CHARACTER DRIVEN | GROWTH MINDSET | WINNING CULTURE

Cubs Athletics has worked to establish a clear identity and purpose through what we now call The Cub Standard: Character Driven | Growth Mindset | Winning Culture. This philosophy serves as the foundation for everything we strive to build within our programs and through the Cub Leadership Academy. Our mission extends far beyond wins and losses. We aim to develop student-athletes who demonstrate strong character, embrace adversity as an opportunity for growth, and understand that true success is built through preparation, accountability, teamwork, and resilience.

Athletics provides young people with lessons that will last long after their playing careers end. Coaches, parents, families, and community members all play a vital role in shaping that experience. By creating positive environments and reinforcing these shared values, we are helping develop not only better athletes, but future leaders within our community.

The following advice comes directly from Cub coaches/staff who help shape Cubs Athletics every day. Each was asked to share the most important message they would give to someone raising a future Cub. While every response is different, they all reflect the values of The Cub Standard and the importance of creating positive experiences that help young people grow both on and off the field.

 

Testimonials

“I have never heard one of our athletes say, "I wish I would have participated in less". Our very best athletes that have gone through SWHS have been 2-3 sport athletes. When you play in a variety of sports you become more athletic because each sport focuses on different skills, different muscles and different mindsets. Each one of those will help you in the other sports by making you a more well rounded athlete.The life lessons you learn by being a part of a team, pushing your limits and performing under pressure are all things that will take you further in life and help you reach your goals.”

Ryan Tesarik

SWHS Football/Wrestling Coach

 

“The car ride home is more important when developing strong and passionate athletes. Use it as an opportunity to build your child’s love for sports—not a time for critique or coaching. When every ride home becomes a breakdown of what went right or wrong, kids can start to feel pressure instead of joy. It’s very easy to turn a child’s passion into something they dread by ending every activity with a lecture on what they could do better. Be there to support, no matter the outcome. Your support should be unconditional; this is a simple, but worthwhile reminder. Win or lose, be there. That’s it. It’s not complicated.”

Amy Beebe

SWHS Fastpitch/Unified Basketball Coach

 

“Advice: Keep it fun. Too many kids burn out on sports, because the expectations of performance are too high.”

Doug Pierce

Girls Golf Head Coach

 

“Take advantage of every opportunity, and play as many sports as you can along the way! Our best athletes, are our well rounded ones do this. This framework has continued to prove that building a well maintained, and disciplined structure around different disciplines generates the highest likelihood of success. No matter which sports those are! So, play different things, compete, and have the most fun possible while do so. We all need each other, and that's what makes our Woolley community stronger.”

Drew Aungst

SWHS Football/Wrestling/Track Coach

 

“Create a relationship that celebrates effort and character. Everything else will take care of itself. If we only create positive feelings around winning, kids will start associating negativity with sports. If we create an environment that promotes process driven mindsets and the freedom to fail, we will associate positivity the #1 trauma response unit (sports) in every school district!”

Kevin Owen

SWHS Athletic Director


"I always go back to successful athletes and people and how the data drives their points. Youth Sports should be about long-term development, not short-term achievement. Although not anyone’s fault, today’s youth are growing up in a culture of constant comparison. We need to create good humans and self-motivated athletes, as they are young. Failure, Struggle, and Adversity build skills and a great mindset - that ultimately matters most in the end. Then development and skill building will come as they participate in as many sports and activities as they can." (Sport Specialization Link)

“The goal isn’t to build the best 10-year-old. The goal is to build an athlete that loves competing at 18.” - Danielle Lawrie (WCWS Champion, WCWS Most Outstanding Player, 2x USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year)

As far as wrestling goes, the best thing parents can do is be supportive. Show up, cheer loud, and be there when their athlete needs a hug. I tell many new wrestling parents that a great thing you could do when your young athlete starts to compete in tournaments is to end the day with a cheap ice cream cone from McDonalds. Why? Because they have associated, some positive with whatever athletic outcome was for that day. No pressure knowing when they get into the car for the drive home, they can have a break and talk to their family.

One of the most powerful quotes I saw from a wrestling parent said, “I realized my job was to build up and support my children. Always have open arms - What they really want and what they really need is our love and acceptance.” Wrestling Mindset Example
Brady Mast
SWHS Head Wrestling Coach