William Loh ’25 the Student Athlete

Amongst the plethora of Bronx Science’s diligent students and scholars, athletes also flourish. Athletics at Bronx Science harbor students who are academically strong and also well performing sport enthusiasts. A bright student athlete sits at his desk, his eyes glazed with exhaustion but glued to the board while his other hand grips a pencil with graphite dancing across the pages. Problem after problem is completed. This student expresses these traits with enigmatic and natural ease, William Loh ’25. Loh is an outstanding member of the Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse team, the Boys’ Varsity Wrestling team, and the Boys’ Cross-Country team. He is also an active member of Key Club.     

Though one may try to detect some bias in my portrayal of Loh, he truly is a hard worker. Like many students at Bronx Science, Loh is concerned about his grades; however, the part of him that stands out the most is the number of sports he competes in, while also being committed to Key Club and maintaining his academics. Maintaining commitment to a sport at Bronx Science is an exhausting task, as it includes hours of practice every day, a sacrifice of weekends, and long commutes at night after practice. In addition to these requirements, school academics must be maintained, simultaneously. Loh is able to fulfill his sports commitments and preserves his academic prowess by juggling three sports each year.

A notable trait from Loh is his admiration for the sport of wrestling and his teammates on the wrestling team. He consistently describes his teammates as great and “reliable people,” and Loh often speaks highly of them as supportive towards him. In our conversation, Loh grinned at the thought of improving his wrestling abilities next year, as he has high goals and aspirations for the sport. Loh even remarked how he viewed wrestlers as the most fun and reliable people whom he has met, and although he has to stay until 6 o’clock p.m. on school days to practice during the winter wrestling season, he does not regret it.

Lyme Disease

In the midst of Loh managing all of his sports and academics, Loh began to become increasingly exhausted. It was a routine in the morning for me to ask him the amount of sleep he got and how he felt. I would hear repeated complaints of extreme exhaustion, yet Loh still actively kept up with his school work. In a more labored manner, he would list his responsibilities for the day, ranging from Cross Country meets to Wrestling practices to planning a Key Club event. A few weeks after Loh became informed by his doctor that he had been infected with Lyme disease, it gave him relief knowing that it was not his commitments that were taking a toll on his health. Lyme disease is a disease spread by small black-legged ticks and infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system, if it is not treated.  

To add to his usually busy schedule of wrestling practice and lacrosse games, Loh has been operating on minimal sleep that was accompanied by his Lyme disease. Loh harbored Lyme disease for over two months while pursuing his athletic journey. He was accompanied by heightened drowsiness, joint pain, and headaches — all of these symptoms which he brushed off because of his responsibilities in sports. Not long after, Loh was put on treatment for Lyme disease and is currently making a steady recovery.

Key Club

Loh also makes major contributions to Key Club, the most substantial club in terms of numbers of participants at Bronx Science, even while he juggles his responsibilities in his team sports. Loh holds the title of fundraising co-head. He actively reminds the Bronx Science community of upcoming Key Club events and uses his networking abilities to find more opportunities for students, in order to gain more hours of community service while completing intriguing Key Club activities. Loh consistently advertises and encourages participation in Key Club events and sets aside time to planning.

Like many students at Bronx Science, William Loh ’25 is concerned about his grades; however, the part of him that stands out the most is the number of sports he competes in, while also being committed to Key Club and maintaining his academics.