When the star athletes of Weston High School take to the field, court, or slopes, they are also hoping to achieve the kind of greatness that their athletic heroes have achieved. Whether they look up to a quarterback completing impossible throws or a skier carving perfect turns, these athletes bring the insights they’ve gained from watching their heroes play their sports into every practice, tournament, or game. 

   For WHS football players, one might expect their local team, the Patriots, to be a great resource for finding heroes to emulate, but for freshman quarterback Chase Flint, his hero plays for the Houston Texans.

   “I like C.J. Stroud. I love football and I’m a quarterback too, and I just watched some of his film,” Flint said. “He’s just an amazing player all around, and he really impresses me.”

    Learning how to perform under pressure is a key skill needed for success in a sport. While Stroud’s overall skills initially drew Flint’s attention, it’s how he responds to challenges specific to the quarterback role that turned him into an icon for Flint. Stroud’s skill even when he was only a high school quarterback also helped Flint feel a direct connection.

   “His ability to make throws under pressure or off balance with such accuracy is insane,” said Flint. “He was doing a cone drill, ran 360 around a cone, jumped off one foot, and threw a laser to a guy about 30 yards out.”

   Watching volleyball player Jordan Larson compete on the women’s Olympic volleyball team left a very strong impression on senior volleyball player Neveah Yancey, who also notes how her role model handles challenges.

   “Even in extremely high pressure situations, she stays calm and focused, which encourages me to do the same during important matches,” said Yancey.

   Preparation is another important area where student athletes look to their idols for direction. Warm-ups and routines often become part of how they get ready to compete.

   “[Stroud] has a lot of weird warm ups. Football uses your entire body. He warms up with things like basketballs,” Flint said. “I also like to do more random movements to improve flexibility and power and get warm.”

   Another aspect of being a pro athlete that some high school players try to copy is the preparation they undertake to keep their bodies ready for peak performance. Baseball star Shohei Ohtani’s approach to game-day preparation in particular has influenced one WHS athlete.

  “He emphasizes preparation before every game, and that has made me more intentional about what I eat and how I take care of my body before games,” said senior Ryuji Nawa.

   Skiers rely heavily on pre-race routines as well. Watching Mikaela Shiffrin has reinforced the importance of fundamentals into one freshman’s mind.

   “She focuses on the smallest details because little things can make a big difference,” said freshman Eiffel Lu. “Watching her taught me never to skip the basics.”  

   Beyond physical skills, many Weston athletes also say their idols influence how they carry themselves. The habits they observe – whether it is respect, resilience, or leadership – often translate to parts of their games.

   “[Ohtani] bows to the opponent’s coach, the umpire, and the players,” Nawa said. “He has respect for everyone involved in the game, and I think that is something that many people lack.” 

   Many student-athletes learn from the mental steadiness of their favorite idols for their sport.  

   “Instead of letting one error affect my performance, I try to reset quickly and focus on the next play,” said Yancey. 

   Perseverance is another quality that these superstar athletes demonstrate to those who hope to emulate them.

   “[Shiffron] never gives up. She works very hard, even when injured, and always comes back stronger,” Lu said. 

   These consistent habits show how professional athletes not only influence how Weston students play, but how they behave on the field, court, or slopes. 

   While each Weston athlete looks up to a different professional, the lessons kept in their minds when going into competition share a common theme of their idols helping them perform with more purpose. 

   “[Stroud] worked hard and reached his goal. So I try to work hard too,” Flint said. 

    For others, it can be as simple as a belief system they have tried to adopt.

   “One lesson I carry with me is to keep going no matter what other people say,” Nawa said. “[Ohtani] really showed me that being able to believe in yourself is how you succeed.”

   However, baseball is not the only sport where confidence is of the utmost importance. 

   “One lesson from my idol that I keep with me every time I play is to stay mentally strong and confident, no matter the situation,” said Yancey.