Hoofbeat Sports
Issue 5 | February 11 , 2015 11
MN athletes dominate on two playing fields,
adjust to the transition of sports
colton stone
sports editor
From Bo Jackson to Deion Sanders, the rise of successful two sport athletes has
been prevalent in schools
across the nation for years.
But, where most players shine
is not at the professional level; it’s high school athletics
and many MN students are
jumping on the bandwagon.
The most important part
in a sport is the training that
goes into it before and during
the season. This leads to one of
the toughest task for two sport
athletes because of the transition from one sport to the next,
while only being prepared
for one sport’s task at hand.
“The hardest part about
adjusting is the condition that
you’re supposed to be in is
completely different. In basketball, you’re running constantly with zero breaks, but
with football, you’re bursting
then you get to rest. It’s just
hard to adjust the first few
weeks,” junior Tate Moyer said.
The other major disadvantage for these athletes is
the risk of injury. Each sport
uses different muscles and also
expects different play styles.
“Injuries can play a huge
role; if you have a serious
enough injury you can miss
both sports[football and basketball]. But, I’m just blessed
that I only missed one of my
favorite sports with my inju-
ries,” junior Jake Lenagh said.
Each athlete will tell you
that injuries are no fun and
with the extra wear and tear,
the chances might increase.
“Injuries can play a big
role. It’s basically twice as
likely to get hurt because instead of resting, I’m playing
a different sport. Also, playing basketball is nice because
it means I don’t have to go
throw a whole lot for baseball and wear my arm down,”
senior Dillon Nelson said.
While playing two sports
sounds like it’s harder than just
sticking to one, there are many
advantages for the athletes
that partake in more than one.
“It gets your body
used to adversity and it’s
more fun to do more than
one sport in my mind,” junior Ethan Morrison said.
On top of that, playing
two sports replaces conditioning for athletes and helps to
maintain a high level of fitness.
“The advantages would
definitely be how much fun
it is. I’m a really competitive
guy, so going out and doing what I love year round
is awesome. You also stay in
peak condition year round
which is nice,” Moyer said.
Besides
the
athletic
and
competitive
advantage, there is the other side
of sports that athletes enjoy just as much as playing.
“The advantages are be-
ing able to stay in shape. I have
two families of teams that I can
bond with and that will always
be there for me. And I love
both sports, so it’s great being
able to play both,” Nelson said.
Most athletes try to focus on one sport and dedicate
themselves in order to perfect
their skill. But, playing one
sport may not always be the
best option for everybody.
“I don’t think focusing
on one sport would be easier because playing multiple
sports makes you so much
more of a dynamic and well
rounded athlete,” Moyer said.
The downfall of focusing on two sports is missing
events for one sport while trying to play for another team.
It almost becomes impossible
to appease to both audiences.
“At times, I do think it’s
easier to focus on one sport,
especially in baseball. I don’t
get to go to as many camps
or play for a travel team to
get exposure with colleges or
scouts which can be tough,”
Nelson said. “And I don’t like
missing team events, so in
the summer when I’m playing baseball and have to miss
a basketball game, it’s tough.”
Each athlete is different
in this day and age, but playing two sports has become the
norm for most high school students. While it may not carry
over to college athletics, it will
help maintain peak condition
“There are definitely turning points when you’re playing
a sport when you reach different levels and you either
step up and change and get
better, or some people plateau or get injured. When I
was out, I was getting nervous, because you can see
people progressing without
you and you’re wondering if
you’re going to get left behind,
but it’s so cool to see people
who you’ve known since
you were really young progress and see how far they’ve
come. We all worked together to do it,” Anderson said.
Also signed was senior
Sarah Dervin, who will be attending Missouri Western
State University next fall with
fellow team members Bailey
Ketcham and Megan Maenner.
“It’s nice to be going to
school with some girls that
I know.
It will probably
make the transition easier,
and playing with girls that
I’ve known for six years will
be cool. I’ve known Megan
since I was in fifth grade,
and Bailey the beginning of
high school,” Dervin said.
Although senior Christina Stasi will not be moving
onto college soccer with any
fellow teammates, she says
her verbal commitment to
Wayne State in August of last
year was comforting enough.
“It is relieving to know
where my next steps will be
taken after high school. [I
am] nervous, mostly, at least
for right now. Some days I’m
extremely excited and can’t
wait to head out and some
days I’m very nervous for
the transition between high
school and college life. However, soccer is what I love doing most so its not too big of
a problem for me,” Stasi said.
As the season begins
within the next few months,
the girls have one goal in mind.
“As players, Bailey, Megan, and I – and all the other
seniors – have been to the
state finals two years in a row,
but haven’t won, which sucks.
Hopefully this year is our year.
It’d be nice to go out senior
year with a win,” Dervin said.
fast facts
Senior Dillon
Nelson (pictured below)
has played varsity basketball
for three years
and baseball
for three years.
Junior Ethan
Morrison (not
pictured) has
played varsity football for
three years and
basketball for
two years.
Junior Tate
Moyer (pictured to the
left) has played
varsity football
for three years
and basketball
for two years.
Junior Jake
Lenagh (not
pictured) has
played varsity
football for
three years and
basketball for
two years.
TWO PLAYING FIELDS: Junior Tate Moyer prepares to reenter an MN
football game and senior Dillon Nelson attempts a free throw during a
home game. Playing two sports has become normal and MN and students are competing at high levels. Photo by Madi Weaver
Girls soccer sign their sweet seven players
lindsey amen
front editor
Some met in elementary
school, when a future of college sports wasn’t even on
the horizon yet. Others during their freshman year at
MN, where they would go on
to play on the same team together for the next four years.
For seven senior varsity
girls soccer players who committed to colleges this past
signing day on Feb. 4, seeing each other succeed after so much time together
is a cherished opportunity.
“It’s super exciting, because there are some people
who I’ve played with since
we were really little kids and
it’s crazy to see how we’re
all growing up. It’s a bit sad,
because we’ll all be going in
different directions, but definitely super exciting because
everyone’s so talented.,” senior Avery Anderson said.
Anderson, who has committed to Southern Illinois
University in Edwardsville,
faced momentary struggle
during recruiting time when
she tore her ACL.
With
the help of her team, she
has bounced back and is
now looking forward to the
start of this year’s season.