My name is Sabrina Nauss and I am a member of the Women’s Wrestling team here at GVSU. I am a sophomore majoring Allied Health Science with an Emphasis on Pre-PA and a minor in Psychology. I wanted to share my journey of separating my identity from my sport.        

For as long as I can remember, wrestling felt like who I was and was kinda what I was known for. Throughout middle school and high school, I was known as “the girl wrestler,” and that label became my identity. I was proud of it because wrestling has taught me so much and has given me a community I am proud to be a part of. I have learned lessons about discipline, toughness, and confidence. But, when one thing becomes your sole identity, it is really hard to see yourself as anything more than that.

            I didn’t realize how much of my identity I had placed into wrestling until my freshman year at college. My life felt almost completely centered around wrestling and school. Since, I was getting so drained from wrestling, it trickled into my everyday life, and I struggled to make connections outside those two things. When I found wrestling to become stressful or difficult, I didn’t have many other outlets to turn to. It felt as if wrestling wasn’t going well, nothing really was. That drained me mentally.

            Last year really opened my eyes to the idea that being an athlete is something I do, not all of who I am. Separating myself from my sport allowed me to grow in ways that I never would have expected. I discovered that I love reading, being outside, going for walks, going to the beach, lifting, spending time with my dogs, family, and friends, and really just enjoying life beyond competition.

            Sports can be a huge part of our lives, and they can really shape us in positive ways.  But we are way more than our stats, wins, losses, or titles. Finding hobbies, passions, and relationships outside of athletics can help us feel more balanced and supported. When one area gets tough we still have other parts of ourselves to lean on.

            Wrestling will always be a part of my story, but it is not the only thing that defines me. I am still learning who I am outside of my sport, and that journey has been one of the most important lessons of all.