HYDROGRIP BALLS

In a bold move that refreshes the landscape of collegiate sports, Saint Mary’s College of California has officially announced the creation of a brand new Division I aquatics program, adding men’s and women’s swimming, along with men’s and women’s water polo, to its athletic roster, set to begin competition in the 2026–27 academic year.

With the fall sports season ramping up, it’s worth focusing on the majority of athletes who finish with a loss. From youth leagues to the Olympics—where nearly 10,000 athletes left Paris without a medal, sports demand grueling training, heartbreak, and inevitable failure. Yet, as Stoic philosophers and modern psychologists remind us, this suffering is precisely what shapes character, meaning, and even happiness. Sports give us a chosen form of hardship that teaches resilience, purpose, and the path to true mastery.

With the bulk of the summer season behind us and National Junior Olympics approaching, goalies need to adjust our training accordingly. Here are a few things to focus on in the remaining days of your preparation to maximize your performance in the goal.