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Meet Mexico's twin sensations

The twins may be the same height, wear braces, and have similar opinions, but Lia and Mia say they are not identical. For one thing, they point to their heads. Mia parts her hair on the right; Lia parts hers on the left. Image Source: Lia Yatzil Cueva Lobato and Mia Yatzil Cueva Lobato of […]

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Meet Mexico's twin sensations

The twins may be the same height, wear braces, and have similar opinions, but Lia and Mia say they are not identical.

For one thing, they point to their heads.

Mia parts her hair on the right; Lia parts hers on the left.


Image Source: Lia Yatzil Cueva Lobato and Mia Yatzil Cueva Lobato of Mexico compete in the World Aquatics Diving World Cup 2025 in Windsor, Ontario (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

They aren’t even the only world-class divers in their family. The twins’ older sister, Suri, competed at last fall’s junior world championships in Rio de Janeiro and placed 10th on the 1m springboard in the B Group (for 14- to 15-year-olds) while the twins kept training.

Five months later, all three sisters were eligible for the 2025 World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, where the twins rocketed to a silver medal, placing second, 25.71 points behind 2024 Olympic gold medalists and three-time world champions, Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen of China.  They were also 12.23 points ahead of third-place finishers Maddison Keeney and Alysha Koloi of Australia.

One day later, Lia placed fifth individually in 3m.

At 14, the twins are defeating women on the world stage who are nine or 10 years older.

Just to make the World Cup roster, Lia said, “They made a competition in Mexico to [decide] who will come here – and we won, so we came.”

As partners, “synchronization comes easily for us,” Mia said.

Lia verbally counts down the pair as they prepare to dive. The reason, she said, is because “I speak louder…and I’m older,” adding that “the difficult part is the exit of the dive and entry to the water.”

Both say that the most important people in their lives are their family, which includes a younger brother, parents, and grandparents.

“We all believe in each other, so we get confidence in ourselves,” Lia said.

They also agree that their silver medal from Guadalajara is their most valuable possession to date.

“If I lost that medal in the airport or something,” Lia said, “I would be so sad.”

“It’s my first international medal,” Mia explained. “And behind that medal is a lot of training –  eight or nine hours a day” split between two daily sessions, both of which include pool time and gym time. 

They share a coach, Ivan Bautista, but they don’t have any nicknames yet.

“Most people just call us the twins – or “gamelas” in Spanish –  because they don’t know who is who,” said Mia.

Asked if each had a secret talent, Mia said, “I’m good at writing because I have a good imagination.”

Lia said, “I’m good at dancing,” specifically, whatever’s trending on  TikTok. She sometimes posts her own moves on the channel at @LIAYATZIL    

If there’s ever a day when they don’t feel like going to practice, Mia said, “the things that have happened here [at the World Cups] is the motivation to continue training every day.”

Lia agreed. “We are motivated to learn more about the other divers, and to beat the Chinese and the other divers.”

It’s already starting to happen for their Mexican teammates. Osmar Olvera Ibarra, for example, captured two medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics (a bronze in 3m and the silver in 3m synchro with Juan Manuel Celaya Hernandez).

The twins watched it unfold on TV while vacationing with their family in Cancun.

Mia said she was excited but not surprised: “We expected Osmar to win one or two medals in Paris. In synchro they were so near to the Chinese. [It came down to the last dive.] And that’s why we think we can beat the Chinese also in some years.”

To that end, Olympic medalists have shared some advice.

“Osmar and Gabi [Agundez Garcia] told us to get motivated and enjoy the competition in both Guadalajara and Windsor, and that if you don’t make a good dive, don’t worry about it because it’s your first competition,” Lia said.


Image Source: Bronze Medalist Osmar Olvera Ibarra of Team Mexico at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in Paris, France (Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

The twins have already qualified for the World Cup Super Final in Beijing, and if they make Mexico’s roster for the 2025 world championship in Singapore, they may have the additional opportunity to check out what excellence looks like in some of the other World Aquatics disciplines.

Outside of diving, Mia said her favorite would be artistic swimming. “It’s elegant,” she said. “I like how the routine looks. But I would not be able to wear all that makeup and hair gel.”

Lia said surfing was her favorite (non-diving) aquatic sport. But it won’t be contested in Singapore because it’s not governed by World Aquatics, so her next-favorite event would be men’s and women’s water polo. But then she quickly changed her answer to swimming “because I like to see their speed.”

Her favorite swimmer at the moment? “The Italian one, Thomas Ceccon,” Lia said.

Asked why, she just giggled.

Prompted by a guess: “Guapo?”  she nodded heartily, giggled some more, and went on her way.

College Sports

NIL promises made to recruits, now coaches wait for key decision to learn whether they can keep them

LAS VEGAS — Next week, college football coaches can put the recruiting promises they have made to high school seniors on paper. Then the question becomes whether they can keep them. Uncertainty over a key element of the $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement that is reshaping college sports has placed recruiters on a tightrope. They […]

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LAS VEGAS — Next week, college football coaches can put the recruiting promises they have made to high school seniors on paper.

Then the question becomes whether they can keep them.

Uncertainty over a key element of the $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement that is reshaping college sports has placed recruiters on a tightrope.

They need clarity about whether the third-party collectives that were closely affiliated with their schools and that ruled name, image, likeness payments over the first four years of the NIL era can be used to exceed the $20.5 million annual cap on what each school can now pay players directly. Or, whether those collectives will simply become a cog in the new system.

Only until that issue is resolved will many coaches know if the offers they’ve made, and that can become official on Aug. 1, will conform to the new rules governing college sports.

“You don’t want to put agreements on the table about things that we might have to claw back,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day explained at this week’s Big Ten media days. “Because that’s not a great look.”

No coach, of course, is going to fess up to making an offer he can’t back up.

“All we can do is be open and honest about what we do know, and be great communicators from that standpoint,” Oregon’s Dan Lanning said.

Aug. 1 is key because it marks the day football programs can start sending written offers for scholarships to high school prospects starting their senior year.

This process essentially replaces what used to be the signing of a national letter of intent. It symbolizes the changes taking hold in a new era in which players aren’t just signing for a scholarship, but for a paycheck, too.

Paying them is not a straightforward business. Among the gray areas comes from guidance issued earlier this month by the newly formed College Sports Commission in charge of enforcing rules involved with paying players, both through the $20.5 million revenue share with schools and through third-party collectives.

The CSC is in charge of clearing all third-party deals worth $600 or more.

It created uncertainty earlier this month when it announced, in essence, that the collectives did not have a “valid business purpose.” if their only reason to exist was ultimately to pay players. Lawyers for the players barked back and said that is what a collective was always met to be, and if it sells a product for a profit, it qualifies as legit.

The parties are working on a compromise, but if they don’t reach one they will take this in front of a judge to decide.

With Aug. 1 coming up fast, oaches are eager to lock in commitments they’ve spent months, sometimes years, locking down from high school recruits.

“Recruiting never shuts off, so we do need clarity as soon as we can,” Buckeyes athletic director Ross Bjork said. “The sooner we can have clarity, the better. I think the term ‘collective’ has obviously taken on a life of its own. But it’s really not what it’s called, it’s what they do.”

In anticipating the future, some schools have disbanded their collectives while others, such as Ohio State, have brought them in-house. It is all a bit of a gamble. If the agreement that comes out of these negotiations doesn’t restrict collectives, they could be viewed as an easy way to get around the salary cap. Either way, schools eyeing ways for players to earn money outside the cap amid reports that big programs have football rosters worth more than $30 million in terms of overall player payments.

“It’s a lot to catch up, and there’s a lot for coaches and administrators to deal with,” Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti said, noting the terms only went into play on July 1. “But I don’t think it’s unusual when you have something this different that there’s going to be some bumps in the road to get to the right place. I think everybody is committed to get there.”

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, whose program tapped into the transfer portal and NIL to make the most remarkable turnaround in college football last season, acknowledged “the landscape is still changing, changing as we speak today.”

“You’ve got to be light on your feet and nimble,” he said. “At some point, hopefully down the road, this thing will settle down and we’ll have clear rules and regulations on how we operate.”

At stake at Oregon is what is widely regarded as a top-10 recruiting class for a team that finished first in the Big Ten and made the College Football Playoff last year along with three other teams from the league.

“It’s an interpretation that has to be figured out, and anytime there’s a new rule, it’s how does that rule adjust, how does it adapt, how does it change what we have to do here,” Lanning said. “But one thing we’ve been able to do here is — what we say we’ll do, we do.”





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College Sports

NBCSN, again? NBCU reportedly eyeing new sports cable network

Nearly four years after shutting down NBCSN, and months after setting in motion the jettisoning of USA Network, Comcast is reportedly eyeing the launch of a new cable sports network to complement Peacock. Comcast-owned NBC Universal is in early discussions on the launch of a potential sports cable network that would carry events that are […]

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Nearly four years after shutting down NBCSN, and months after setting in motion the jettisoning of USA Network, Comcast is reportedly eyeing the launch of a new cable sports network to complement Peacock.

Comcast-owned NBC Universal is in early discussions on the launch of a potential sports cable network that would carry events that are streamed exclusively on Peacock, Joe Flint of The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The channel could launch as soon as this fall, ahead of the debut of NBC’s new NBA package.

Per Flint, the intention is not for the channel to compete with Peacock but to complement the streaming service by making its content available to those who are reluctant to leave the cable bundle.

Accordingly, the channel would be only exist on specialty tiers — like the DIRECTV “MySports” bundle launched earlier this year — rather than the basic cable packages that include the likes of ESPN.

The decision to create an entirely new cable network is perhaps a circuitous route to what has become a regular occurrence, the inclusion of direct-to-subscriber streaming services in specialty cable tiers. Peacock itself is already available for no extra fee as part of Charter’s Spectrum TV Select package. ESPN+ is also available to some Charter and DIRECTV subscribers free of charge (and the ESPN direct-to-subscriber app will be as well, though that is fairly redundant given it consists of channels already available through the cable bundle).

Peacock this year is raising its monthly price from $8 to $11/mo ahead of its first season carrying NBA games. The NBA package — which at $2.5 billion/year will cost NBCU more each season than its Sunday Night Football package (at least until the NFL renegotiates, as expected, by the end of this decade) — is perhaps the highest-stakes addition to the streamer’s line-up, given the sheer tonnage of exclusive games (50 per season in the regular season, plus up to 14 in the playoffs).

As previously noted, NBC in 2021 shut down its cable sports channel NBCSN, which originated as the Comcast-owned OLN. NBCSN programming then shifted to USA Network, which Comcast is spinning off into a new company (“Versant”). After that spinoff — which also includes Golf Channel and CNBC, which regularly carry NBC Sports programming — the only cable channel of any kind under the Comcast umbrella will be Bravo.



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– ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM WRUF

Florida Gators gymnast Kaylee Bluffstone is congratulated for her floor exercise. The Florida Gators hosted Iowa State, NC State and LIU at Exactech Arena at The Stephen C O’Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Friday, March 15, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun] David Lopez […]

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Florida Gators gymnast Kaylee Bluffstone is congratulated for her floor exercise. The Florida Gators hosted Iowa State, NC State and LIU at Exactech Arena at The Stephen C O’Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Friday, March 15, 2024. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]







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Sitz Earns Multiple Medals At World University Games

Story Links RHINE-RUHR, Germany (SMU) – SMU men’s swimmer Kristaps Mikelsons and All-American diver Luke Sitz wrapped up their campaigns at the FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, on Wednesday. Sitz secured two medals for Team UniUSA.  The sophomore earned a bronze medal in the men’s 3-meter springboard, with a score of 429.75 on July 18. […]

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Sitz Earns Multiple Medals At World University Games

RHINE-RUHR, Germany (SMU) – SMU men’s swimmer Kristaps Mikelsons and All-American diver Luke Sitz wrapped up their campaigns at the FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, on Wednesday. Sitz secured two medals for Team UniUSA. 

The sophomore earned a bronze medal in the men’s 3-meter springboard, with a score of 429.75 on July 18. Breaking a 28-year drought, Sitz’s podium finish was the first medal for Team UniUSA on 3-meter springboard since 1997.  

On Wednesday, Sitz picked up another piece of hardware, claiming a silver medal on the men’s synchronized 3-meter springboard. The U.S. pair of Sitz and Indiana University’s Joshua David Sollenberger earned a 380.34 total.  

In his final event, Sitz fell just short of medaling in the mixed team (3-meter/10-meter), placing fourth with a 393.50. 

Representing Latvia, Mikelsons also competed in Rhine-Ruhr. Mikelsons participated in four individual events: 100m breast, 200m IM, 200m breast and 50m breast.  

In the 100m breast, Mikelsons posted a time of 1:02.16. After advancing to the 200m IM semifinals, he registered a time of 2:02.43 to place 15th overall. 

The junior touched the wall at 2:16.58 in the 200m breast, leading his heat. Finally, in the 50m breast, Mikelsons recorded a 28.73. 

Mikelsons also took part in two relays, finishing in 3:29.62 in the men’s 4x100m free relay and 4:04.29 in the mixed 4x100m medley relay. 

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BYU's Lynette Hernaez

KEY POINTS Veteran BYU goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez is expected to be a pivotal leader on the 2025 women’s soccer squad. Hernaez joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while still a teen in California. Prior to joining the Cougars in Provo, Hernaez served a mission in the Salt Lake area. Pioneers come in […]

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BYU's Lynette Hernaez

KEY POINTS

  • Veteran BYU goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez is expected to be a pivotal leader on the 2025 women’s soccer squad.
  • Hernaez joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while still a teen in California.
  • Prior to joining the Cougars in Provo, Hernaez served a mission in the Salt Lake area.

Pioneers come in all shapes and sizes — and some even wear soccer cleats.

BYU’s veteran goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez can be multi-classified: An elite DI athlete. A returned missionary. A beach-loving California girl. And, most recently, a new bride.

Hernaez is also a pioneer, although it’s doubtful she thinks of herself as one.

But as Latter-day Saint leader President Thomas S. Monson often taught, a pioneer is “one who goes before — to prepare or open the way for others to follow.”

For the past several years, Hernaez has pioneered and blazed her own unexpected personal path — and she’s invited others to follow.

The Corona, California, native is now days away from commencing her junior soccer campaign at BYU.

She was once the “youngster” on the field after being called into service as a freshman for a 2023 Cougar squad that stunned powerhouse North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Final Four.

But now Hernaez is one of the team’s veterans. She’s expected to be a leader on a squad rostering almost 20 underclassmen.

The young Cougars will likely find confidence in both her steadiness in goal — and by the pioneer-like courage she has demonstrated outside the lines.

“We’re still a young team — and Lynette will have more experience than most,” said BYU soccer coach Jennifer Rockwood. “So we will rely on her … just knowing we have someone in goal that can communicate and organize.”

BYU: A faith-based recruitment

BYU soccer goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez chats after a photoshoot at BYU in Provo on Monday, July 21, 2025. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

There are myriad reasons why today’s college-bound athletes choose one school over another during their recruitment.

For many, it’s the promise of playing time.

Others are hunting for dollars and big NIL payments.

And some student-athletes are likely selecting schools that will advance their professional careers once their playing days are over.

But Hernaez’s decision to become a Cougar is a bit unusual.

“I was taught by missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a few years ago — and they inspired me to come to BYU,” she noted in her online bio.

Yes, Hernaez was eager to compete for a top-end NCAA program. And yes, she was anxious to lock up a starting spot between the pipes. But soccer, Hernaez told the Deseret News, was always a secondary consideration in selecting BYU.

“It was because of faith. I had a desire to keep learning and growing in my faith — and I felt like I could get that at BYU.”

Given her current connection to all things BYU, it’s surprising that just a few years ago, Hernaez had no clue that the institution was a Latter-day Saint-sponsored school headquartered in Provo.

“I honestly thought it was a school in the South,” she said, laughing.

In fact, she wasn’t even sure what a Latter-day Saint was.

Hernaez grew up in soccer-crazy Southern California, competing for and against some of the country’s best clubs.

In an interview shortly after returning from her mission, Hernaez recalled her church conversion:

During her junior year of high school, Hernaez learned that a close friend and teammate did not play on Sundays for religious reasons. Her friend was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“I told her ‘Oh, that’s cool’ — I had never heard about (the church) before,” recalled Hernaez. “But I didn’t really ask too many questions.”

Later she discovered that several other friends were also Latter-day Saints.

“I had a desire to learn so much more about their religion.”

BYU goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez saves a goal during a 2024 game against Santa Clara. | Jaren Wilkey, BYU Athletics

Soon she was joining them at church activities — but admits feeling initially hesitant about meeting with the full-time missionaries.

“Then after a year of going to all these church activities, I realized how awesome these people were … and that I wanted to be taught more.

“So I asked my friends to introduce me to the missionaries.”

Hernaez initially had questions about the Book of Mormon — but also realized that reading its chapters made her happy. Soon she was noticing improvements in interactions with her family — and positive things were happening at school and in soccer.

“I couldn’t deny what I was feeling and how it was making a big difference in my life.”

Hernaez approached her parents about being baptized. They asked her not to rush her decision and delay joining the church until she turned 18.

“On the day I turned 18,” she said, “I woke up and the first thing I did was call my bishop to schedule my baptism.”

Joy ministering to others

Hernaez committed to play at Washington State University during her sophomore year of high school.

She arrived in Pullman in 2020, just two months after her baptism. She was far from family and friends. “I really had to rely on my faith and make new friends in my new Young Single Adults ward and try and get adjusted to the church.”

She loved her new soccer teammates and school. “But it was also kind of overwhelming because I felt like a new church member that still needed guidance.”

While in Pullman, Hernaez continued meeting with the Latter-day Saint missionaries.

And soon she was inviting others to learn about the church. Her roommate began meeting with the missionaries — and Hernaez joined in the discussions.

“I was now being the teacher instead of one being taught.”

She found joy sharing her faith with others. Stepping away from college soccer for a time to serve a full-time mission seemed the next logical step in her faith journey.

“I decided to take a leap of faith and do it,” she said.

Her full-time mission call soon arrived: The Salt Lake City South Mission — just a short drive from BYU.

Saying goodbye to Washington State

BYU goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez (00) talks with her teammates on the sidelines during the second half of a first-round game of the NCAA Tournament against Santa Clara held at South Field on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Hernaez remains grateful for a Washington State coaching staff that wanted the best for one of their highly recruited players — even if it meant saying goodbye.

The Cougar coaches in Pullman immediately supported her decision to serve a mission and promised to hold her scholarship at Washington State.

“Then I got a second prompting from Heavenly Father telling me to try for BYU,” said Hernaez.

She spent a week finding the courage to ask her coaches about transferring to Provo.

“My (Washington State) coach told me that I had proven to them that this was about faith — and that I was on a faith journey,” she said. “They wanted to help me.”

The Washington State coaches reached out to Coach Rockwood. The veteran BYU coach was eager to add another talented keeper to her roster.

“I feel very blessed and lucky for that situation,” said Hernaez.

Hernaez was not on Rockwood’s recruit radar — but the coach knew that the goalkeeper was rostered on a high-quality program at Washington State.

“So although I had never watched her play or train, I just felt after talking to Lynette, and listening to her story, that she was someone that we wanted after she served her mission,” said Rockwood.

Missionary service in ‘the 801′

Hernaez, laughing, said she’s always asked about her reaction being called to missionary service so close to BYU. “I was actually very excited to be called to Utah because it was a perfect place for me to keep growing and keep learning.”

Yes, she added, the Beehive State is home to Latter-day Saint headquarters and millions of church members. And she initially thought everyone in Utah “was perfect” and may not require gospel ministering.

 “But Heavenly Father wanted me to learn that no one is perfect and that everyone needs the Savior.”

Missionary labor in Salt Lake County also equipped Hernaez with tools that are serving her well now as a third-year Cougar goalkeeper.

“My mission taught me to trust in the Lord, trust in his plan and trust in his timing,” she said, adding that she makes daily efforts to build her relationship with Christ — “because he’s already put in that effort for me.”

She was serving in the Salt Lake area in 2021 when BYU made it to the NCAA finals, so she could not avoid the local soccer buzz — and imaging her own fast-approaching days in a Cougar blue uniform.

Returning to DI play — and trusting the process

After completing her mission and enrolling at BYU, Hernaez began the physical and mental adjustment to again become a DI goalkeeper.

It wasn’t easy.

“My body wasn’t used to getting hit by a ball anymore. It wasn’t used to diving on the ground anymore. For six months, I was covered, head-to-toe, with bruises. I was constantly sore.”

But, once again, mission lessons taught her to trust the process — and to trust in herself. Just weeks into her freshman season she got the starting nod against Baylor.

She battled jitters. “But I remember telling myself, ‘I know what I’m doing. I have played this sport for so long. I remember how to play soccer. I am confident I can do this’.”

BYU defeated Baylor 4-0 — and Hernaez has been the Cougars’ starting goalkeeper ever since.

2025: A goalie’s memorable year

After ending the 2024 campaign with a loss to Santa Clara in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Hernaez and her teammates are eager for a deep run in the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments in 2025.

“I feel very confident going into the season,” she said. “ I’m grateful for the girls that we have right now. This team is super unique. It’s very young — but young players bring energy.

“They’re very excited to come out and play. They are such hard workers who are willing to fight for the ball when they lose it — and then ready to go to goal and score.”

2025 has already proven unforgettable for Hernaez. A few weeks ago she married Mark Bryant, a thrower on the BYU track & field team.

The two met in a BYU training room — and as all good athletes/missionaries know, fortune favors the bold.

“I asked one of his teammates if he could help set Mark and I up. Later on, Mark ended up getting my phone number and asking me out.”

A family studies major, Hernaez plans to eventually become a high school teacher and coach soccer.

But she would jump at a chance to follow several of her former BYU teammates and play in the pro ranks following graduation.

BYU goalkeeper Lynette Hernaez and her newlywed husband, Mark Bryant. Mark is a member of the BYU track & field team. | BYU Athletics
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Multiple Sports, Best Route to Success

There has been an ongoing debate for many years regarding the advantages or disadvantages of focusing on one sport during teenage and high school years vs. playing a number of different sports.   Some people have argued that to be successful in a particular sport at the college level requires a person to devote all energy […]

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There has been an ongoing debate for many years regarding the advantages or disadvantages of focusing on one sport during teenage and high school years vs. playing a number of different sports.  

Some people have argued that to be successful in a particular sport at the college level requires a person to devote all energy to that sport throughout high school. While this approach may work for some, an ever-increasing majority of athletes believe playing multiple sports leads to more success – on the athletic front and careers outside sports as well.  

And recent events would substantiate that viewpoint regardless of age. Athletes who competed in high school sports many years ago, as well as current and recent participants, have similar views.  

All four former high school athletes who were inducted into the NFHS National High School Hall of Fame this summer played multiple sports in high school.  

Anna Maria Lopez participated in volleyball, basketball, and track and field at St. Mary’s Academy in Portland, Oregon, before excelling at volleyball at the University of Southern California. Caryn Schoff-Kovatch, the leading scorer in New York high school girls basketball history at St. Johnsville High School, also was all-league in soccer and softball.    

Tim Dwight was a standout football and track athlete at City High School in Iowa City, Iowa, before his stellar college and professional careers. And Prince Amukamara played football, basketball, and track and field at Apollo High School in Glendale, Arizona, before his 11-year NFL career.  

“I think it is truly beneficial to play multiple sports,” Amukamara said. “I was just a natural-born competitor, and I felt like I was good at a lot of things, so I never thought the one-sport mindset was for me. Growing up, I was so thankful for a program out here in Arizona called GRASP (Glendale Recreation After School Program). They really encouraged us to do a lot of sports. I was pretty good at a lot of sports, and I loved competing, so I tried them all.”  

In the recent NFL Draft, 222 of the 253 athletes (88 percent) who were drafted participated in multiple sports in high school. Miami quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 selection, played basketball and football at Columbia High School in Texas. Other first-rounders who excelled at multiple sports included Tyler Warren, tight end from Penn State who played football, basketball and baseball at Atlee High School in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and Jaxson Dart, University of Mississippi quarterback who played football and baseball in Draper, Utah.   

Emeka Egbuka, wide receiver from Ohio State, played football and baseball at Steilacoom High School in Washington and credits baseball as a contributing factor to his athleticism.  

More recently, similar stories of playing multiple sports were shared at the NFHS National Student Leadership Summit held last week in Indianapolis. During one of the general sessions, more than 90 percent of the 211 attendees, all of whom were junior or seniors currently involved in high school sports or other activity programs, indicated they currently were participating in multiple sports.   

Playing multiple sports in high school is truly a winning formula. In addition to enhancing chances for a college scholarship and playing a sport at the highest level, there are innumerable benefits for the 95 percent of high school athletes who will not play at higher levels.  

Multiple-sport participants have a reduced risk of overuse injuries, are able to learn from multiple coaches, participate in cross-training which leads to better athleticism, have better mental development and teamwork skills, and have a reduced chance of burnout in sports. Further, students can enjoy multiple activities concurrently, such as participation on a sports team while also belonging to a performing arts group.  

It is incumbent on coaches, administrators and state associations to pave the way for students to be involved in multiple sports – and other activity programs. Many have done a great job at opening these doors, including Jane Berry-Eddings, longtime speech and debate coach at Sprague High School in Salem, Oregon, who was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame earlier this summer.  

“I’ve had students who were drum majors and students who were on the track and cross country teams, and I’ve had football players and basketball players who were involved in speech and debate,” said Berry-Eddings. “I’ve always encouraged them to look at their schedule and pick what they wanted to do. I wanted students to explore all the wonderful opportunities out there because if they didn’t take a chance and try one, they might miss something they would love. I tried to never put a student in a position where they had to choose between one activity they loved and another activity they loved. We can make it work.”     

NFHS member state associations continue to add more sport offerings, which make it possible for more students to be involved in a sport or activity of their choosing. Most recently, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association added its 21st sport – surfing – to its offerings of state championships.  

According to the most recent data from the NFHS Handbook, the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association leads the way with 23 sports, followed by the California Interscholastic Federation and Vermont Principals’ Association with 22. In addition to Hawaii, state associations in Illinois, Connecticut and Massachusetts also offer 21 sports.  

Whether the goal is to participate in high school sports and activities to have fun with their peers, or to achieve a college athletic scholarship, or to be a lifelong participant, the best route to achieving a successful, healthy balance in life is to participate in multiple sports and other activities. 

Read all NFHS Voice columns here.



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