Being an athlete is no easy task. Most athletes only get recognition when they have won a game, broken a record, or won a state champion title. Athletes do work that others do not see to accomplish those goals, and even then there is more to it. As freshman are starting their first season playing a high school sport, returning players were asking what it takes to be an athlete, to see what work needs to be done to accomplish their goals. 

Question: What does it take to be an athlete? 

Addison Schattenberg, sophomore, basketball: “It takes a lot of practice and determination, and I think it’s more of a mental thing than anything else.” 

Joe Houhton, junior, golf: “Hard Work; making sure you go out to practice every single day and having discipline.”

Brayden Eustice, junior, soccer: “I think it takes going out and practicing even on your own, not just durning team practices.” 

Ashley Sandovall, junior, track:  “I think it takes a lot of hardwork and determination, but I think it also takes part of you from the inside that really wants to achieve something. It takes a lot of goals. You have to have goals. You have to have the perseverance to achieve those goals.” 

Rianne Thompson, senior, soccer: “I think it takes a lot of determination and being really good at time management between school and your sport because you have to make sure you get all of it done.”

Aaron Tady, senior, track: “What it takes to be an athlete for me is self discipline and motivation, and also doing things you don’t want to do that day and getting it done, getting those little steps done, so then you’re prepared for that big goal. You have all those small steps and little wins. Also when you fail or over think or are hard on yourself to just remember it’s not the end of the world, and that you will live the next day. You always need to have a good mentality and never be too hard on yourself.” 

Isaac Astorga, senior, basketball: “It takes a lot of dedication and hard work, heart and effort. All the hours you put in when no one is looking and nobody knows, that what truly defines you as an athlete.”

Braelyn Woodworth, senior, volleyball: “I think that being an athlete is over 50% mental. I think that if you have a strong mind then you will excel at anything because at some point when you advance through the game it’s not about skill anymore it’s about if you’re a good leader and if you could be tough enough to deal with pressure and anxiety, that’s a big part of the game. No one is good without working hard to get there, even if you assume. Oh they’re just better than me, they still have to work to get there, so you have to work just as hard and you will see results.”

Nathan Anderson, junior, diver: “I think it takes a lot of practice and not giving up. Just trying to do the best you can everyday.” 

There are so many things that go into being an athlete that people do not realize. But athletes put into the work to accomplish their personal goals as well as team goals. As fall sports begin new students athletes should take the advice from returning athletes, as well as create their own meaning of being an athlete.