By Ariel Casida
“To be a great athlete, it requires you to stay levelheaded and to put in a lot of grit and hours into your sport. If you’re a team sport athlete, being an athlete also requires being a good teammate.” True words spoken by Avery Metcalf as she explains that if you’re on a team, it’s not just about yourself anymore. She has learned over the years what it takes to be a good teammate and how to work with her team.
Avery is a senior in high school and has been involved with many sports, but ultimately decided to focus on volleyball. She has been playing since she was in the 7th grade after being inspired by her parents to start playing. They’ve always encouraged her throughout her sports career and have been the biggest positive impacts. They’ve been able to use their athletic experience to give Avery advice when she needed it.
Avery’s favorite subject is art because she finds it relaxing and gains a sense of pride when she finishes a piece. Her favorite teacher is Shannon Peters. “She is like a friend to me and always gives me great advice. I love how she is intentional with each of her students and values building a relationship with them,” Avery says. Her favorite sports memory is when her entire team got together to paint her coaches parking spot. For fun, Avery likes to work on her art, play pickleball, play with her dogs, or go on walks with friends and family.
After high school, she’s still undecided about what she wants to pursue. She does plan to attend college and hopes to continue her involvement in Young Life. When life gets tough, Avery finds strength in God. She says, “I know that no matter what happens on the court, the Lord still sees me the same after any game, and that is a constant in my life that keeps me going.” Avery has learned that every day is a new day, and lingering on the past can hold you back. She loves that volleyball is very much mental as well as physical.
The advice that Avery wants to pass on to her fellow athletes is not to be too hard on themselves and to try to be the best that they can be not getting caught up on comparing themselves to others.
