There is a new addition to Lakeside’s slate of 25 varsity sports: competitive yoga! This past week, the Trustees voted to cut the football program due to the increasing cost of eye black and add yoga as the newest fall sport in the 2025-2026 school year. As part of the development, the school will add a yoga studio on campus with stadium seating for fans to come cheer on the team.

Competitive yoga will be co-coached by Ms. Long and Coach Lengel. Ms. Long teaches the Yoga Fusion class along with HD9 and PE9. Coach Lengel is the former head football coach and hopes to bring the competitive drive, strategy, and aggression to the team. After interviewing both coaches, they seem to have different expectations and visions for the team, but with some flexibility from each of them, our competitive yoga team is sure to find lots of success! 

While it may seem like a stretch to make yoga competitive, there are several teams throughout the nation that already practice the sport. Part of the competition will be timed and points will be awarded based on how long teams or representatives can hold specific poses. There will also be yoga experts judging each competition on form.

Including competitive yoga as a varsity sport has been under consideration for years according to Coach Hartley. The Yoga Fusion class at Lakeside has been very popular and in demand and the Athletics Department believes that it’s time to take it to the next level.

While this change will be overall very good for Lakesiders, the student reception was expected to be mixed at first. However, when students were interviewed later, their responses were surprising, to say the least. One anonymous football player who plans to take up the new sport said, “I can’t wait to take the competition to the mat.” Another student who currently practices yoga exclaimed “I intend to crush the opponent with my downward-dog!” A final student remarked, “I plan to channel my inner warrior in warrior pose and destroy the enemy.” 

All students are encouraged to come to support our new yoga team at their first meet! Scarves, pom poms, and noisemakers will be provided. Enthusiastic fans are already working on specialized yoga chants to encourage our excellent, committed athletes. Good luck, yoga team! We are all rooting for you!