Sawyer S. – Cross Country and Track & Field

Sawyer S. (‘26) is committed to the University of San Francisco (USF), where he will compete in NCAA Division 1 (D1) Cross Country and Track & Field.

Sawyer’s athletic career at Taipei American School (TAS) can be summed up in one word: domination. From leading the Cross Country team to four years of Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools (IASAS) victory to setting new school records, he will be leaving TAS as one of the most decorated athletes. 

It wasn’t until his sophomore year that he decided he wanted to compete at a collegiate level. He set his sights on any university willing to recruit him and began sending emails to coaches across the US. Finally, in January of this year, USF responded to his requests with a recruitment opportunity.

His athletic career, however, did not come without its hardships. “I wasn’t really that good in middle school or freshman year,” Sawyer recounted, “so I just kept working, and then in junior year, I improved a lot.” His dedication to the sport and enduring drive are also what make him a commendable leader. As captain of both the TAS Varsity Cross-Country and Track & Field teams, Sawyer’s attitude inspires everyone to work their hardest on each and every run.

For other students interested in pursuing college-level athletics, Sawyer recommends hope and perseverance: “You’ve got to work pretty hard and just be consistent. And then, if you really want to play at the college level, you can, no matter what, and it’ll work out.”

Despite achieving unparalleled levels of athleticism, from claiming the boys’ 800-meter and 3000-meter TAS records during the 2026 Tiger Classics to placing first in the 1500-meter men’s final in the National Secondary School Athletic Games, Sawyer still aims to keep getting better. “Now I’ve got to keep working for the next milestone.”

Aina C. – Track & Field (High Jump)

Aina C. (‘26) is committed to Yale University, where she will compete in NCAA D1 Track & Field as a high jumper.

Having been a competitive swimmer throughout middle and high school, Aina’s transition to high jumping was “super unexpected…[and] a complete 180.” 

After trying out for the Track & Field team in her freshman year, she experimented with a variety of events before discovering her passion. She attributes her interest in high jump back to her swimming career: “The backstroke start is very similar to high jump, so I guess that’s how high jump came so naturally to me.”

Aina, then, began to train for high jump at a more advanced level. Her determination and natural aptitude allowed her to excel at the sport. In 2025 alone, she set the school record in the girls’ high jump, competed in the Taiwan National Games, and finished first at the Taipei City Meet.

She never considered pursuing sports in college, yet with encouragement from her sister Ina, her parents and her friends, she found the confidence to follow her passion. As coaches began to contact her and she reached out to schools, she started to learn more about what it took to compete at the highest collegiate level. Of all the schools she viewed, the one that stood out to her was Yale University.

“I attended YYGS [Yale Young Global Scholars] in my sophomore year and had one of the best times of my life,” she explained, “I thought it would be so cool if I could study there and even cooler if I could compete for Yale!”

Looking ahead, Aina is excited to meet new teammates, represent Yale, and compete at the Ivy League Championships.

Though Aina’s bubbly attitude and athleticism will be missed at TAS and by the entire Track & Field team, she is sure to jump to new heights at Yale.

Cayden K. – Baseball and Rugby

Cayden K. (‘26) is committed to Adrian College, where he will compete in NCAA Division 3 (D3) Baseball and National College Rugby (NCR) D1 Rugby. 

“I grew up playing baseball. I could swing a bat before I could walk.” To Cayden, baseball was more than just a sport. Growing up surrounded by avid baseball fans, he was bound to develop a love for the sport as well.

His baseball career, beginning from his days of playing intramural T-ball in elementary school to now being captain of TAS Varsity Baseball, has progressed naturally. In the 2026 IASAS championships, he led the way for the team’s eventual gold medal. Their victory marked the first time in TAS history that boys’ baseball finished in first place at the competition, a true testament to Cayden’s leadership and talent.

His journey with rugby, however, was a different experience entirely. Rather than being raised around rugby influences, he discovered his passion for the sport later on. “I…fell in love with rugby in middle school, and I can’t imagine not playing one or the other.”

At Adrian, Cayden plans to play both baseball and rugby at highly competitive levels. He understands this opportunity inevitably comes with ups and downs: while it allows him to continue both sports, balancing baseball and rugby in addition to his academic obligations may be difficult. “I don’t know if it’s entirely likely that I’ll play both sports for all four years, but I want to at least go in and try to do both, and then I can end up deciding if it comes down to that.”

Still, he knows he won’t be navigating through it alone. In addition to the unwavering support from his parents, sister and coaches, Cayden credits his nana and poppa as his biggest motivators. “Before and after every game, I would get a text from each of them, sending me well wishes and advice. Not technical advice, but mental advice, which I think has been a huge part of helping me become the person and athlete that I am.”