Reporting back to campus before any of the other students, forcing oneself to sit in ice baths until completely numbed, and let’s not forget the infamous three-a-days!  Being a student-athlete and making it through the preseason is just as rough as it sounds.  However, as athletes, you and your teammates are put through various tests and trials in order to master the preparation needed for the competitiveness of the upcoming season.

All around Catawba’s campus, soccer, football, volleyball, cross-country and swimming athletes have been spotted walking a little slower than usual to just stop and casually stretch before their respective seasons commence. Taking care of their bodies is critical and Gatorade is known to be the athletes’ best friend during this period.  Soreness is half of the battle; the other half is the mental state of mind of the athletes.  They need to push themselves and keep fighting to be the best teammate they can be.  Whether it is reading a positive affirmation every morning or calling a family member to give you reassurance that you can make it through, this is the time that the warriors deep inside the athletes are revealed.

I asked Matthew Wilkinson, an athlete on the men’s soccer team, about what gets him through it all.  “The thought of playing in a regular season game is all the motivation I need after a long break,” he replied.  Students and faculty should come and check out all the teams playing this fall.  It is an exceptional way to take a quick break from studying or even grading papers.  Come and support our Catawba Indians!