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SPORTS
Echo Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Out of the PARK Racquel
“If (Abati) is putting in time for both and can still keep up with what he has to do then great for him. Alex Peterson, senior
Fhima racquelfhima@ slpecho.com
Keeping my head in the game
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ental toughness is a skill that comes with hard work and perseverance. My experience with overcoming my mental block shaped the way I think about myself and my tennis game. As an eighth grader, my mental game was at an all time low. It got to the point where I was known to give up after losing a couple of games. I stopped training altogether at one point, but that was only a temporary fix. After that, Natalie Lorentz, the previous tennis captain, helped to make that the low point. As my skills developed and my attitude toward What’s the tennis bePOINT? came more confident throughout the year, I became less focused on my mental game. I pushed myself to get better by playing four to eight hours every day in the summer. While this helped my racquet skills, my mental attitude still created difficulties in matches. At that point, I realized in these matches although my strokes were there, my mental game put me at a disadvantage to others at my level. This rude awakening gave me the determination to work harder, and by the end of freshman year my tennis and mental game was greatly improved. At my first tournament I got to the finals and then lost to a girl that was the same skill level as me because my overconfidence got the better of me. This tournament humbled me and made me realize that while I was still better than eighth grade me, I had a lot of hard work to do. The next tournament, I played one of my best friends in the second round, who I had always admired. I ended up winning which gave me the biggest confidence boost I have ever experienced. Throughout the season I held this win with me, and whenever I was getting down on myself I remembered the tournament where I beat the girl who I had looked up to since I was 12. All it takes is one win, one second, to switch the feeling of hopelessness to resolve and create a mental game of steel. By retraining my mind, I have achieved more than I ever imagined as a sophomore. I still have a lot of work to do concerning my mental game, as well as my racquet skills, but that is all within my reach.
Mental game key in developing success
Varsity athlete takes on two sports
Photo Adam Johnson
Two is better than one: Senior Abati Dedefo winds up to kick the ball in the Orioles’ match against Minneapolis South. Dedefo participates in both soccer and cross country at the varsity level.
Senior follows athletic passion with soccer, cross country Adam Johnson adamjohnson@slpecho.com
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hen senior athlete Abati Dedefo prepared to begin his last year in high school, he sought to play both soccer and run cross country. According to Dedefo, soccer has always been an important aspect to his life, but he also wanted to run for the cross country team this fall. “I love playing soccer. I decided to join cross country this season because it is my last year of high school and I thought it would be fun,” Dedefo said. According to Park cross country coach Chris Nordstrom he said he supports Dedefo’s involvement in the two sports.
“(Dedefo’s) focus has more been on the soccer side,” said Nordstrom. “he nice thing with cross country is soccer and cross country do have a lot of similarities,” Nordstrom said. According to Dedefo, he primarily attends soccer practice while running in cross country meets. He said communicating with both coaches is crucial. “I talked to my coaches and we just kind of talked to each other and figured out what we were going to do,” Dedefo said. Senior cross country captain and teammate Colin Perkins said he looks up to Dedefo’s dedication to pursue two sports. “He provides a standard of what you can achieve if you push yourself,” Perkins said. According to varsity assistant soccer coach Pat Hartman he acknowledges Dedefo’s performance in both sports.
Dual-sport accomplishments Scored two goals Placed third out of in the soccer seas 502 athletes in The Griak Invitational Contributed one Ran the two mile assist for the team race in 10:20
Infographic Brooklyn Donelson Source gophersports.com, mnsoccerhub
“The same week that he placed third in Griak, he scored two goals in the next match after that,” Hartman said. Nordstrom said he hopes students will be able to pursue multiple sports in the future. “I hope it’s something that we can work out with coaches in the future,” Nordstrom said.
Officer Bill Mathews honored at Vikings game Family accepts Hometown Hero recognition
Sam Birnberg & Jacob Stillman sambirnberg@slpecho.com jacobstillman@slpecho.com
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t the Vikings-Packers game Oct. 15, U.S. Bank Stadium filled with cheers and applause for the recogPhoto Sam Birnberg Honoring a hero: Wyatt and Shawn Mathews displayed as part of a tribute video made nition of one of St. Louis Park’s own. Park’s assistant athletic director Shawn in honor of Officer Bill Mathews during a stoppage in play at U.S. Bank Stadium Oct. 15 Mathews and her son Wyatt stood on the after Officer Mathews. He said that the field, receiving the Hometown Hero honor were brought into Winter Park to watch a honors given by both the city of Wayzata Vikings practice. on behalf of her husband Officer Bill and the Minnesota Vikings go a long way “We just thought if there was a chance Mathews, who passed away on Friday, to preserving Officer Mathews’ heroism to bring that story to the Vikings fan Sept. 8 while clearing debris from Highand service. base and have the opportunity to honor way U.S. 12. “Because of how impactful he was, the family, that would be something we The Hometown Hero award honors people want to make sure his memory wanted to do,” Bostrom said. individuals who have made a difference in lasts,” Ewald said. Park athletic director Andy Ewald said their community. Bostrom said the Hometown Hero that although he was not involved in the Greg Bostrom, the Director of Enhonor was created to promote recognition nomination process, he was elated to see tertainment for the Minnesota Vikings, for those who have a major impact on the the Mathews family being honored. said the organization felt the Hometown local community. “I think it is a great gesture for the Hero award was the perfect platform to “There is no more fitting person for Vikings to do,” Ewald said. honor Officer Mathews’ commitment to this recognition than someone like Bill Ewald said the city of Wayzata has the community, and that Bill was chosen Mathews,” Bostrom said. plans to name a stretch of the highway to be honored after Shawn and Wyatt