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03/26/2024 11:11 AMLily Ardito treats her stature as an athlete like a temple with constant upkeep via moving year-round. Yet she never complains no matter how grueling the endeavor is and never takes any ability or achievement for granted–despite being part of a plethora of proficient title-clad teams.
The North Branford junior and three-sport athlete grew up in an athletic family where there was never a lack of games and competition at family functions. At a young age, her parents enrolled her in t-ball, and her love for the diamond blossomed into a full-fledged softball career for the eight-time reigning conference champion Thunderbirds.
Also playing field hockey for defending seven-time Shoreline and Class S state-champion North Branford, Lily decided to make it a trio of seasons in terms of athletics by joining the indoor track team her sophomore year and served as a crucial component of the T-Birds’ relay squads.
“Babby Nuhn is big on praising athletes who take care of their bodies before and after field hockey seasons, so I decided to do track to stay in shape for field hockey and softball. The track team is so kind and helpful, and they are always there for me on both my good days and rough ones,” says Lily. “What has worked for me is just giving my all and not expecting to receive anything. You have to earn things. When it comes to drills in practice, I never moan or groan, because I know it will all make me better.”
Track invites an interesting duality of both individual and team achievements. Lily is right at the heart of that by being a relay runner. She loves it though, as it embodies the spirit of teamwork by working as a cohesive unit.
“I love how much of a team thing the relays truly are,” says Lily. “I know that if I do not do well on my part, I have teammates that can help pick me up and vice versa. I strongly believe that there is no I in team, and my teammates have helped contribute to my success.”
Lily and her relay mates started off the winter season on a hot streak by nabbing a spot in the Shoreline championships in their inaugural races. While experiencing the highest of highs across all terrains, they have come with inevitable lows via injuries, yet she stays grounded by only honing in on what is in her grasp.
“In our first meet this year, we had relay teams qualify for Shorelines, and then later made states. We were so proud to represent not only the school but also the town. We were all so happy and had smiles on our faces,” Lily says. “I have been injured a lot during high school, and those have been my biggest setbacks. But I have learned to take it all one day at a time and I can only control what I can control. I have a hitting coach for softball who talks about giving them their money’s worth, and so even when injured, I show up at games/meets and give my teams their money’s worth. I also know that I will always come back better and stronger.”
Right from the starting blocks of her tenure with the track team, Lily was taken aback by the inclusiveness and welcoming nature of the program. She details mutually beneficial relationships abound with emotional lifts.
“For my first year, I do not have the words for how great everyone was,” says Lily. “I became best friends with so many people within weeks. I was nervous at first because I did not know anyone. Yet the atmosphere there is so great and supportive. We love each other, and I can trust my teammates and go to them about anything.”
Thunderbirds’ indoor track Head Coach Mike Rabuffo praises Lily for taking off some ticks from her times this winter, while serving as an instrumental influence to her younger peers through commitment.
“Lily improved greatly this season compared to last year. Her times in the 200 dropped by about a second, and she was able to get a spot on the 4x200 relay team. She was a mentor to the underclassmen as a junior, and she was integral to the success of the girls’ 4x200 relay team,” says Rabuffo. “She was always focused and consistent through the season and a model for how everyone should practice. That being said, she also knows how to have a good time at track and make everyone laugh and enjoy practice. She suffered a tough injury at the end of the season that put her out for Shorelines. However, she came back and was able to run at Class S. She was consistent with her rehab and still came to practice to check in and support the team.”
Already being part of a bountiful harvest of league and state championships, Lily is not stopping as she enters the final phase of her junior year. Moreso, she wants to figure more heavily in each of her team’s triumphs.
“I have a goal to just get better day by day. I want to get my times down by a second in track, I want to get two hits a game in softball, and score two goals a game in field hockey,” Lily says. “For the teams, we just want to get better together. For softball, we want to win states this season, and then hopefully I can be part of a four-peat [in her tenure] with field hockey for Shorelines and states.”
Through the ups and downs of sports that mirror life’s journey, Lily has learned you just have to stay strong and steadfast, because everyone’s day comes. She has also mastered the art of not sweating things not within arm’s reach and simply playing sports for entertainment.
“I have learned to stay patient with everything. You need to stay patient and push through no matter what happens,” says Lily. “You can only worry about the things you can control. You also have to have fun with it all, because it is just a game, and no one will dislike you based on your performance.”