Southern Nazarene University welcomed 381 freshmen this fall, and more than half of them are athletes. Collegiate athletics offer opportunities to develop leadership, enhance teamwork, and pursue excellence in one’s sport. For freshmen Braxton Decker and Zane Allen, however, participation in college athletics also presents its own set of challenges.
It takes determination for high school athletes to reach the college level. Decker, a player on the SNU soccer team, carried that drive for years. “I knew wanted to play at the next level ever since I started competitive soccer as a kid,” he said. Allen, who competes in both football and track, described joining both teams at the college level as a dream come true. “It has always been a dream of mine to play at a collegiate level,” he stated. Although reaching their goals was gratifying, both freshmen quickly discovered that college athletics are far more demanding than high school.
The life of a college athlete requires both physical and mental stamina. When asked about the differences between high school and college soccer, Decker simply replied, “The workload.” He explained, “In high school, we would work out and train, but college is another level due to how physically demanding it really is, especially when my competition is 3-5 years older than me.”
Transitioning to college athletics also presents challenges on and off the field. For Allen, adjusting to dorm life while learning new techniques on the field has been a major change. “The biggest adjustment on the field is learning how to adapt to a different play style,” he expressed. Decker added, “I’ve had to adjust to the faster pace of play and the physicality of the game.”
Despite these challenges, both athletes remain focused on their goals and roles for their upcoming seasons. “My individual goals for my freshman season are to remain healthy and score a good amount of goals,” Decker voiced. Understanding his role on the team is equally important. Allen explained: “My focus is to make others around me better and to learn from them as well.” Decker shares this mindset, hoping to make an impact on the game through scoring or assists.
Even early in their freshman year, both athletes offered advice to other high school students aspiring to play college sports. “Stay patient during the recruiting process,” Decker said. “It’s easy to get anxious, so don’t rush it and find the college that best suits you.” Allen emphasized the importance of “being coachable and a team player.”
For Allen and Decker, the transition from high school to college athletics has been challenging but encouraging. Both athletes are determined to grow in their sports, overcome obstacles, and leave a lasting impact. Southern Nazarene University looks forward to seeing all freshmen athletes thrive this year.
Photos by: Maddy Hada