Jenks Athletes Battle Record Heat

By Megan Viso

Imagine you are on the field under the blistering sun, heart pounding, sweat dripping down your face. You feel the sun beams hit your back as exhaustion overcomes you. Every day is the same. Same burning sun, same draining drills. Your breath is shaky and your body is about to give out, but a surge of pure adrenaline rushes through your veins.

For many Jenks athletes, this has been their experience for weeks now.

During their summer conditioning and following into their normal school practices, the heat index in Oklahoma was consistently breaking new records of extreme heat. With temperatures reaching highs of nearly 105 to 110 degrees almost every single day in the month of August, athletes all across Jenks High School were suffering under the sweltering sun. This has affected them both physically and mentally, as there have been multiple instances of major dehydration and heat exhaustion during practices, as well as reduced motivation and overall drive.

“Most of all, sweat is the biggest obstacle,” said Jenks varsity tennis player, Beck Schissel, 10. “It distracts you, it hinders your ability to play, and it’s annoying to deal with.”

Coaches continue to push student athletes to play through the immense fatigue and physical challenges that result from practicing in boiling temperatures.

Man pouring water on himself after spending hours outside in the sun. Photo Credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/exhausted-athlete-pouring-water-onto-herself-on-a-break-from-marathon-race-gm1057494506-282605972

Many students have tried their best to remain positive amidst the suffocating heat, however they are easily drained of their eagerness and passion after spending countless hours in the overbearing sun.

“I always try to stay positive because my team feeds off each other's energy, but the heat takes such a toll on my body that it makes it more and more difficult to stay upbeat all the time,” said Jenks varsity guard and band athlete, Katherine Talley, 12.

Even as the sun beats down, Jenks athletes continue to push through and persevere.

This extreme, record breaking, heat has affected students and teachers alike, however the student athletes that must practice in the burning heat both day in and day out are arguably the most affected of all. While many other students complain about the mere five to seven minutes they must spend outside when switching classes, it is nothing compared to the long extensive hours that Jenks athletes endure. Tennis, guard, track, soccer, football, etc. Hundreds of athletes have had to learn to adapt and conserve their energy when put in such extreme conditions.

“You won’t put your best effort into something because it is just so hot outside,” said a Jenks Varsity Track Runner who asked to remain anonymous.

After hearing from all these different athletes and their experience with the recent record heat, it begs the question… What measures have Jenks coaches and staff taken in order to ensure the health and safety of their players?

“Our coaches will frequently require that we hydrate and will constantly remind us to,” said Schissel. “Nonetheless, hydrating for 1-2 days before a match is always wise to ensure you have energy and don't suffer a heat stroke.”

Staying hydrated is such an important part of being an athlete, especially when the heat index reaches the astronomical levels that it has recently. Being dehydrated can impair your mental focus and completely throw you off your game, so it is vital to the players that their coaches allow adequate breaks in practices and games.

One way that this has actually been shown through coaches at Jenks is with the guard team.

“Our directors have been giving us more frequent and longer breaks than usual, and it has been very helpful to the band,” said Talley.

Athletics are a huge staple of the Jenks community. It is shown through our five A’s: Academics, Activities, Arts, Athletics, and Attitude. This expresses just how important they are to our school and who we are as a community. Nevertheless, Jenks athletes continue to push through and persevere.

“You have to play through the heat and try to overcome it,” said Schissel. “Practicing in the heat and building resilience is the only way that can happen.”