Jayden Shoemaker '19 Recruiting Profile

When I was about in Kindergarten, my older sister was about a Sophomore in high school. That entailed me going to all of her high school activities. Being a little kid, I wasn't much of a sit around and watch kind of child, so my best friend and I would steal a volleyball and go outside the gym and play our own volleyball game. 

    In junior high, we started actual organized volleyball. Our coach was beyond amazing. We were so lucky to have someone as smart and talented with everything she did like her. She should've definitely been coaching something more important than junior high girls. Although, to have her there everyday and treat us like we were already next level players, was so helpful. She has molded me to the player I am today. I would be know where near where I am now without my coach who pushed me through the toughest situations as a 7th grader. My high school coach picked right up where my junior high coach left off. She has given me so much instruction and advice on how to become the best level player I can be. I hope some day I can be as devoted to working my butt off as she is.

    Through all of these wonderful experiences my coaches and "trainers" have put me through, I have received a large amount of mental toughness from it all. I don't believe in giving up and don't ever want to do it either. If something isn't comfortable with me and is new, I will spend hours in the gym perfecting it until it's no longer uncomfortable. I love working over time, and will do it as long as my grades and health will let me. 

    I love volleyball because of how intense it is. It's not like other sports where you can just lay off a play and everything will still be okay. Every single point is defied by complete concentration and never taking a play off. I love how you can manipulate the other team mentally and give yourself the momentum at any time. Volleyball is seen as easy from the outside because of how easy it looks, but really it's difficult because of how it tries to screw with you mentally. If you are not mentally strong, you cannot be successful in this sport. I constantly give myself confidence and believe I can break through any challenges that get set in my path, that's why I want to move up to the next level of this sport.