Competition rises, stress increases and the balance of academics and athletics becomes unbearable, but four determined alumni have reached their goal. Years of hard work and dedication have paid off for these student-athletes who overcame obstacles to play at the next level.
Sydnie Smith, a freshman discus and shot put thrower at The University of Iowa and a 2023 Bexley graduate, said mental discipline is crucial to succeed at a Division I school.
What distinguishes great athletes from decent athletes is if they have enough mental toughness to make the conscious choice to improve each day, Smith said. This happens by pushing themselves to practice every day, whether they are in season or not, she explained.
“It’s your choice to wake up and be there for yourself and to choose to get better at your own craft,” Smith said.
She explained the biggest sacrifice she had to make throughout her high school career to be able to play in college was having enough willpower to work toward her goals, even when she didn’t want to.
Smith said as the intensity and commitment grows in college sports, it becomes even more important to have the right attitude.
“I’m just glad to be there, and I’m just glad I get this opportunity to go out with my teammates who I love,” Smith said.
Sophomore Chris Mitchell, a 2022 Bexley graduate and basketball player at Ashland University, a Division II college, said one of the major differences between high school and college basketball is the energy brought by the fans.
“The support from other people, especially on game days, is always at its peak,” he said.
However, Mitchell explained he is now playing with athletes who are at the same skill level and who play with the same passion as him.
“Even if you are the best player from your hometown, all of your teammates are also the best from where they are from,” he said.
He found a perspective change was necessary when transitioning from high school to college sports. When he knew what his goal was and had a plan to get there, those sacrifices became more of a tradeoff he was willing to make to do what he loved, Mitchell explained.
“As competition got better and more intense, the rewards were more rewarding and the love continued to grow for me,” he said.
Kenyon College sophomore and basketball player Henry Brandt, a member of Bexley’s Class of 2022, said he faced a major setback in high school, which made him realize his love for the sport and led him to pursue a basketball career in college.
Brandt broke his leg during his sophomore year of high school and had to miss an entire year of basketball, he explained.
“That was really hard, but it also made me open my eyes to how much I love basketball and how much I missed being a part of it and the team,” he said.
Being able to balance academics and a rigorous athletic schedule in college becomes easier when you are doing it with others, he explained.
Brandt emphasized the importance of experiencing a team environment throughout his life, as his teammates became his best friends over the years.
“That team atmosphere is so important for not only loving the game but loving your teammates,” Brandt said.
Mason Louis, a 2023 Bexley graduate and freshman track athlete at The Ohio State University, said there are important steps to continue practicing your sport at the collegiate level.
“When you know what your goal is, commit to it and work hard towards it every day,” Louis explained. “Put your sport first if it is something you really want to do.”
He explained even after he committed, he had to continue to consistently work hard to keep improving. There are always aspects of his game that he can improve, he added.
“Going to any division is the easy part—staying there is the really hard part,” Louis said. “Once you get here, that’s when it gets real.”
