In 2018-19, the Mountain East Conference began its "Dear Sport" initiative where student-athletes in the conference were encouraged to write a letter to their sport. The initiative provides the opportunity for student-athletes to express in their own words the impact that sports has played in shaping them throughout their lives. 

Click here to view all letters posted throughout the year. 

Below is a letter from Logan Knoyer a swimmer at West Virginia Wesleyan.

Dear Swimming,
 
I can’t thank you enough for everything that you have taught me in my nine years of the sport. When I first started the sport I never would have expected that it would teach me so many life lessons that I can take with me in the future.

You have taught me things like responsibility, persistence, time management and that hard work pays off. You have taught me responsibility in the sense that I must show up on time everyday in order to be able to participate in the activity. You have taught me persistence by showing me that the more I do something the better I will get. Persistence has involved me coming to practice every day to try and get better. You have taught me time management and I believe it has been one of the most important things that I have learned. When I first started swimming at West Virginia Wesleyan College, I realized that I was going to need to learn how to manage my time very quickly. We have practice six days a week, with some of those days having multiple workouts along with having classes. On top of going to classes and workouts for hours each day I would needed to make time for homework and studying. At first it seemed overwhelming, but I figured out the best ways to balance doing everything so that it would all work out.

My favorite lesson that you have taught me is that hard work pays off. I have learned over the years that talent can only take you so far. I have learned that putting in hours each day and working hard can lead to reaching goals and great success. As a 14-year-old YMCA swimmer I never would have expected to win a state championship in the 50 yard freestyle, but my hard work showed there. As a junior in high school I never would have expected that my hard work could take me as far as finishing fourth the PIAA state swimming championships. 

You have shown me so many more life lessons, but these ones were the ones that stand out. I can’t thank the sport enough for everything you have done for me. I wouldn’t trade the time I have spent in the sport for anything, and I am glad that I became a swimmer.

Logan Knoyer