Wildcat Way Proof v3

THE

WILDCAT WAY

PLAYBOOK

VOLUME 3

THE WILDCAT WAY We honor CHRIST FIRST We expect the BEST from our teammates because we demand the BEST from ourselves We reject complacency and OUTWORK our opponents as we STRIVE for SUCCESS We compete with UNCOMPROMISING CHARACTER and INTEGRITY at all times We demonstrate an unwavering PURSUIT of EXCELLENCE We live THE WILDCAT WAY

TABLE OF CONTENTS FALL JORDAN LAMBERT

FALL 1

JANELLE BRANCH

FALL 2

JOHN FRANKS

FALL 3

MICHAEL WIGGINS

FALL 4

FCA RESOURCES

FALL 5

WINTER PAT STREET WINTER 1 SHAYNE RIMER

WINTER 2

AMY SHILLINGSBURG WINTER 3 MICHAEL WIGGINS WINTER 4 FCA RESOURCES

WINTER 5

SPRING JOSH CARTER

SPRING 1

PETER ALEWINE

SPRING 2

ANTHONY LEHN

SPRING 3

WARD N. KINNE

SPRING 4

ANDREW LEHN

SPRING 5

FALL

We honor CHRIST FIRST.

BY JORDAN LAMBERT Saying that “we honor Christ” first is a bold statement and honestly, it’s a challenge for which we all, most likely, need accountability and encouragement in order to sustain on a daily basis. It does beg the question, what does it mean to honor Christ and how does that apply to my life as an athlete?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.” To honor is to venerate, to hold in high regard, to respect. It can also mean to value and even to worship. So the immediate thought might be, well, of course, we honor Christ first. But I think if we all dig deeper we must admit how easily the call to honor Christ can slip from its premier position to a fading afterthought.

Anything that we put excessive amounts of time into will demand our utmost attention whether that be our families, our schoolwork, our work, or athletics.

These, of course, can all be fulfilling and a blessing to our lives, but if we lean too far into these things we ultimate begin to pour ourselves (and our hearts) into them and not into Christ, resulting in our need to find our identity in these things and to find our confidence in places that can never fill our deepest needs.

How, then, can we honor Christ first as a family of student-athletes on a consistent and daily basis? Well, we can recognize and proclaim that our athletic gifts, talents, failures, and victories are not really about us at all. God has given us amazing, strong and agile bodies with which we can enjoy Him through doing the things we love. We can honor Christ by respecting our bodies in how we eat, train and rest. We can honor Christ in our interactions with our teammates and by accepting the challenging task of looking beyond the needs of ourselves. Jesus sought to meet physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Let us also seek to meet these needs of our teammates and opponents as we train and compete.

FALL 1

As we all strive to live more transparent and authentic lives we will be able to admit when we fail and ask for help and accountability from those on our “team�. This team might be your current athletic team, your coach, your friends, your teachers or anyone who has your best spiritual wellbeing at heart. Be encouraged that the call to honor Christ first is as much a team call as an individual one. The biblical motif to imitate holy people is a call to honor Christ as those have done before us. I pray that your team is one that venerates Christ, imitating His love through self-respect and respect of others.

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jordan Lambert has been a faculty member and cheerleading coach at Westminster for many years. She is also a Westminster parent and is passionate about coaching and impacting the lives of young people.

FALL 1

We expect the BEST from our teammates because we demand the BEST from ourselves.

BY JANELLE BRANCH “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” - Proverbs 27:17 Eliud Kipchoge is arguably the best marathon runner in the world. At the time of this writing, he has won 11 of his 12 international marathons, losing only once to a man who had to set the world record to beat him. He is the reigning Olympic Champion and in 2018 Kipchoge smashed the world record by almost 2 minutes, finishing the 26.2 mile race in 2 hours and 1 minute. Due to sponsorship deals with Nike and others as well as earnings from his marathon wins, he is said to have a net worth of over 10 million dollars.

Despite the money and prestige of his position, Kipchoge chooses to live a simple, disciplined lifestyle with his teammates in a small town in Kenya.

There his team wakes up each day at 6:00 am to train together and then spend the rest of the day sharing meals and household chores before its time for their evening workout, which of course is shared.

The accountability of not only running together but sharing life is the key for each runner to be the best they can be. Although marathon is thought of as an individual sport, Kipchoge credits his team for his success and says: “You cannot train alone and expect to run a fast time. There is a formula: 100% of me is nothing compared to 1% of the whole team. And that’s teamwork. That’s what I value.” ~Eliud Kipchoge In the Bible, we are told to live in the same way. Proverbs 27:17 states that “Iron sharpens Iron, and one man sharpens another”. In order to succeed not just in athletics, but in our Christian walk, we must share our whole lives with our teammates. As we hold them accountable for both their part on the team and their daily walks with Christ, they will hold us accountable. Then, and only then, can we reach our full potential not only as a team, but most importantly as representatives of Jesus Christ.

FALL 2

Questions for Discussion: In what areas of your life do you need your teammates to hold you accountable?

What can you do as an individual to help build a culture of trust where teammates are comfortable with accountability?

What does this team need from your coaching staff to best grow in the area of accountability and teamwork on and off the field?

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Janelle Branch is the head Cross Country coach and distance Track coach at Westminster. Janelle ran cross country and track at Cornerstone University where she was a 7-time NAIA All-American. She qualified for USA Track and Field nationals 5 times, which allowed her to compete against the best track and field athletes in the nation.

FALL 2

We reject complacency and OUTWORK our opponents as we STRIVE FOR SUCCESS.

BY JOHN FRANKS Wouldn’t it be awesome to compete without fear? What if you could play your sport without pressure? Wouldn’t it be liberating to walk on the court or field and not care what the spectators think of you? What if you could be completely free from needing to gain or maintain people’s approval? What if you didn’t have to fear any person? What if you could know that you are loved, cheered for, admired and respected, regardless of how you perform?

Here is the great news: you can be fully secure, fearless, and free! The Bible declares that Christians are united with Christ and a great exchange has taken place. Jesus has taken all of your sin and brokenness upon himself and has clothed you in his perfect righteousness. Because the Spirit of Christ lives in you, you are now a beloved child of God. When your Heavenly Father looks at you, he sees you vitally connected to his beloved Son, and he delights in you.

In Galatians 2:20, the Apostle Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

This verse means that the person of Jesus Christ is living in you by the Holy Spirit. Just how this works is a mystery, but practically speaking, it means that you can now freely strive for success because you are already successful in the eyes of God. In the eyes of God, you are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus and you can stand boldly in the presence of God as a treasured child of the King. He could not love you anymore and he will not love you any less.

It doesn’t matter if you play the perfect game or play your worst game. Your success cannot earn God’s love and your failure cannot expunge God’s love.

No matter what happens, you are still perfectly loved in Jesus. God is cheering for you! Jesus, your advocate, is seated at the right hand of the Father and he is crazy about you. He is praying for you. He is for you! There really is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and nothing can separate you from his love! (Romans 8) Jesus’ record is your record; Jesus’ performance counts for you. You are “in Christ Jesus; ” he is your righteousness and your sanctification and your redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)

FALL 3

Unfair expectations don’t enslave you and your performance does not define you. Rather, who you are in Christ and God’s love for you define who you are and whose you are! God your Father is proud of you. He rejoices over you with gladness, and quiets you with his love, and exults over you with loud singing. (Zeph. 3:17) Negative comments or criticism from parents, coaches, teammates, and fans don’t have power over you. While some only delight in a win, or the performance and skill of the players, God delights in you just because you are his! Bad calls and bad plays do not steal your joy; your worth and identity are secure in the Christ, the eternal Son of God. Child of God, you no longer have to perform for others; so you are now wonderfully free to live, play, and strive with all your heart, knowing that your performance doesn’t earn God’s approval or forfeit God’s approval. Relax! You are cherished and loved by the only one in the universe whose opinion of you really matters! The pressure is off, so have fun!

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rev. John Franks is Associate Pastor of Worship and Community at First Presbyterian Church, Augusta. John has been heavily invested in Westminster for over 20 years, including serving as a coach, guest instructor, volunteer, and frequent chapel speaker. John is a parent of 3 current Westminster students and an ex officio member of the WSA Board of Trustees.

FALL 3

We compete with UNCOMPROMISING CHARACTER and INTEGRITY at all times.

BY MICHAEL WIGGINS For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ. — Galatians 1:10 In 2002, Marquette’s football team was 10–0 heading into the final game of the season, facing the possibility of the program’s first championship. But a few days before the game, the coach received a call: sixteen of his starters had been arrested for underage drinking! Team rules dictated alcohol use as punishable by suspension. The next week the coach watched his team’s hopes evaporate into a 63–0 loss while sixteen regular starters stood on the sidelines.

The coach would likely have found support had he imposed a gentle slap on the wrist for his guilty players. Certainly, many coaches overlook such offenses or wait until after the season to enforce discipline. This coach, however, made a difficult decision and placed more importance on citizenship, integrity, and character than on winning a football game. In a society where the indiscretions of athletes are often overlooked, the coach’s firm commitment is certainly admirable!

Christians are frequently faced with similar decisions. Often doing the right thing is not the easiest, most popular, or most rewarding course of action.

Society suggests it’s okay to tell little lies, fudge the numbers, or break commitments. While these actions may make life easier or lead to short-term benefits, they erode our integrity.

Doing the right thing may not always be applauded, but that doesn’t mean we should avoid it. Why? Because Jesus Christ set the standard for us. When brought before Pilate who could decide his fate, Christ could have denied who He was.Or escaped with His life. Instead, He faced the consequences of death for our sin! His grace, therefore, strengthens us to do what’s right and please God, not people!

FALL 4

Have you found yourself tempted to compromise your character or your integrity? How were you able to overcome the temptation? If you gave in to the temptation, what will you do differently the next time so that you can maintain your integrity?

(This devotional was adapted from a devotional written for FCA by Michael Wiggins.)

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY

FALL 4

We demonstrate an unwavering PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE. FROM FCA RESOURCES “Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” — 1 Corinthians 9:24 From the PeeWee Leagues to the professional ranks, there is one constant truth when it comes to coaching: Practice makes perfect.

No better example of this time-tested principle can be found than with Indianapolis Colts’ head coach Tony Dungy. Known for practicing what he preaches (although saying the soft-spoken leader preaches would be somewhat of a stretch), Dungy has taken his disciplined methods beyond the football field and into his personal life.

“If you just practice one day a week, you’re never going to be as good as if you practice every day,” Dungy says. “And that’s what it’s all about, really. It’s reading and understanding what God wants you to do and then putting it into practice. When you come up a little short and don’t quite get it, don’t give up. Continue to work at it. Say, ‘Okay, Lord, I fell a little bit short in this area.

Give me another opportunity so that I can continue to work on it.’ The more you practice those values, the easier they become, and the better you get at them.”

Dungy has especially been equated with excellence throughout his coaching career. Perhaps the most astute observation of Dungy has come from running back Shaun Alexander, who clearly recognizes the role that one’s purpose in life plays in relation to excellence. “[Dungy] accepts the calling he has been given,” Alexander says. “He is called to glorify God and be a champion. He walks it, talks it, lives it. You see it in his eyes. He will compete and fight until the end, all the while smiling at his opponents.”

FALL 5

Dungy’s definition of excellence, on the other hand, is a bit more straightforward and, true to coaching form, textbook in nature. “Excellence is doing something at the very highest level it can be done using all your capabilities and everything God has given you,” says Dungy. “Sometimes that gets lost. We don’t always think of excellence as a Christian concept, but I think God does desire us to be excellent at what we do.”

Dungy believes that Christ-centered excellence is usually either taught incorrectly (with the emphasis being toward personal benefit as opposed to God’s glory) or isn’t taught at all. His first exposure to the concept came at an FCA camp where he learned about Paul’s athletic reference in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. In particular, Dungy was drawn to verse 24, which says, “Run in such a way that you may win.”

“That’s the first time that it hit me biblically that we aren’t supposed to be satisfied with mediocrity or think that winning is the wrong goal to have,” Dungy recalls. “It says run to win, but understand what the prize is and understand that we’ve got to compete for spiritual things and long-lasting things. There’s nothing wrong with being excellent, and that verse has always stuck out to me.”

Are you pursuing excellence this season?

Are you working hard for God’s glory and not just personal gain?

Are you using all of the gifts He has given you to the best of your ability?

(This devotional was adapted from an FCA resource titled “The Big Win (Excellence - Chapter 1)”.)

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY

FALL 5

WINTER

We honor CHRIST FIRST.

BY PAT STREET “For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” — Matthew 12:34b In 1998, the Ohio State Buckeyes beat Northwestern 36–10, but personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct tainted the win. OSU’s coach at the time, John Cooper, made a point to his number-one ranked team, emphasizing that there is no place in football for trash talking and taunting and that it can be a distraction more than a help. Guard Rob Murphy said, “He got his point across.”

Discussing the numerous flags that were thrown during the game, Cooper demanded that the trash-talk behavior stop. Again Murphy said, “I agree. We need to play more and talk less.”

“You can have a good, tough, hard-nosed football game without all that stuff,” Cooper continued. “I think college football would want to do more to prevent trash talking. It seems like we’re more worried about a guy celebrating in the end zone after a touchdown than with what else is going on during the game.”

Is there a place in sports for trash-talking? I don’t think so, and I agree with coach Cooper that it is a distraction.

Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart” (Matt.

12:34). As Rob Murphy said, “Play more and talk less.” Play with the character that’s reflective of a heart surrendered to the Lord. It is not our accomplishments that influence others, but our character. Trash talking means we must belittle our opponents in order to build ourselves up as greater and better than them. That type of behavior is both unsportsmanlike and unworthy of a follower of Christ.

As we honor Christ first, does trash talking have a place in our game? Is it easy for you to trash talk? If so, why? How do you think the Lord wants you to change such behavior?

(This devotional was adapted from a devotional written for FCA by Pat Street.)

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY

WINTER 1

We expect the BEST from our teammates because we demand the BEST from ourselves.

BY SHAYNE RIMER ‘13 One day in class, I noticed my college roommate, Tim, wasn’t taking notes.

Instead, he was scribbling on a sheet of paper titled “Team” with several lines of tick marks underneath. Tim leaned over to me and whispered, “Have you ever noticed Dr. K uses the word team too much? He’s said it thirty-seven times in the past hour alone.”

Tim was right; people have used the word “team” in almost every situation I’ve faced after high school. My first supervisor’s official title was Senior Team Leader. Almost every one of Dr. K’s classes ended with the phrase “alright team, that’s enough for today”. In preparation for marriage, several resources I came across suggested my wife and I are a two-person team. It seems people have a natural longing to be a part of a group working towards a common goal.

If you’re reading this, you’re in a very coveted position: you are for the moment a member of a real sports team with real teammates, real coaches, and real victories. You have what so many others in this life point back to. You currently have what you yourself will likely point back to in a few years once your official sports career comes to an end. Do you have anything significant to point back to? Has being a member of the team you’re on now given you any tools to use when you join the myriad of other teams in life? The truth is, you probably can’t answer that question right now. I didn’t realize my time at Westminster had equipped me beyond academics until I later faced situations that required the tools I was unknowingly equipped with.

Lessons from my coaches and teammates flooded to the front of my mind at just the right moment. Scripture I had rushed to memorize five minutes before the quiz and thought I had long forgotten appeared just when I needed it. Biblical knowledge imparted from chapel and Bible class helped me defend against aggressive false teaching that I incorrectly believed would never affect me. The same will likely be true for you, but you also have the opportunity to demand a better story if you wish. If you realize now that the way you utilize your time on this team and in this school will provide specific tools to be used in the future, you can take charge of what tools you’re being equipped with. You can take charge of what tools your teammates are being equipped with. You can demand the best from and for yourself and your teammates.

WINTER 2

Let me suggest four tools for you to consider adding to your team’s toolbox that I believe will be the most valuable to you after high school: discipline, honesty, negotiation skills, and rapid forgiveness.

I suggest these four tools because I believe they are essential to being a strong member of any team in the workplace and at home. If you decide to lead the incorporation of these or other tools into yourself and your teammates, you are faced with answering the question of how to do so. To find this answer I will point you to the community of believers who made up the early church in Acts 2: 41-47 and let you decide together how to best follow their example of sharpening each other. I will, however, leave one suggestion here: equipping yourself and your teammates require breaking bread together away from work, sports, and school; sacrifice your free time to invest in each other and expect the same from your team.

[Act 2:41-47 ESV] So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shayne Rimer is a 2013 Westminster graduate. While at Westminster, Shayne played baseball. Following graduation, he attended Clemson University, where he earned an engineering degree in 2017.

WINTER 2

We reject complacency and OUTWORK our opponents as we STRIVE FOR SUCCESS.

BY AMY SHILLINGSBURG “Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” – Sam Ewing.

“Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement” - Matt Biondi “Here’s how I am going to beat you: I am going to outwork you. That is all there is to it.” Pat Summit “If you can’t outplay your opponents, outwork them.” – Ben Hogan And my favorite, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

Anyone who competes on any level knows the truth in these words. The question is HOW do you outwork your opponents?

There are two times we have the opportunity to outwork our opponents: practice and competition.

We will first consider practice: If everyone knows that outworking your opponent is the key to success, then isn’t everyone just going to commit to more practices and longer practices and harder workouts year-round? How do we know what our opponent is doing and if we have worked harder?

The truth may just be that coaches are scheduling the same amount of work time and challenging athletes to the same level. Governing sports bodies attempt to regulate this problem with rules and limitations.

I swam competitively on a USA club team in Mississippi in the late 80’s. We did not have an indoor pool and only swam four months out of the year.

We competed against clubs that swam all year-round, especially at the state meet. Some of us beat some of them. How? Simple, once we started swimming, we did two a days and dry land every day and competed every weekend. Early in the season, we swam every event so that meets were really just more training. How did the year-round teams who were getting beat respond? They started doing two-a days for part of the year. Yet we still won races. How?

WINTER 3

I think it is not what is provided for the athlete (excellent equipment, excellent coaching or opportunity to practice) that makes the difference. These are all important of course. However, I think it is the attitude that the athlete has about every opportunity that he/she is presented with that ultimately counts.

You may assume at this point that I am going to ask you to give more than you are already giving. To commit more to every practice opportunity. To dig deep and pull from within yourself, perseverance and strength, and commit that every minute of every day. NO! That is how you stress yourself out and burn out. I will ask you instead to find Joy in every opportunity.

James 1:2-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB) “ Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various ]trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Consider it all joy! Every difficult practice, every sore muscle, every packed scheduled, every defeat, all of it. We can work harder and longer when we can approach our work joyfully.

Now, during competition itself: The word opponent occurs many times in scripture. It would be folly to presume that the person in the next lane or on the other side of the field or court is the type of opponent that the scripture is referring to. Most often, when the Bible talks about opponents, it is not referring to competition that we encounter during our games and extracurricular activities. It is talking about those who doubt the Word of God and who seek to discredit Him through us. Please do not confuse the two, but remember that the way we face our “opponents”/competition can glorify our heavenly father. More strength and glory comes from love and Joy than from hate and anger. So love your “opponents”! Consider it all joy when you go up against them. Let them see the joy you have in your heart for your sport, for them and most of all for Christ. Let your performance in that moment be joy driven. Compete with confidence and peace that only God can provide, not with fear and anxiety from the enemy, and see the good that comes from it all.

Finally, let us strive to use our middle school and high school athletic experiences to put this verse into practice. To test the truth of it so that we know the truth of it fully. We can stand on that truth and grow spiritually.

WINTER 3

1 Timothy 4:7-9 New International Version (NIV) “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.”

This may sound very strange coming from a coach but for each of you I pray that instead of trying harder, you submit deeper to God’s love. Your highest potential will be reached through submission and not from your efforts alone.

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Amy Shillingsburg is the head coach for the Swimming teams at Westminster. She is nationally certified as a swim coach and has been teaching and coaching for many years. She loves coaching swimming, but also loves pouring into the lives of young men and women.

WINTER 3

We compete with UNCOMPROMISING CHARACTER and INTEGRITY at all times.

BY MICHAEL WIGGINS Don’t gloat when your enemy falls, and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, or the Lord will see, be displeased, and turn His wrath away from him.

Proverbs 24:17-18 In 2001, golfer Annika Sorenstam dominated the women’s professional tour, winning eight tournaments and topping two million dollars in earnings. After that phenomenal year, Annika’s chief rival, Karrie Webb, commented that she’d eat her hat if Annika won eight tournaments in the coming year. The following season, Annika won eleven tournaments and earned nearly three million dollars in prize money.

Sometimes the competition is too strong. This simple truth is often difficult for highly competitive coaches and athletes to understand. The fact remains, though, we can’t win them all. John Wooden didn’t win every basketball game that he coached. Jack Nicklaus didn’t win every golf tournament that he entered. Cy Young didn’t win every baseball game that he pitched. Mature coaches and athletes take it a step further; they learn to appreciate the competition’s performance. No athlete enjoys losing or is content with losing.

When the inevitable loss occurs, however, the true sportsman or woman appreciates the performance of the victor and congratulates the opponent on a job well done.

We all know that even Christians can sometimes struggle to celebrate the victories of others. Perhaps someone else got the job or a cross-town rival won the tournament. Whatever the situation, we have a tendency to focus more on our loss than on the other person’s gain. But the mature Christian recognizes God’s will in every aspect of life, knowing that His perfect will may involve losses or apparent setbacks. After all, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was God’s plan!

WINTER 4

How we respond to these situations reveals what is in our hearts. While the world expects bitterness and resentment in defeat, Christians can stand out by congratulating the victor, knowing that Christ has already won the ultimate victory for us. Not only will this simple act gain the respect of others, it will also make us more gracious on those occasions when we’re the victors.

So how about you? Are you able to congratulate the winner when you are on the losing end of the game? How does this good sportsmanship demonstrate character that honors the Lord?

(This devotional was adapted from a devotional written for FCA by Michael Wiggins.)

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY

WINTER 4

We demonstrate an unwavering PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE. FROM FCA RESOURCES One of the major goals of any athlete is to improve performance and to be excellent in every phase of the game. Pursuing excellence is a great goal if it is done with the right standard and motivation. If the standard is too low, we become arrogant; if it’s too high, we can become discouraged. If excellence is purely focused on personal goals at the expense of team goals, team unity will suffer. Excellence is more than just winning a game; it is giving your best with the right motivation in all circumstances.

In Colossians 3:23-24, Paul gives a picture of true excellence: “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord, and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Les Steckel served as the president and CEO of FCA for years after his long NFL coaching career. Throughout his 20 years as an NFL coach, he made stops in San Francisco, Minnesota, New England, Denver, Tennessee (via Houston), Tampa Bay and Buffalo. One place he never coached was in Oakland, but something about that organization will always stick with him.

The Raiders (who spent 1982 through 1994 in Los Angeles) once bragged that they had more victories than any other professional football franchise. The team hung up huge banners all over its stadium touting that fact with catch phrases such as “Commitment to Excellence,” “Pride and Poise” and “Just Win, Baby.” But eventually, those signs became nothing more than faded reminders of a glorious but nonetheless diluted past.

“If you’re going to be excellent, you always have to find ways to get better, and they never changed,” Steckel explains. “They kept the same management.

They kept the same assistant coaches, and they would always go hire a head coach who would come in and work with those assistant coaches who had been there 15 and 20 years. Everybody’s in favor of progress. It’s the changes they don’t like. Excellence is something that people want, but it’s hard to capture.”

WINTER 5

Before the pursuit of excellence can begin, however, a true understanding of its multilayered meaning must first take place — although Steckel’s definition is pretty cut-and-dried. “Excellence is doing the very best with the gifts that God gave you,” Steckel says. “Unfortunately, I don’t think a lot of people wake up every day and say, ‘How can I do my best today?’ Why is the traffic always the fullest between 4 and 5:30? Because everybody left the office early, and they all want to get home. They’re not saying, ‘Hey, I can put a little more into my job. I want to do the best I can today.’ But if you really want to have excellence in your life, you first have to look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, Am I really doing the best I can? Am I utilizing the talents that God gave me? I think that question is very simple. People know the answer. The problem is that they never ask themselves the question.”

Are you really doing the best you can with the gifts God has given you?

God is clearly interested in every aspect of your life. How would your habits change if whatever you did, you did it enthusiastically for the Lord?

Are you striving to continually get better, both personally and as a team?

What does a team competing with excellence look like?

(This devotional was adapted from an FCA Bible Study written by Donna Noonan and from an FCA Resource titled “The Passionate Pursuit (Excellence - Chapter 3)”.)

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY

WINTER 5

SPRING

We honor CHRIST FIRST.

BY JOSH CARTER “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” -Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV) Touchdown celebrations have reached a whole new level these days.

High-fives from your teammates just don’t cut it anymore. After making a touchdown catch against the Giants in week 15 of the 2003 season, New Orleans Saints’ wide receiver Joe Horn pulled out his cell phone from the goalpost and made a call from the end zone. One NFL coach responded, “This is a team game. There was a quarterback that threw the ball, and there was an offensive line that protected for him. I just think that when you draw attention to yourself, it’s not necessary.”

A friend of mine had “TLINAU” put on his license plates. One day my curiosity got the better of me, so I asked him what the letters meant. “This life is not about us,” he replied. I was intrigued by the message as I thought about how often I selfishly live my life as if the world does revolve around me. Oh, of course, I would never say that it does, but don’t we often do things in a way that says “It’s all about me”?

In the sports world, it’s important to remember that purposely drawing attention to yourself minimizes the efforts of the rest of the team. It’s selfish and arrogant, and such showboating drives a stake between you and your teammates. Jesus Christ came to Earth to carry out the will of God for the benefit of others and to give up His life so that others could live. He was all about serving other people through love. He did nothing out of selfish ambition. May we follow His example and remember that this life is not about us but about serving God and serving others.

So take some time to think...What is something you have done to draw attention to yourself in competition? Why should you honor your team above yourself and Jesus Christ above everything? What can you do today to take the focus off yourself?

(This devotional was adapted from a devotional written for FCA by Josh Carter.)

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY SPRING 1

We expect the BEST from our teammates because we demand the BEST from ourselves.

BY PETER ALEWINE I’ve been fortunate to play or coach baseball at a variety level for almost 30 years. Over that time frame, I’ve adopted a view of the game that some may find strange, but, when considered, makes a lot of sense: Baseball is an individual’s game disguised as a team sport.

In football, if a team has a dominant right side of the offensive line and the offense needs one yard, a good play caller will go that way. And he can call that play as often as he wants. If the team struggles passing, they can run the ball the entire game. On defense, there are 11 players working to make a tackle. If the ball carrier gets through the line, the linebackers and then the safety is there to assist.

A great basketball player can handle the ball and shoot every possession. A player who may not be as gifted offensively doesn’t have to shoot at all if they choose. Defensively, if a defender is beaten by his man, help defense can slide over to pick up the player with the ball.

In baseball, every player bats. We can’t have our best hitter at the plate every inning or put him in when we need a big hit. It’s up to whoever’s turn it is in the order to produce. On defense, the ball can go to any of the nine defenders. In that moment, they must make a play – there is no help defense.

Just you and the ball. If they don’t, the batter is on base and it’s on to the next hitter. Coaches can’t hide players. If they’re in the lineup, they have to produce for the team to be successful.

Because baseball can leave you on an island (it can be lonely in the batter’s box, on the mound or in the field when things aren’t going well!), it’s imperative that our players be confident in their abilities and knowledge of their responsibilities when their time comes.

That confidence stems from quality practice, intentional repetition and a belief that they are properly prepared to perform.

When that player is confident in his ability and work ethic it also gives him a platform to stand on when other players need to be encouraged or motivated to work harder.

SPRING 2

Vocal leaders are necessary for every team.

However, would that message be well accepted coming from someone who practiced lazily or wasn’t putting in the work necessary to be their best?

Probably not!

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (English Standard Version, Matthew 5:16).

Coming on the heels of the Beatitudes, Jesus commands us as believers to have our light stand out in a dark world. Not only does it offer those around us a mirroring of Jesus’ love towards us, but also glorifies God – which is our ultimate calling!

As Westminster Wildcat athletes, let the light of your best efforts shine bright. Our best glorifies God and provides a Christ-like example to everyone in our path.

Even after the scoreboards are turned off and we’ve put on the Wildcat jersey for the final time, we’re called to demand excellence from ourselves.

In the workplace, in our community, as fathers/mothers, and as followers of Christ, pray for the discipline and the consistency to bring your God-given gifts to the table daily. Your light will shine, it will keep you focused on glorifying God and it will point others to Him as well.

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY ABOUT THE AUTHOR Peter Alewine is a Varsity Baseball coach at Westminster. Along with running a successful local business, Coach Alewine has been a part of the baseball program at Westminster for many years as a head coach and as an assistant.

SPRING 2

We reject complacency and OUTWORK our opponents as we STRIVE FOR SUCCESS.

BY ANTHONY LEHN ‘07 When the NFL season starts every year, sports analyst love debating about who is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). This debate has becoming increasingly irrelevant as Tom Brady won his sixth Super Bowl in 2019 at the age of 41. But other sports with these seemingly endless debates include basketball with Lebron verses Jordan, golf with Tiger verses Nicklaus, and tennis with Federer verses Nadal. Despite playing sports that require vastly different skills, strategies, and techniques, all of these top athletes claim that hard work was the key to their success. Tom Brady summarized his attitude well when he said “I just love working hard. I love being part of a team; I love working toward a common goal”.

It is easy to be a team of individuals but it is hard for a group of individuals to come together as a team. The best way for a group of individuals to coalesce as a team is to overcome adversity together. During the course of a season, adversity is found most commonly in losses, injuries, and physical conditioning. Conditioning forces individuals to overcome these adversities by working hard together. Teams are not formed by hoisting the championship trophy but are formed during the twelfth 400-meter run at 6 a.m., the sixth set of back squats in 100-degree heat, or when running the same play for the eighth time in a row to ensure it is done perfectly.

Two of my favorite memories from high school are when my soccer team won the state championship my sophomore (’04) and senior years (’06). There was no better feeling than sharing that experience with my best friends and teammates. But it was not just the satisfaction of winning that makes those memories special. It was realizing that our team’s success was the result of all of our hard work. For our summer conditioning my sophomore year, the foundation of conditioning occurred on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. At the start of the summer we were instructed to run six 400-meter runs each of these days and by the end we were running twelve 400-meter runs. These runs were debilitating in the June and July Augusta heat and humidity. Often times I would have to go inside for hours after running because of concerns for heat exhaustion. But it was that conditioning that helped my team outwork our competitors during the second half of the state championship soccer games because we knew we had already outworked our competitors on the practice field.

SPRING 3

Success is not only pursued on the athletic field but in academics, fine arts, marriage, career, and spiritual life. The secret to success for each of these fields is the same. It is the by-product of rejecting complacency and overcoming the adversities we face every day. Paul describes his approach towards his walk with Christ in Philippians 3:12-14 when he says, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul was not indifferent about his walk with Christ nor did he think he had arrived spiritually. Instead, Paul was intentional in his relationship with Christ and sought the ultimate success found in no other area of life, the crown of life. In addition Paul’s pursuit led thousands of people to Christ by helping establish the Church following Christ’s resurrection.

So bring success to your team or sport this season by rejecting complacency and outworking your competitors each and every day. The satisfaction of succeeding always outweighs the temporary discomfort of hard work. And remember that no success compares to what Christ offers us for believing and pursuing him.

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR While at Westminster, Anthony Lehn was an All Region baseball, basketball, and soccer player. He also earned All State honors in soccer.

Anthony was named Westminster’s Male Athlete of the Year for three consecutive years (2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07). Anthony was inducted into the Westminster Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.

Following his graduation from Westminster in 2007, Anthony graduated from Bob Jones University as a pre-med major in 2011 and then from the Medical College of Georgia in 2015 with a medical doctorate.

SPRING 3

We compete with UNCOMPROMISING CHARACTER and INTEGRITY at all times.

BY WARD N. KINNE So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. — Galatians 6:9 Our integrity is revealed when we’re faced with a decision to do what we know is right, even if it conflicts with what we want. We are called to act according to God’s will instead of our own.

It was a beautiful spring day in 1980 in northwestern New York State, a great day for a lacrosse game. The Watertown Cyclones, a powerhouse team, was visiting their cross-town rivals, the General Brown Lions. Though underdogs, the Lions were a gritty blue-collar team, and they had home field advantage.

If all their starters played at 100 percent, they had a chance to upset the Cyclones. It was exciting!

Sadly, the Lions’ hopes crashed before the game even started. Three of their starters were caught smoking pot in the parking lot before the game. The coach was near tears with anger and hurt, yet he did not hesitate. No matter how much he wanted to beat the Cyclones, he needed to do the right thing and immediately kicked them off the team. The players begged their coach to let them play, but he was a man of integrity, and he stood his ground.

This coach’s integrity cost him in the short term. The Lions were soundly defeated and people questioned his “harsh” discipline. He took a lot of heat, but in the long run he helped shape one of those punk kids into a responsible Christian man—me. I never got that varsity letter twenty-five years ago, but I gained something much more valuable—a lesson in integrity.

How about you? Have you ever had to pay a price for your integrity? What is a daily discipline you can follow to remain firm in your faith? Can you think of three examples of how your integrity has been tested in the athletic arena, and how you responded, good or bad?

(This devotional was adapted from a devotional written for FCA by Ward N. Kinne.)

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY SPRING 4

We demonstrate an unwavering PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE.

BY ANDREW LEHN ‘01 Excellence?

Have you ever accomplished something that you wanted everyone to know about?

What about the opposite?

When was the last time you did something you wish no one knew about?

When I think about excellence I think about a master artist who signs their name at the bottom of the picture.

After completing his work; the signature tells the world; I did this. But it is the quality of the work that defines how the signature is viewed.

I love thinking about God as an artist. When he created the world, he created a masterpiece.

Psalm 19:1 says the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

I remember in Elementary school doing something called Invent America.

My dad and I fashioned an umbrella that attached to the front of a bike so it could be powered by the wind.

I took it to school thinking it was pretty good but as soon as I compared my invention to those of my classmates I quickly tried to hide it and tried to make sure no one knew it was mine! The invention did not reflect the excellence I hoped for and I was ashamed.

Fortunately, God is not ashamed to say this glorious world is His! Isaiah 40:25-26 says that God cannot be compared to anything else because he is the one who created this great place.

His creation reflects His glory and greatness.

SPRING 5

What is God’s greatest creation?

Humanity; Genesis 1:27 says mankind was created in God’s very image. We are a reflection of the great Creator. He has placed his stamp on us and Psalm 8 says he has crowned us with glory and honor.

We are God’s excellent creation The Almighty God made you and me.

And he made us for a great purpose.

Ephesians 2:10 says we are God’s workmanship; created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared for us beforehand.

This is one of my favorite verses. It says I have a purpose. That purpose is prepared for me. How I accomplish this task reflects back on God. Why? Because we are his special creation.

Our lives reflect our God. Those who have received Christ as Lord have God’s Spirit inside them. This means our very lives are a reflection of God. When you call yourself a Christian you tell the world that God’s signature is on your life.

Big responsibility!

What if I fail? What if my life is a poor reflection of the amazing God? Don’t fear! Titus 3 says God relates to us through kindness and love and he is generously pouring his mercy on us through Christ.

So what should I do?

Colossians 3 has two great verses speaking to our responsibility as God’s special creation: In verse 16; God says that whatever you do; do it in the name of the Lord Jesus And in verse 23; whatever you to do; do it with all your heart How can you be excellent?

Live your life with Christ in mind and give your best in all you do.

It’s very easy to lose sight of this.

In college I played basketball and wanted to be an excellent player.

Unfortunately, I was consumed with the image of being a good basketball player and became self conscious on the court and never reached my potential.

SPRING 5

We can seek excellence for many reasons; personal pride, championships, scholarships, money, popularity.

While these motivations can sometimes produce excellent work they will eventually pass or leave us short of what God can accomplish through us.

That’s why Colossians 3 ends with the proper motivation.

It says that at the end you will receive a reward from the Lord you serve.

Why be excellent?

To put God’s glory and excellency on display and in doing so God gifts us with his eternal rewards. This ultimate prize should motivate us wherever we are in life.

You are God’s masterpiece; how will you show that today?

WE LIVE THE WILDCAT WAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andrew Lehn ‘01 was a three-sport letterman at Westminster and had offers to play in college. He was named to the All-State soccer team in 2000 and was the MVP on Westminster‘s first state championship team. He was also designated as an All-Region baseball player on two occasions. Andrew was named Westminster’s Male Athlete of the Year ini 1999-2000. In 2011, he was inducted into the Westminster Athletics Hall of Fame.

Andrew graduated with a pre-med degree from Bob Jones University and then earned his Medical Doctorate from the Medical College of Georgia.

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