Pepperdine athletes use faith to play for a higher purpose

Tony Gleason Sports Assistant

Whether they are on the court or in the classroom, Pepperdine athletes said their faith impacts everything they do.

Student athletes at Pepperdine said their faith has an influence on both their athletic careers and lives as a whole. They said their faith allows them to play for a higher purpose, which helps them to worry less when on the court or field.

“My faith is the one and most important thing in my life,” said Tori Waldeck, Women’s Soccer junior midfielder/forward. “There’s other important things — family, friends, school for sure — but I put the Lord above everything else. If I didn’t put the Lord first, I wouldn’t be the athlete I am today.”

Jake Olson serves as a source of motivation.

Jake Olson, Men’s Volleyball freshman opposite hitter, said while he grew up in a Christian household, faith started to play a larger role in his life five months ago. Olson said, since then, his life has started to change for the better.

“It’s led me to be able to have the success I’ve had as an athlete,” Hellmuth said. “I would have burnt out, lost hope, gotten too upset with myself, gotten too mad at the sport of volleyball, but it’s what keeps me going.”

Additionally, Hellmuth said playing for a higher purpose helps her play at her highest level while on the court.

“When you’re trying to get to the next level constantly and trying to push yourself past your limits constantly, it gets really hard,” Hellmuth said. “If you don’t have something else to play for than just yourself, it gets really hard to perform your best.”

Tori Waldeck

While she grew up in a Christian household, Waldeck said it was around her junior year of high school when faith started to have a much larger impact on her life. Since then, Waldeck said she tries to praise God in everything she does.

“Just as he does stuff for me, I have to be willing to reciprocate that,” Waldeck said. “Read the word everyday, be in the Bible, go to Church, go to Bible studies or just constantly worship Him in everything I do.”

Waldeck said she wasn’t specifically looking for a school with a religious environment during the recruitment process because most Division I schools aren’t religious. She said she is grateful, though, she was able to end up at Pepperdine because the Women’s Soccer Head Coach Tim Ward is also a believer.

“I was blessed enough that Pepperdine does have a religious aspect,” Waldeck said. “It’s not like I will stick out because we pray before or after games; [Ward] brings up verses and brings up Bible stories and relates them to life in general.” ing that from the Lord helps me just play freely and openly.”

Greater Cause

One common theme between these athletes and their journeys with faith is, when they are on the court or field, they are playing for something greater than what is on Earth. Hellmuth said her faith helped her realize she doesn’t play for herself, which helps her after a tough game.

for God to honor Him,” Waldeck said. “When I have a hard game, I know He’s not going to be disappointed in me because, every time I step on the field, I give it all I got for Him.”

Olson said one Bible verse that means a lot to him is Romans 8:28, which states, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

Olson said this line has stuck out to him because it helps him keep a positive mindset about his future.

“Some of it I can’t fully see now, but the joy and peace I have in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ — I can’t even express it,” Olson said.

In terms of his athletics, Olson said his faith helps him remain calm and not get too frustrated when on the court.

“It helps me keep a level mindset,” Olson said. “I still have some old habits of getting frustrated. Every time I remind myself of the love that Jesus had for me, it gets rid of that really quick.”

Emily Hellmuth

Emily Hellmuth, Women’s Indoor Volleyball freshman outside hitter, said athletics and religion have been intertwined her whole life.

Hellmuth said her faith has played a big role in getting her to where she is in her athletic career because her faith

Waldeck also said her faith helps relieve her of stress, which allows her to focus on performing to the best of her abilities.

“In today’s culture, we put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect, and I’m not perfect,” Waldeck said. “Know-

“The promises that, even if I don’t play well or if I’m in a tough situation, that I don’t play for myself, and I don’t play for the glory of this world,” Hellmuth said. “I play for the glory of God and for Him, and He blessed me with these abilities.”

Similarly, Waldeck said playing for this greater cause helps her to not worry any time she steps onto the field.

“As I step on the field, I’m playing anthony.gleason@pepperdine.edu