Relationships are all about the time and energy you put into them: the little things — the moments of laughter, the passion and excitement — make all the difference.
What better relationship is there than an athlete and their sport?
Probably none. Athletes pour years of time and experience into slowly perfecting their skills. They persevere through challenges and demonstrate an unparalleled level of dedication.
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, The Sun spoke to 12 Cornell athletes about their love for their sports, with three common themes emerging — camaraderie, compassion and commitment.
Camaraderie
Sports are all about chemistry and working together with your teammates and coaches. As a Division I athlete, you might spend up to 20 hours with your teammates at practices or watching film, not accounting for the time you may decide to spend as friends.
Senior attack Lucy Dwyer says that women’s lacrosse is a “family game” to her, and has been a mechanism by which she has met her closest friends and connected with her family. For Dwyer, her family and teammates inspire her to excel at her sport.
“The passion my family members and teammates bring to the sport originally sparked my love for the game and continues to inspire my love for lacrosse,” Dwyer said.
Freshman Max Sponer, a member of the men’s horse polo team expressed his love for the sport stemming from working with his horse through the “thrill of speed, danger and competition.”
“[I] love the connection between rider and horse,” Sponer said. “The symbiosis — that you are relying on the horse for speed and power, but they are also relying on you to keep them safe.”
All-Around sophomore gymnast Josie Moylan said that the best thing about her sport has been the connections she has made with her teammates over the 16 years of being involved in gymnastics.
“Working so hard toward specific goals and then achieving those goals is incredibly satisfying, but having a group that shares your excitement is truly game-changing,” Moylan said.
Junior Brendan Staub commented on the “unique culture built on tradition” that the men’s lacrosse team has at Cornell. Staub is a long stick midfielder and defender on the lacrosse team. He says his desire to play lacrosse is influenced by the passion of his teammates.
“The best part of my day is competing and working hard alongside [my teammates],” Staub said. “I take great pride in being part [of this team].”
Senior midfielder and forward Reinna Gabriel said her team has been her “home away from home which makes every practice, game or gathering meaningful.” Gabriel’s experience with soccer is more about the sport she plays, it’s about the people she’s met.
Compassion
Compassion in a sport runs deeper than just the competition that drives athletes to want to win. It’s about the deep connection that athletes cultivate with their teammates, sport and journey. Most athletes play their sports for years before college, so compassion for them is about pushing through personal limits, dealing with failure and celebrating collective achievements.
For sophomore Tyler Debusschere, playing college golf is unique because it is an individual and team sport where he feels the motivation of his teammates creates a positive environment during competition. Debusschere highlighted the creative aspect of golf that he factors into each match.
“Not one course, hole, strategy or shot is ever the same, so you truly have to tap into a creative mindset for the entire round,” Debusschere said.
Senior Renata Chusid specializes in foil as a member of the fencing team. Her passion for fencing comes from the pressure and energy of her environment. She says the rush she gets from being exposed to pressure, cheering and shock is what she most plays for.
“I live for the moments where I need to give it my all on the strip after working hard for months toward a goal,” Chusid said.
As a member of the men’s tennis team, senior Adit Sinha enjoys tennis because he is able to express his competitive side. Sinha expressed the joy of being a member of an “active space” that is so competitive and driven by passion for the game. He also detailed the feeling of playing tennis.
“The feeling of hitting a ball, playing for a fleeting adrenaline boost from winning,” Sinha said. “The emotional satisfaction I get by competing with my teammates … has always been something I enjoyed.”
Commitment
Spending up to 20 hours a week doing something every week for four years seems like an incredible challenge. Athletes must work hard day in and out despite all the challenges they face — balancing school work, injuries and losses.
Sophomore wrestling team member Liam Finn noted that his love for his sport comes from the discipline it has taught him in all parts of his life. Finn learned what being selfless means and how to make “sacrifices to support the success of the team.”
“I’ve learned that wrestling isn’t just about winning on the mat, but it’s about building character and staying disciplined through the challenges life throws at you,” Finn said.
Similarly, senior football quarterback Jameson Wang said that playing football has taught him about making sacrifices to be successful. While football is mentally and physically tough, Wang says football taught him how to lead a team forward and be selfless for the betterment of the team.
“Whether it’s the thrill of scoring the game-winning touchdown or the agony of defeat when you lose the game for your team, everything is a lesson that can be used in the future,” Wang said. “The love for the game is more than just the outcome, but the daily process of becoming better than you were the day before. That’s not only my motto for football, but that’s the way I live my life.”
Junior in the midfield Sahyd Masso says being a member of the men’s soccer team has brought him joy and shaped the way he has lived his life. Masso said that without soccer he would not be at the point he is in his life.
“Without soccer, I would not be here. I would not have the same competitive culture, excellence mindset, time management skill and gratefulness for where I am in life,” Masso said.
For senior golfer Jackson Debusschere, being mentally disciplined and tough is one of the most important parts of playing successful golf matches. He said that the pressures of golf are very different from other sports and the competition they play at this level is incredibly tough.
“The mental challenge[s] one faces over the course of 18, potentially 36 holes, is a grind unlike any other, and I love the challenge this presents me as the ability to maintain mental discipline in high pressure situations is applicable to all facets of life,” he said.
Zeinab Faraj is the assistant sports editor on the 143rd editorial board and a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences.
