PREPNET / SPEAK OUT

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from sports?

DERRICK KLUNCHOO

Capistrano Valley, Tennis

It helps you figure out who you really are and how hard you’ll fight for things. It has built my confidence and taught me I have to work hard to accomplish things. Sports has helped my life so much. It’s given me another thing to do and it’s given me a release from school.

JIM VOORHEES

Valencia, Baseball

The most valuable lesson you learn in sports is not to show poor body language. Poor body language shows poor character. I play baseball and if you show poor body language on the mound, that lets the opponent know they are getting to you, and its one step closer to being beat.

FRED ALMOND

Mission Viejo, Track Coach

You learn to deal with patience, with adversity and how to deal with success. All of those are life lessons. Younger people who get involved in sports get to understand those aspects of life a lot earlier. Some people who don’t participate aren’t as prepared to deal with adversity. In athletics, there’s always someone who’s going to be faster and stronger. Athletes have to deal with losing, even though they might have trained just as hard this week as they did last week. It also helps you commit in all aspects of life, whether it’s marriage, family or work.

AMBER TURNER

La Habra, Softball

Anything in life that’s worth doing is worth doing with my whole heart. You have to use everything you have. You can’t just use some of your talent, you have to use all of your talent. And if you don’t, you’re not trying your hardest. And if you don’t try your hardest, then you’re making your team suffer.

DANE ILERTSON

Troy, Baseball Coach

That to be successful takes a team and that you must learn to TRUST your teammates . . . not necessarily because you want to but because you have to, and that group trust empowers everyone and provides synergy.

HEATHER SALTARELLI

Marina, Softball

It’s not all about just winning or losing, but the lessons you learn and the friends and memories you gain. People put a lot of emphasis on the outcomes, but it should be about having fun. It shouldn’t be about your batting average and who’s doing better or the rankings. Just have fun and make the best of it.

NEXT QUESTION

What could your school or team do to help increase attendance at your games?