Life after the final buzzer
FRESNO, Calif – The NFL draft is officially behind us, in which over 250 student athletes heard their name called to showcase their talents at the next level.
But what happens to the other high caliber athletes who compete in Swimming, Track & Field, Softball and Men’s Volleyball? There are close to no professional leagues for these sports and the potential of these athletes diminishes.
But some athletes don’t think about it that way, and like to have a glass half full mentality.
One of those athletes is a hurdler on the Track & Field team for Stanislaus State. Prior to Stanislaus State, Justice McDermott ran track at Fresno City College and was a standout.
He is currently on the team for Stanislaus State, but with no scholarship.
Many would think he has to worry about getting a scholarship so he can keep competing, all while thinking about a professional career after that.
But he is actually completely unfazed. He thinks looking too far into the future will cause him to lose focus on why he competes, for the love of the game.
“Knowing that there’s no pro leagues afterwards, it really doesn’t faze me, cause I’m only focused on competing now and winning now and getting better now,” McDermott said.
Professional leagues are slowly making their way to the light. Recently we have seen a professional volleyball league come to surface, with college athletes and international players getting drafted as of recently.
In the volleyball world, the female game has dominated. But recently, the men’s game is stepping into the spotlight.
With collegiate teams like Long Beach and UCLA having All-American players on their teams and bringing the energy to games, fans are excited to watch the male game takeoff.
But still, no professional league.
Adam Cumpton, a middle blocker for the Fresno State Men’s Volleyball Team is a thrill-seeker and is always seeking the higher competition.
“I know that if I continue to play, I can hold myself to a high standard and play higher levels of competition,” Cumpton said.
He has been coaching high school volleyball players for two years now at Clovis East, and as he continues his playing career, he doesn’t fear the end.
More than anything, he thinks it’s important to pay it forward to this new generation of athletes so they can have it better than he did.
“At the end of the day, it’s just a new generation and just play for the kids man,” Cumpton confidently said.
He’s enjoying his playing career while it lasts, but he says he is prepared for the end whenever that day comes and will know he has done everything to give back to the future.
This can serve as an important lesson for all of us, do things with passion while also pushing the next generation forward.