Written By Delaney Judkins
Photography By McKendree Athletics
In sports, growth often comes from stepping outside of your comfort zones. Whether it’s trying a new position, testing a new skill, or joining a different team, taking risks can feel intimidating. Athletes sometimes hold back because of fear – fear of failure, fear of judgment or simply fear of the unknown. But risks are what push us to improve, build confidence, and discover abilities we didn’t know we had. By challenging ourselves, we not only learn what we are capable of, but also gain valuable experiences that shape us both as athletes and as people.
Trying something new in sports can also create opportunities that weren’t there before. An athlete who experiments on a different sport or role may uncover hidden talents or even find a new passion. Even when risks don’t lead to immediate success, they provide lessons in resilience and perseverance. Sports aren’t just about perfect performance – they’re about learning, growing, and embracing challenges. By daring to take risks and explore new paths, athletes set themselves up for long-term success and discover the joy that comes with stepping boldly into the unknown.
Let’s Get Physical
In college athletics, it can be easy to stick to what feels safe – playing the same position, using the same techniques, or even staying within one sport. But true grown as an athlete often happens when we’re willing to take that risk and try something you don’t know how to start. Whether it’s pushing yourself to develop a new skill, stepping into a leadership role, or joining a different team, taking chances can open doors to experiences that build both athletic ability and personal character.
Trying new things in sports also helps athletes discover hidden strengths and passions. A swimmer might surprise themselves by thriving in water polo or vice versa. A Basketball player could find new energy in track and field. Even when risks seem impossible above your shoulders, they provide a sense of urgency like something you need to feed. The guilt of not completing that risks itches your feet when all you really needed to do was take one step toward it to release that itch.
Athlete Spotlights
Four very special athletes share their picture of what, not just how, being a student athlete means having misconceptions about what they do, but how it shaped them into who they are now.
Ava Lewis
Ava Lewis, a freshman bowler shares her idea of what misconception people have about her sport.
There’s no thinking nor any physical game involved when it is a big aspect in bowling. Using that physical and mental game as well as your communication skills is a big part of what I do.
Bowling is the kind of sport people think about as not that intense. That could be far from the truth as all bowlers do in fact have to put in as much work as any other athlete. Is it different with other physically demanding sports?
Ryan Rogers
Ryan Rogers, a freshman wrestler has heard the idea from people thinking the sport “is just one big fight.” People could say it might be “easy.” Rogers emphasizes that this is not the case. There are a lot of little details that make wrestling extremely more complicated than people may think and see. People think of the simplest way to play a sport without even giving it a shot or trying it first. Rogers identifies that it’s fun, and even though it can hurt it makes him better.
Melissa Gama
The women’s Rugby team for example puts in more effort than thought to be possible and so does any other sport mentioned, but the focus is how far the misconception goes when it comes down to gender. Melissa Gama, a freshman Rugby player implies that people see it as a sport that “women shouldn’t play and are too weak for.” Which can be offensive to most. It’s hard to tell if people play a different sport. What people miss is that you can assume people play basketball because of their height when in reality, they swim. You must have the heart to do what you do otherwise those comments will get to you, but in Melissa’s case they never do. Gama exposes that you’re going to get passive aggressive comments, but at the end of the day it’s all you and how you put the effort in to do what you love.
Isabel Cortes
Isabel Cortes who’s also a freshman in the game of rugby has a different take on it. She adds that people may say differently toward the sport in general. She hears that, “It’s aggressive, dangerous and that you get hurt often.” Following this statement Isabel underlines that it depends how safe you play it. You can get hurt, but by learning the ways of the aggressive aspects of the game you can prevent that kind of thing from happening. Not only is this a very hard thing to do, but to have the gut and courage these athletes do on a day-to-day bases show real passion and integrity.
Taking Risks
No truer statement than no risk no reward, as these athletes know well. The men’s wrestling team puts everything on the line to take home the gold.
It’s always a risk when you play any sport. Especially because they are all so different. You would never know how to play unless you ask questions and learn from the best here at McKendree University. It takes nerve to achieve what these incredible athletes have persevered through just I the first five weeks of school. Try something because you may regret it later and it never hurts to put yourself out there. If you care about it you put more body and mind into it and if you don’t care for it at least you know. Maybe you have made interesting friends along the way, but you are only a college athlete for a certain amount of time so get busy and fill your schedule. You will go to bed happy knowing you did something nobody would have the courage to do.
Author: Delaney Judkins
Delaney is a freshman Kinesiology major. She plays women’s rugby and water polo.
I’m a creative and positive person who loves expressing myself through art and singing. While I’m a very active person, I also enjoy my lazy moments.
