There are many questions concerning what it takes to be a top athlete in today’s generation. How do you get your name out there? How do you get better? How do you stand out among other athletes who play your sport? These questions have changed over the years and answers still vary. So, what does it really take to be at the top of your sport?

Work Ethic

Most top athletes are talented in the sport they play. However, what separates the best from the rest is a strong work ethic.

“The difference in lifestyle of what makes a top athlete is often different among the players that are considered to be the best,” junior Graham Smalley said. “Some have raw talent that they don’t have to work hard for and are already considered the best at the level they are competing at. Others work harder than everyone around them and push themselves everyday to be the best.”

Smalley is a captain on the FFHS men’s soccer team and was voted on to the 2A North Carolina mens All-State soccer team by the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association (NCSCA). He attributes all of his success to more than just his talent.

“I am one of those players that has the gift of being able to play at a high level of competition, but it isn’t something that I don’t work for,” Smalley said. “I work for everything that I expect to be as a player, I push myself to be the best and it isn’t something that you concentrate on for a week or month or even a year. It’s a lifestyle, it’s something that I have worked at since I was a child.”

Academics

In order to be able to play sports, an athlete’s grades must be held to a certain standard. For a top athlete, academics are important because it gives them the opportunity to get accepted into colleges and a career path following their sports career.

“I always refer to myself as a student athlete. That means my student life and academics always come first,” junior Sarah Mandis said. “I’m not going to swim for the rest of my life, I know that. I’m going to have to work and earn a living for the rest of my life, so education is the most important thing.”

Nutrition

Mandis recently took first place in two events at the NCHSAA 2A Womens swimming state championships. She swims year round on a travel team in Virginia in addition to being on the swim team at First Flight. As a dedicated swimmer, Mandis prioritizes another underrated facet of being a top athlete: nutrition.

“I base my diet around what phase of training I am in. Normally I will eat a lot of lean meats and healthy carbohydrates during regular training. However, as a meet nears I will start eating a lot more carbohydrates for energy while cutting out fried foods, ice cream, etc.,” Mandis said. “Nutrition is important for swimming because it gives your body what it needs to keep getting stronger and to increase your endurance.”

Getting your name out there

Once an athlete exhibits his or her talents on the playing field, the recruiting process comes into question. In today’s age athletes can promote themselves through the web, social media and other outlets however, it is still an issue for athletes to be seen by scouts and recruiters if they live in an area where recruiters or club teams are not abundant, which is the case for FFHS.

“Usually, athletes that attend schools that are near colleges or in a city have an opportunity to play on club teams,” senior Jessica Wallace said. “Athletes on club teams are constantly working on sports. Here on a small, little beach there really isn’t much to work with, so it’s hard to get yourself out there to scouts and teams.”

For an athlete looking to get recruited, joining club teams and going to showcase events can improve chances of being considered. AAU teams often travel long distances to take part in tournaments and events, so athletes can be seen by recruiters across the country. If an athlete is ever given the opportunity to be seen by numerous recruiters, they need to be at the top of their game.

“You have to put yourself in the position to show your talent to coaches, by going to camps and tryouts for a higher level team constantly. Whenever given that opportunity, you always have to push yourself to the next level,” Smalley said.

Support

One of the keys to becoming a top athlete is being financially and emotionally supported by family, guardians and people who are close to you. An athlete combined with a strong support system will be able to travel to athletic events, buy equipment and have people to fall back on when times are tough.

“To help Sarah become a better swimmer, her dad and I make sure to provide her with the training she needs,” Sarah’s mother Maria Mandis said. “We drive her to the pool for swim practice and to the fitness center for drylands and weights. We also purchase all the equipment she needs and pay the fees that year round swimming entails. She’s a better swimmer because she has a strong support system behind her.”

With a strong support system comes sacrifice, by both the athlete and those they are close to. The pursuit of becoming a top athlete affects everyday lifestyle decisions.

“Our entire family has adjusted our daily routine to work around her (Sarah’s) training schedule,” said Mrs. Mandis. “I probably sacrifice more than the rest of the family because I do the scheduling on a day-to-day basis. I sacrifice sleep, free time and family dinners to name a few. But when you have a child who is truly passionate about their sport and is so driven to work at it, it doesn’t seem like sacrifice at all. Seeing her swim well at swim meets makes it all worth while.”

Additional reporting done by Reid Kelly

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