Editorials / Opinion

West Perry’s athletics have had a history of success, especially with the fall sports.  But, with constant success comes with constant work.  How do they handle it?

The pressure of confidence

In sports you fail 60 % of the time.  With this you need confidence as a person and an athlete to be successful.  Some athletes will play just varsity or JV.  

Sometimes, the Varsity athletes will pick on the JV but for Laurel stout she likely has the help from her Varsity friends.  Stout is a hard working player that always pushes herself to do the best she can no matter if she is on the Varsity field or JV.  

Having friends who support her she says has helped a lot.  “I've talked to Syd (Varsity starter, Junior) and Taylor (Varsity starter, Junior) about it, and they just say, you are just not on that level yet.  Because I am mentally holding myself back”, she states.  Some athletes will mentally be held together and some won't.  With this, it will show through, not necessarily if you play JV or Varsity.  But, if you take chances and have the confidence in yourself to succeed.

No Answer

When struggling with mental health as an athlete, some of the things that happen do not always have an answer.  As someone who went through this, of something that did not have an answer, I had talked to my coach.  Coach Denny states,  “I still don't really have an answer for what to do, and again big league psychiatrists and psychologists don't quite know what to do either.”   

When these things happen the best thing could be a break.  The struggle of mental health in sports can destroy the love for said sport.  You may try a million different solutions and none of them could work.  Multiple people, even big leaguers, get in a slump so bad they have to take a break from their sport.  This is when you will know you are burnt out.  That is finally the time you should take action.

More Than Just Your Sport 

West Perry’s constant success with sports continues on with multiple sports, with a great history too.  But, with this constant success comes the struggle to find time to do things, and manage a schedule.  This could be with injuries, levels of sports, and struggles with slumps.

West Perry’s starting senior Madelyn Weibley for the Varsity basketball team had only gotten to play one year of her basketball career.  She states, “It’s been really hard I would say, I mean it was hard the first week that I found out I couldn't play.  Especially because it’s my senior season.”  

However, something athletes should try to remember is that it is only temporary.  Weibley shares, “I am just trying to be thankful that it is not worse, and that I am not missing the whole season.  

As an athlete with an injury can be hard for you will not always have the time to focus on other things like social life or school.  This is possible because of the time you take thinking of “how will I get back”,  or “what if someone replaces me”.  

So, some advice Weibley would give athletes that are struggling with this is, “There is a time you will be able to come back, so just try to think about (when) you can come back.’’  “I try to have the mindset of coming back better than you were before”, She states.  

These athletes need to keep themselves healthy and not put too much stress on themselves.  Realize you are more than just your sport, focus a little less on the path there, but what will come when you reach the end.