Supporting Our Student-Athletes And Our Community's Future

To the editor: My name is Christian Rivera, and I own and operate CRF, a local gym where I train many of Nantucket’s high school athletes and young people. I see these students every day, their work ethic, their dedication, their resilience, and also the challenges they face growing up on an island with limited resources and opportunities.

I am writing because I care deeply about our students and believe the plan the elected School Committee put forward is something our community must get behind at Town Meeting if we truly care about our student athletes. Nearly 70 percent of Nantucket High School students are involved in interscholastic sports, which means this plan affects the majority of our youth.

From my perspective as a trainer, you cannot build strong, confident, healthy athletes if your fields, programs, and priorities are misaligned. Our young people are doing their part. They show up early. They train hard. They push themselves. But too often, they are asked to compete and grow in outdated, overused, and inconsistent conditions. We cannot expect excellence from our students if we do not give them the tools to succeed.

Quality athletic facilities are not just about sports. They are about safety. They are about community. They are about giving teenagers a place where they feel supported, challenged, and proud to belong. They are about creating an environment that encourages kids to stay engaged on island, build healthy habits, and feel connected to their school and to each other.

In my gym, I see firsthand how movement, teamwork, and shared goals help reduce anxiety, build confidence, and strengthen mental health. At a time when teen anxiety and depression are at historic highs, we should be investing in positive outlets that promote camaraderie, discipline, and resilience.

Strong athletic programs help create strong people.

If we want Nantucket’s students to stay, to grow here, and to continue contributing to this community, we need to show them that we are willing to invest in their future. We need to give them something they can be proud of, something that reflects how much this town values its youth.

Let us focus less on division and more on supporting our kids, our schools, and our long term community health.

Investing in our community and the current and future success of our student athletes is worth it.

Sincerely,
Christian Rivera