The pressure to succeed as a student athlete is a common problem that many RedHawks can relate to, but how do the most accomplished athletes at Marist deal with stress? Marist athletes Achilles Anderson and Evan Smith give their perspectives.
Next year, Anderson and Smith will move on from Marist and compete in collegiate sports. Anderson committed to Harvard for football, and Smith committed to North Central College for baseball. However, their grind to success came with a lot of stress, as well as ups and downs.
The challenge for a student athlete commonly entails balancing academics with sports, the pressure to succeed, an overwhelming schedule, and typically extreme standards they are expected to live up to.
For example, Smith and Anderson are expected to continue producing the same numbers. The margin of error is slim, and expectations are high. However, both have proven that this is not an issue for them, as they have continued to succeed in their respective sports.
“There’s been plenty of times where I’ve been overwhelmed with stress and pressure, but when you get to your lowest point, it’s only up from there, and that’s how I saw it,” said Smith.
Before they even received offers, the pressure to succeed was great. Anderson was focussed on basketball, and the idea of football was just an afterthought. It was only after the 2022 season, Anderson’s sophomore year, when he started playing football. However, Anderson never let it get to him.
“Pressure is a good and bad thing. It’s good if you know that you put in enough work. One of my favorite quotes is, ‘You don’t rise to the occasion you sink to the level of your training.’ I trust the work that I put in and know the hard work is enough,” said Anderson.
The strategy of using pressure as a fuel for motivation is used by athletes of all levels and ages.
Smith has spent his last four years on and off the field focused entirely on baseball. This tunnel vision mindset has helped Smith hold himself to “higher standards,” and push himself through the highs and the lows.
“Even still it’s about preparation, so then the actual situation doesn’t feel like pressure,” said Smith.
Injuries are another challenge frequently plaguing student athletes. While a torn ligament or a broken bone may physically hurt, the mental side effects may be even more draining for an athlete. Not only are they often left partially immobile, but the eagerness to play and the stress of missing the season can mentally deteriorate any strong-minded athlete.
At the beginning of the football season, Anderson suffered an ACL tear. With it being his second time in only a few years, he was now facing the reality that recruiters may reconsider, and pull their offers.
“I was stressed because you always hear stories [about] athletes who get injured and colleges don’t recruit them anymore,” said Anderson.
Luckily, that was not the case, and Anderson has resumed recovering on-time.
Smith also suffered a torn ACL as a sophomore. The injury sidelined him for more than the entire season after an unexpected infection delayed the healing process. Fortunately, Smith returned to the field as a junior where he was able to prove himself and later commit to Division III North Central.
The key for most athletes when suffering an injury is the bounce-back. It is common knowledge that prioritizing your body and doing what you can to come back stronger is key.
“As long as I keep doing my part, the Lord will do the rest,” said Smith.
