Sports will have highs and lows. Some days will be great, and some days will be challenging, but that’s normal. A lot of people will face an obstacle in their sport at some point. Senior football player Kaiden Scott has struggled with the time commitment, and sophomore volleyball player Ella McCubbins has experienced mental challenges in her sport.
WW: What is a skill you are good at that took a long time to build?
Scott: Keeping my composure. I struggled a lot in eighth grade, where during football games I would mentally check out, but [now] I really focus and take deep breaths, and I’m set.
McCubbins: I’m a passer [in volleyball], that’s my main role. I worked really hard and played around 8 hours a week to be able to make varsity this year; it was a lot of reps.
WW: What is a skill you are still improving?
Scott: My overall athleticism. Just going into my backyard whenever I can to practice.
McCubbins: My hitting average, I need to continue to get more reps in that area and work on my vertical. I do my best at practice every day, and after I [coach volleyball], I’ll practice more.
WW: What do you think is something challenging that comes with playing your sport?
Scott: The time commitment. Most of my days are school, practice, homework, and sleep, so I have a very tight schedule.
McCubbins: Feeling like I’m not recognized for what I’m doing in the club. I had a really hard season. I was our team captain, and I felt like I wasn’t being recognized for anything that I was doing.
WW: How do you typically deal with the challenges?
Scott: I organize my schedule to know what exactly I’m doing and when, and I plan my day around that.
McCubbins: At the time, I talked to my coach, and I had a lot of thinking I had to do. I learned I needed affirmations from myself and not other people. [Reminding myself] “You are a good player, you’re doing well for your team”, that kind of stuff.
WW: Can you describe a moment where you had to overcome any kind of challenge or obstacle in your sport?
Scott: Definitely, as a senior, not being able to start quarterback for a few weeks. [But] last game [ Sept. 12th game against Caldera High School] our starting quarterback went down and I stepped up and took the most of my opportunity. The clock hit zero, and knowing it was my game that led to being successful [was fulfilling].
McCubbins: We went to a tournament in Las Vegas, and we were losing really badly. We had lost almost all day, and I was really struggling. We brought everyone in and talked about what was going on, and instead of taking over as a leader, my coach came in, and I let her take the leadership role, so I didn’t have to [overwork] myself as much.
