As young athletes, players often imitate and mold their own game after several professional players. However, with most, they lock in on their favorite player and try to add their moves into their own game.
Like many other athletes around the world, Union athletes also have their own favorite players. They have modeled their own game to imitate one player in particular.
Idalia Alarcon, junior athletic training major and shortstop for Union’s softball team, has loved and incorporated the practices of her favorite player on the diamond for the Bulldogs.
“I think I closely modeled my game after Sis Bates,” Alarcon said. “She was a former Washington shortstop that never let an error affect her play.”
She said that Bates always played with such admirable calmness and swagger. In the same fashion, Alarcon tries to play with that similar cool, calm and collected demeanor, which is much easier said than done. She further expressed that Bates also well represents what applying faith to everyday life and sport looks like.
Senior golfer Anders Rider has a role model that has shaped the game of golf for now and forever. That man’s name is Tiger Woods.
“Growing up, I always loved to watch Tiger play,” Rider said. “He was the most dominant golfer on every course he walks onto because of his mindset and his work ethic.”
Woods is an interesting character off of the course, but on the course, he is a mastermind. Rider believes that his application of striving to be like Woods has given him a positive mindset when he plays.
Sadie Knee, junior guard for Union’s women’s basketball team, has looked up to one specific NBA player thanks to a rainy day delivery of Sports Illustrated when she was growing up. Her brother came in with the magazine which had a poster inside. That poster was of Chris Paul.
“I love the style and unselfishness that CP3 plays with,” Knee said. “I think he actually just became third in assists in NBA history, and that’s because he has such great court vision and is willing to share the rock.”
Another characteristic that she likes about Paul is that he is not the biggest guy, but he plays the game with his heart on his sleeve.
Alarcon, Rider and Knee all have unique role models that are an important part of their lives. These players have learned a lot from watching their favorite players perform to the best of their ability in a sport that they love.
To progress in anything, learning from some of the best is an easy way to get started. Starting with one element and then being able to add it to your arsenal as an athlete is one of the most dangerous weapons to be had.
Assistant professor of communication arts Ted Kluck was a football player and now coaches at Lane College. “As a young football player, and now a coach, I see so much value in finding a great athlete to emulate,” Kluck said. “Athletes are such kinetic learners, meaning they tend to be great at seeing something on tape and then incorporating aspects of it into their games. It’s one of the things I enjoyed the most, and miss the most, about being an athlete.”
Without role models, we might never have seen the greatest athletes in a variety of sports because great athletes and people alike have an innate ability to inspire.
Photo by Union Photo Project.