Every sports player has someone who they look up to.
“He is the hardest worker,” said sophomore soccer player Maddy Studer when describing an athlete she looks up to: her dad.
“I have looked up to Marcelina Gorny, because she was always in it for the team,” said sophomore volleyball captain Erin Lynch. “She always did what was necessary to help our team succeed, even if it wasn’t in her favor. She always gave 150% effort.”
“Growing up in the 90’s, I think the most influential athlete in the wide world of sports was Micheal Jordan,” said Gym and Health Teacher Mr. Sobieszczyk. “He is the first athlete that came to mind as a role model for me because of his amazing success on the basketball court… [and] his story.” Micheal Jordan is one of countless incredible athletes in which we see valuable traits including, with qualities of “dedication, commitment, discipline, effort, balance, and perseverance.”
Simone Biles, legend in women’s gymnast; Stephen Curry, well known basketball player; Patrick Mahomes, talented Chiefs quarterback; Lionel Messi, greatest of all time to play soccer. Each has similar, yet different qualities that brought them to where they are. Many of Viator’s own athletes and students share some of these traits.
To start off strong, Simone Biles is a role model for so many young and old women. At only two years old, Simone and her siblings were taken away from their struggling family and were adopted. She was introduced to gymnastics at an early age and made a career out of it. Simone quickly rose to the top and became the incredible gymnast the world knows her as, setting a record with 30+ world medals, 23 of them being gold. Apart from her athletic accomplishments, Simone Biles won the BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year in 2016.
Simone’s commitment, hard work, strength of character, and bubbly, genuine personality helped shape her success. Biles never gave up through her struggles and, with chaos occurring around her, she was kind.
Next up, Stephen Curry shows sportsmanship and positivity as young and old basketball players watch him score over and over again. Stephen Curry grew up in a basketball loving home in Ohio and never stopped practicing. He practiced endlessly until he became one of the best shooters in the NBA. He is a four time NBA champion, two time MVP, nine time All Star, and more. He brought energy, passion, dedication, and effort. Curry also was confident in his play, yet humble to the players.
The football star quarterback playing for Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes, displays an influential character and player. He fell in love with the sport and stepped into a role of leadership on his team. Now, he leads his team to victory. Mahomes is only the 7th quarterback to win both NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season. With traits of creativity, leadership, confidence, reliability, effort, and intelligence Patrick Mahomes won many awards including the Sportsperson of the Year award. Viator, too, contains strong and driven leaders.
“In Viator athletics, I see traits like compassion, leadership, hard work, determination, and selflessness,” said Lynch. “Some traits I see in myself and other captains is always wanting the team to succeed, doing our best to support and encourage others, both on and off the court.”
Lionel Messi has many admirable characteristics that paved the way for his abundant success. Messi grew up in a soccer-loving family and played the game since he was a kid. However, he faced the challenge of hormone growth deficiency. Through resilience and heart, Messi worked hard becoming unbelievably skilled to combat his growth challenges. He remains a legend, containing countless awards and 44+ collective trophies. Similar to the other athletes mentioned, Messi won a few awards for sportsmanship including the BBC Sports Personality World Sport Star of the Year 2022. With Messi’s supportiveness, genuine spirit, commitment, love for the game, work rate, and kindness, he was unstoppable in his career.
“We try to instill many positive traits…to help better prepare students and athletes for their future as integral members of society,” said Mr. Sobieszczyk. “By providing our students and athletes with challenging learning opportunities, we try to highlight the importance of the following successful learner traits: dedication and commitment to academic studies, athletic teams, and school community.”
“Our coaches and sports teams are very encouraging and strive to make us the best athletes we can be,” said Maddy Studer. “I have high hopes for the future of Viator athletics, and I believe that the program will continue to only get better.”
Every athlete at Saint Viator contains at least one of the traits that made Simone Biles, Stephen Curry, Patrick Mahomes, and Lionel Messi great. Through integration into members of society as athletes, students will fulfill their athletic and social potential.
