written by: Natalia Chino '23

Growing up in the small town of Poughkeepsie, New York, Sam Peek was used to an intimate community where everyone knew each other. Growing up alongside his entire extended family who has had their roots in Poughkeepsie for decades, it was easy for Sam to connect with his roots. Although it was not as sports-centric as he had wanted, he learned to appreciate the quaint aspects of his neighborhood because it taught him how to value simplicity. During his childhood, he recalls playing basketball and going on runs almost everyday with his friends at the picturesque outdoor parks Poughkeepsie is known for. While he has hooped for as long as he could remember in his hometown, he decided to transfer to Trinity-Pawling in 10th grade for a higher level of competition at a prep school. Now in high school, Peek said that the self-discipline in the weight room and the encouraged intense training by his high school coaches rapidly increased his athleticism. At Trinity-Pawling, he learned from the older players who acted as mentors and accepted him easily during his first time away from home at a boarding school. Learning collaboration, routine, positivity, and how to hold himself accountable on a team, were some of the biggest attributes he developed that prepared him for his transition to college life at Wesleyan.

When touring colleges, Peek prioritized a place that had a good balance between academics and sports--this is where Wesleyan and the NESCAC caught his attention. While he had offers from schools in California and other parts of the country, Peek desired to be close enough to home so he could have freedom but still see his family when he wanted to. He was won over by Wes when he visited and stayed overnight with fellow teammate and current roommate Antone Walker '22. On his visit, he played pickup with Walker and a bunch of the guys he would potentially be playing basketball with. Here is when he realized that not only were his future teammates extremely talented, they also had a fantastic team chemistry that made him excited to play alongside them on the court. A few weeks later he then saw them again while they played at Vassar College and that eventually sealed the deal.

At Wesleyan, Peek has enjoyed the last four years mostly because he was able to cultivate a strong bond with a group of guys he describes as "family." Whether they are catching $5 Tuesdays at Metro Movies on Main Street, holding group study sessions in the science library, playing board games at 19B, or eating eight plates of food at Usdan, Peek says he and his teammates are like family. The meaningful friendships he has made has also helped him have support while trying to juggle rigorous academics at Wesleyan. While Trinity-Pawling already exposed him to academic rigor and time management skills, Peek said his transition to college forced him to develop beneficial skills to reduce his stress levels. Although his Psychology major makes several of his courses difficult, Peek says he has invested in self-care practices like deep breathing and meditation that make him a more worry-free student. Methods of taking care of mental health were encouraged by older teammates who he looked up to as role models. One player in particular, Jordan Bonner '20, made Peek's time at Wesleyan that much more fulfilling because he always received wisdom and advice from him. Peek saw that Bonner and other players were often busy but always got stuff done which made him work even harder. Furthermore, memories like going to Miami with the team during his freshman and sophomore years and going undefeated in each tournament made Peek enjoy his college experience even more.

Although Peek is deeply saddened to depart from the school that made him into the positive and determined person he is today, he looks forward to the next chapter of his life where he plans to continue his passion for the game by playing professionally overseas. While he looks at playing professionally in leagues in both Spain and Greece, Peek will always remember how the Wesleyan Basketball team helped him craft his expertise as both a player on the court and a student in the classroom. We wish Peek the best as he continues to make a name for himself in the world of basketball!