Playing a varsity sport in high school takes athleticism and year round preparation that limits many athletes to just one sport during their high school career. Senior Max Sessions, however, has taken high school sports a step further, being the only current Whitman three-varsity athlete after playing football, wrestling, and baseball as a Viking.  

Sessions, who moved to Bethesda before his freshman year, has played sports his entire life. Starting with track and basketball when he was younger, his dad pushed him from an early age to stay active and out of trouble.

Once he came to school, Sessions immediately started three sports but began playing on three varsity teams starting his junior year.

The workload, however, has always been there for Sessions who has never had an offseason and begins playing each sport right when its season begins.

“I just try to take advantage of the time I have while I’m in season and make the most of practice and games because I don’t have a lot of extra time to work,” Sessions said.

While he has been successful in all of the sports he plays, injuries have been a problem for him, especially playing such demanding sports like football and wrestling.

Between pulling his hamstring, tearing his meniscus twice, tearing his ACL and MCL and breaking his ankle, Sessions has missed parts of all seasons but has never thought about dropping any sports.

“It really never crossed my mind that quitting any of my sports to focus on another was acceptable,” Sessions said. “I love all three and didn’t let my injuries stop me from continuing.”

Junior Nick Panlibuton, who plays football and wrestles with Sessions, commends the dedication Sessions has.

“Sessions can do it because he lives for competition,” Panlibuton said. “Having two sports is hard enough with school and all those commitments, but having three is crazy.”

Football coach Jim Kuhn agrees with Panlibuton and thinks with athletes specializing in sports more, it is something seen less and less.

“You rarely see that,” Kuhn said. “It’s incredibly difficult and I think its incredibly taxing on the body and hard because you have so much offseason stuff that you miss out on.”

As for college, Sessions has opportunities to play football and baseball, but will wait until the final day to make his decision on May 1.