Walking under a ladder, broken mirrors, and unlucky numbers are common superstitions people tend to avoid. In sports, superstitions take a different form.
For sophomore volleyball player Claire Monjarez, putting her equipment on the left side of her body first, and not eating before a game is what brings her confidence.
“I put my left knee pads, shoes, and sleeves on then, the right side,” Monjarez said. “During tournament time I’ll only eat after the first game, if I eat before I’ll do bad.”
This hasn’t always been the case for Monjarez; these superstitions started just last year during her past season. No one introduced these routines to her. She just decided to give it a shot one day, and it worked out.
“I did it randomly one day and was like oh why did I play so good? And I’ve done it since,” Monjarez said. “If I don’t do it, I’ll do bad.”
Sophomore Owen Arko has his own superstition when it comes to serving in tennis.
“I bounce the ball before every serve, hopefully my first serve goes in due to that, and I spin the racket once I hit my serve,” Arko said.
Arko said this started around four years ago when he watched other players do this.
Senior Ileina Fern currently plays on the varsity team for girls basketball. Fern has multiple game day rituals to bring her comfort, ranging from hair styles to music to jewelry.
“I have the same 3 hairstyles,” Fern said. “I have to have my hair cute or done otherwise I feel like I won’t play good. I also listen to rap, hype music all day up until my game.”
These hairstyles include a slick back into a ponytail, braids, and a braid bun. Fern has specific jewelry she wears before the game, but that she takes off 7 minutes before the game starts.
“I have 3 bracelets: a Pura Vida, what would Jesus do, and another I scan and it shows up on my phone bible verses, and it’s multiple different bible verses everyday,” Fern said.
Sophomore Tessa Zavala plays softball and cheer, for Zavala it’s her hype music and her faith that gets her game ready.
“Before every single game or cheer competition, I listen to ‘First Day Out’ by Tee Grizzly to get me in the mood,” Zavala said.
Before stepping into the box and getting ready to bat, Zavala has her own routine.
“I look at my bat and it’s the same spot every time because there’s a little flag on my bat, I look at it, take a breath, tap my helmet and step in the box,” Zavala said.
