from this program certainly helped the team as a whole.

Sundesh Donthi '25 Track & Field

My first SALT meeting as a sophomore gave me insight into the many subtle aspects of leadership. Over the next two years, as I became a formal member, I began reflecting on how I could apply these lessons to the track team. Initially, I was skeptical about how leadership skills would fit into an individual sport like track. However, attending meetings helped me realize the vital role leadership plays, even in sports, where success is often seen as personal. I learned how to lead by example, foster a positive team environment, and resolve conflicts constructively. I felt like the very large track team may not have similarities with the other team-based sports, but through SALT, I found that there were lessons to be learned from both the commonalities and differences between track and other sports. Hearing from other teams about their challenges and solutions provided additional lessons that I brought back to the track team. My work with SALT has equipped me with leadership skills that extend beyond sports and into every aspect of life.