November 2019

16 sports/westerner
Inside the
Mind of the
Athlete
BY DANIEL VICENS
sports editor
November 22, 2019
As lives get more and more stressful in high school, participating
in sports may seem like a bigger challenge than what it’s worth.
Between the high expectations coaches hold, loads of schoolwork,
and responsibilities at home, there seem to be a million reasons that
could draw students away from sports. Nevertheless, students show up, rosters get
made, and games get played. “Initially sports are played because it’s fun. There is
a happiness you get when you start pursuing and training for something you love
doing,” assistant athletic director Erik McNeill said. “Being able to compete with
your friends and represent your school is a great benefit and many athletes play
for this reason. Being part of a team creates unity and strong social bonds. With
this identity, people keep playing sports.” To really get an understanding of what
motivates the Warriors, the Westerner went inside the minds of West athletes.
“I love doing
dance because it
keeps me in shape
and it allows me to
grow closer bonds
with my friends,”
senior dancer Tess
Watson said.
“I love being competitive,
and when I’m
on the court all the
stress around me goes
away and I can just be
in the moment of the
game,” senior basketball
player Dylan Van
Fleet said.
“I play volleyball because
I get to enjoy every
game playing with my
friends. It makes me a better,
well-rounded leader,”
junior volleyball player Bart
Wolinski said.
“I joined tennis
because I wanted to
get more involved in
school, and stay in
shape during offseason
for badminton,”
junior tennis player
Ivana Damjanic
said.
“I love when I am
able to win and compete
with other girls.
When my friends
come out to support
us, it makes it even
better,” junior badminton
player Riya
Patel said.
“I like bonding with
other girls who have just
as much passion for the
sport as I do. Playing
golf allows me to have a
great time while also getting
super close with my
friends,” junior golfer
Madeleine Larson said.
“I play volleyball because
playing a sport really
allows me to push myself
to my top ability to succeed,”
freshman volleyball
player Denise Franco said.
“I love playing
soccer because
my parents have
played it so it’s
been a part of my
life since I can remember,”
senior
soccer player Jose
Maya said.
“I play soccer
because I love being
able to create
lifelong memories
while doing
a sport I love,” senior
soccer player
Liana Bravo said.
“I love being able to
push myself to my top
ability, and at the end
of the race I feel a wave
of accomplishment,” junior
track sprinter Maya
Gherman said.
“Both of my brothers did
it, so seeing them be successful
when I was younger made
me want to join and be just
as good as them or even better,”
sophomore diver Audrey
Peters said.
XIAO LIN HE
“I play softball
because I have been
playing since I was
young. Being able to
play with my close
friends makes it better,”
junior softball
player Amber Boland
said.