For the love of the sport

For the love of the sport

By ADRIANNE LAKY

When thinking about Valentine’s Day, most people think of relationships, cheesy pick-up lines and oversized stuffed animals in various shades of red and pink. However, Valentine’s Day is so much more than the things that commercialism leads one to believe. The history of Valentine’s Day is one of passion and sacrifice, two things every person has dealt with in their life. In fact, no one knows more about passion and sacrifice than the student athletes of Texas Woman’s University. Two such athletes that have dedicated their lives for the love of their sport are Sadie Bish and Maggie Stephenson.

Sadie Bish is a first-year gymnast on the gymnastics team at TWU. Bish is originally from Wilmore, Kentucky, and she is majoring in kinesiology. She has been competing in gymnastics since she was seven years old and has dedicated many years, time and energy of her life to this sport she loves.

“The reason I compete with my full heart is for all the little girls at home watching me,” Bish said. “I want to be a role model for them and show them that with heart and determination, you can reach your dreams and goals. This is why I chose gymnastics.”

Maggie Stephenson is also a first-year student at TWU, where she plays for the Pioneer basketball team and majors in biology. Stephenson is originally from Spring, Texas where she graduated from Klein High School. Stephenson said she chose basketball because she loves to learn, and basketball is constantly changing.

“This sport is a great outlet for all of the stress of school,” Stephenson said. “It’s fast-paced, and you have to rely on a lot of instincts and fundamentals, which I love.”

Love can come in all shapes and sizes. For some, it is a really delicious hamburger, for others, it is a beautiful paintleaving ing, and for others, still it is the comfort of coming home to their soulmate every night. But for Sadie Bish and Maggie Stephenson, it is not just gymnastics and basketball, but what those two sports represent. It is the opportunity to work hard and achieve their goals. More than that, it is the chance to inspire others to chase after the things that they love.