The mental aspect of being an athlete is a key component of a winning season. In 2018, NBA Superstar Kevin Durant called for more open discussion about mental health, noting that “So many people go through so much inside.”
In every sport, if an athlete keeps their mistakes in their head, they will continue to make these mistakes. The faster you can clear your mind, the better. The most important part of competing is preparation.
Athletes Aaron Godinez (Soccer), Kayli Pembroke (Volleyball), and Ava Karg (Track and Field) each gave their take on preparing before a game.
The most popular similarities between these athletes were how they fuel their bodies before competing. When it comes to their consistent gameday meals, each of the athletes expressed their love for sandwiches on gameday. Girls’ Volleyball Starter, Kayli Pembroke, enjoys a Jimmy John’s sandwich before competing.
“Jimmy John’s is easy to bring with me, and it’s enough to fuel me,” Pembroke said.
Mindset is a huge part of sport, as making in-game adjustments will help achieve success. Some athletes go through a certain set of rituals before each meet.
“I always wear a bow in my hair. It’s a green and navy bow that my friend made me a while ago, and I’ve worn it to every meet since I was a freshman,” Karg said.
Karg’s bow helps her relax when getting ready to compete. Her friend, who gave her the bow, taught her a lot about pole vaulting, so it helps her remember adjustments she needs to make. This is just one of many pregame rituals athletes have.
Music is a common theme when talking about pregame rituals. Boys’ soccer captain Aaron Godinez enjoys listening to music on game day with his team.
“I listen to a bunch of rap and country, what we put on our playlist as a team is what I warm up to,” Godinez said.
Each athlete uses a different set of tools to prepare for competition, but the tendencies are more similar than not. No matter the sport, the mindset of an athlete is the most important factor when determining success.
Written by seniors Noah Snow, Caden Bregar, and David Garcia. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.