Superstitions shape athletes’ game day

Jack Mendelsohn | The Chronicle

From listening to a specific music artist to following a strict pre-game meal, Mason High School (MHS) athletes will do anything to help them prepare for a victory.

The smallest routines can play the biggest part in an athlete’s performances. One thing many athletes have in common is their superstitions. These superstitions are often unique to each athlete and sometimes lack logical reasoning as to why athletes do them. Senior golfer Jacob Anderson has a superstitious routine to prepare himself for his golf matches that helps him get in the right state of mind. 

“I always watch Tiger Woods highlights before my matches,” Anderson said. “I feel like I have to do it at this point, it keeps me focused.” 

Watching Tiger Woods highlights is more than just a routine for Anderson, it is something he feels dependent on. Anderson’s superstition began before his first match of his junior season. Competing in his first golf tournament, Anderson struggled to find a way to stay composed. Searching for motivation and a way to calm his nerves, he turned to watching highlights before the match.

“I knew I needed to find something to calm me down,” Anderson said. “It just happened to be watching [Tiger Woods] highlights.”   

For Anderson, this superstition serves as a way to calm his nerves and mentally prepare himself for each match. Many athletes including Anderson count on these superstitions, as they create a sense of familiarity during high stress situations. 

“At this point, if I don’t [watch the highlights], I feel unprepared,” Anderson said. “It’s crazy how much they help me.” 

Boys junior tennis player Daniel Tonkal listens to the album Graduation by Kanye West before every match. Graduation has helped Tonkal keep his mind sharp and keep his composure when he plays in high-stress matches.

“I listen to the same Kanye West album [Graduation] before every match,” Tonkal said. ”It’s what I feel like I have to do to prepare myself for my matches. It’s like it flips a switch. As soon as it starts to play, I know it is time to lock in and focus.”

For senior lacrosse player Peter Marietta, his unique pre-game superstition has become a staple to his success. Marietta said he eats the same pasta with marinara sauce and chicken before every game he plays, a habit which he sticks with since discovering its effect during an eighth grade basketball game. 

“It was weird, I never played that good,” Marietta said. “But after that game, I knew that [the meal] had to be a part of my routine.” 

Superstitions may seem odd to others, but for athletes like Anderson, Tonkal and Marietta, they represent far more than just weird habits. These superstitions are powerful tools that help prepare them for high pressure moments. 

“I know it seems weird,” Anderson said. “But I know it really does make a difference, and I don’t plan on stopping it.”