Mondays with Mike: Student-Athletes on Growth, Discipline, and Competition
Happy Monday, I mean Tuesday, PCA Families!
As we welcome in Spring, let’s look back on what we witnessed happening over the winter months among our students. This is #1 of a double-feature MWM, on Tuesday!
Winter at PCA is a season of competition—on the court, in the pool, and on the track. In this week’s Mondays with Mike, you will hear directly from our student-athletes as they reflect on what they are learning through their sports experience—discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and how to grow through both success and challenge.
▶ Listen to four winter athletes share the challenges and highlights of their journeys this winter season.
[Tap the link above, the player below, or open it in your favorite podcast app.]
Key Takeaways
- Competition reveals and forms character.
- PCA Athletes spoke about how sports test not only skill, but also perseverance, attitude, and response to adversity–and helps them grow in faith and identity.
- Growth often comes through challenge.
- Several student-athletes reflected on difficult moments—losses, fatigue, or pressure—that ultimately helped them grow in unanticipated ways.
- Team matters.
- Whether in individual or team sports, students emphasized encouragement, accountability, and shared effort that comes through training and competing in community.
- Student-athletes learn to manage responsibility.
- Balancing practices, games, and schoolwork requires discipline, planning, and follow-through as they participate in all of PCA’s student experiences.
- PCA Athletics contribute to whole-person formation.
- At PCA, sports are a key part of how students grow in mind, body, and spirit—it is part of, not separate from, their education. And this growth contributes to the other aspects of their and teammates’ formation.
In these first days of spring—even as we experience a bit of wintry mix here in New England—I am grateful for the signs of new life and renewal around us.
This past Saturday, it was a joy to gather as a community for our auction. I am deeply thankful for the generosity shown in support of our mission and for the opportunity to come together in such a meaningful way.
This winter season has also given us the opportunity to watch students grow—not only in skill and competition, but in discipline, perseverance, and teamwork. We are grateful for our student-athletes and for the families who support them as they learn to balance commitments and grow through both success and challenge.
Thank you for the many ways you cheer our student-athletes on and continue to build our community up!
Grace and peace,
Mike Runey
Head of School
Portsmouth Christian Academy
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