The importance of one race, one game, and one performance cannot be overstated, as it can determine an athlete’s career. At any moment, the amount of stress placed upon an athlete can become too much to handle and cause a breakdown. What distinguishes a talented athlete from a remarkable one can be as simple as sheer will and work ethic. Too many kids pass through sports because they don’t have the mental strength to persevere. Athletes with a high capacity for pain and the ability to absorb negative anxiety and turn it into positive energy will, in the end, be more successful. The athletes who distinguish themselves above the rest love to win more than they hate to lose. The pressure placed on their back can range anywhere from a teammate’s negative comment to a newspaper’s headlining story. How they handle stress determines the success of their career.

All season long, athletes prepare for the event that accumulates their hard work. The intense practices, dreadful morning sessions, and hours of extra time will finally pay off. As students look into the lives of successful athletes at AAHS, students discover the underlying stress piled upon a top-notch athlete.

As a cross country and track runner, I, Katie, face these challenges every morning. After going through the mental tango that involves questioning whether or not I will run today, I come to the conclusion that in order to perform at the highest level possible, I must overcome these momentary lapses of weakness. Facing demands from my coaches and more importantly myself, the pressure to surpass expectations becomes exceedingly strenuous.  Pressures from teammates, coaches, parents, newspapers, and websites tend to pile on and fog an athlete’s focus. But there is a solution to these ever-growing stresses. I put myself in a deep, dark place where the tiny voice in my head telling me to surrender is overpowered by sheer will to win. By blocking out the pain, I can focus on the main goal ahead. After finishing sixth at nationals, I have gained the confidence to overcome mental road blocks. Running is a mental sport, because after the training is said and done, those with the ability to mentally persevere will exceed expectations. But not many have the ability to push themselves beyond their comfort zone, leading to good, but not great results.

Hunter Doerr, one of AAHS’s leading swimmers, understands the sacrifices and challenges that come with being a top level athlete.  Hunter swims the 50 meter Freestyle and the 100m Freestyle for his club, Colorado Springs Swim Team (CSST), and endures lengthy, vigorous practices. A hard day could total 6,000m, with the main set being 21x100m and every fourth set being an all-out sprint. To put this into a more comprehensible sense, a cross country athlete runs 5,000m (3.1 miles) and Hunter, along with teammates Tommy Baker and Michael Lloyd, swim that plus another 1,000m. After starting swimming at age eight, Doerr has given up football, cross country, and marching band in order to focus entirely on his swimming career. His personal best in the 50m freestyle is a 21:29 seconds, placing him among the nation’s best. With that title comes responsibilities and stresses. With his 4x50m and 4x100m relying on his abilities to help carry the team, he must always be on his game. Through dreadful morning practices and vigorous sets, Doerr is striving to break the state record in the 50m free, win the 100 free at state, and lead his team to another state championship.

Paige Howard, a freshman gymnast, represents her gym Team High Country.  Paige participates in trampoline and tumbling at the highest level possible. After traveling to Bulgaria for Worlds in late November, Howard brought home an extremely impressive fifth place finish in the double mini. The double mini, simply put, is a long runway with the front of a mini trampoline slanted downwards. Howard started gymnastics at the age of seven and has developed a strong bond with her instructors and teammates over the long, grueling practices. Practices are five days a week and last three hours. The lifestyle of an athlete of this caliber, including Paige’s, means school dances, sleepovers, and social events come second to the long hours of practice. Paige Howard is ranked second in the nation due to her stellar performance at last year’s nationals. Having such a high ranking comes with loads of pressure to pull out consistent performances. With limited competitions a year, one bad landing can put a halt to her season.  Even with the relentless pressures placed upon her back, she overcomes doubts, excels at an elite level, and endures difficult demands.

Now, given that there are many talented athletes at the school, these were just a few that stood out among the crowd. The hard work put into their respective sports has advanced athletes like Paige Howard and Hunter Doerr to the next level. Even with unremitting stresses and pressures weighing heavily upon your back, the greats find a way to overcome obstacles with all odds against them. Through time and years of insightful expertise, athletes gain wisdom to further better themselves and those around them. After time, reporters, coaches, and a teammate’s downbeat attitude will affect your game less because you’ve grown used to defying their odds. Even though the pain endured is draining, when you are doing the sport you love, it doesn’t feel like work.