It's a debate that goes back decades and one that bounces in different directions depending on the source. But for Southgate senior Jace Walerski, the question of whether to play three sports in high school or focus on just one comes down to the love of the game – or games, in this instance.

“Playing three sports in high school was hard but very rewarding,” Walerski said. “I was able to learn a lot from different coaches and all the different teams throughout the years which has brought me to be the person I am today.”

Walerski does have some advice for those who may be thinking about playing more than one sport.

“I would suggest to any athlete wondering if they should play more sports that they should, because each sport somehow correlates with another one and will only make you a better athlete and person,” he said.

Walerski, 18, will leave Southgate as a great athlete and an even better person. He credits his family, friends and coaches for pushing him to be the best – on and off the field.

“My family definitely introduced me to sports, being that I was born into a family of great athletes and mentors,” he said. “The thing about sports that excited me was the fact that I was going on that field or court to battle with some of my closest friends. I got my motivation from wanting to be a positive asset on all the teams I would play for at Southgate.”

In the fall, Walerski played for the Southgate football team and was a major part of their success. He played tight end on offense and linebacker/defensive end on defense.

“My football career at Southgate was amazing,” he said. “During that time I created lifelong friendships and learned many life lessons. One of my highlights was scoring my first touchdown against Edsel Ford.”

Walerski played center for the Southgate basketball team.

“Playing basketball for Southgate was an honor because we were maybe not as good as the other teams but we sure had heart and gave it our all during the season,” he said. “A highlight in my basketball career was beating Lincoln Park in the district semifinals.”

Baseball is definitely his favorite sport and he started playing as soon as he could walk. This is his fourth year playing on the varsity squad for the Titans and he couldn’t be more proud of how his team has grown.

“My freshman season we finished with only two wins and now to my senior year, where we are Downriver League champions and we’re hoping to make a run in the playoffs is just amazing,” said Walerski, who plays third base and first base for the Titans.

“I feel that our team is playing exceptionally well this year, even though we had some hiccups on some past games,” he added. “But that’s just baseball, the cards might not always fall in your direction.”

Walerski, the son of Ashleigh and Matthew Larowe, will continue his athletic career next year playing baseball at Schoolcraft College.

“I chose Schoolcraft because it’s been a dream to play a sport at the collegiate level so when Coach Fay offered me a spot on Schoolcraft’s baseball team I was very excited,” he said. “Schoolcraft baseball’s home field is the Corner Ballpark in Detroit, which is a very nice field. Also, they have a huge dome, which allows us to practice inside on bad days.”