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 Jaycie Blankenship, an acrobatics & tumbling student-athlete at West Virginia Wesleyan.

Dear Acrobatics and Tumbling,

You came into my life when I was least expecting it, but at a time when I needed you most. Most girls involved in this sport can say that they were used to the long hours of tumbling, lifting, and conditioning from past years of cheerleading or gymnastics, but I didn’t learn those things in my past times as a dancer. Even though I was thrown into your sport head-first (quite literally), you have become the most consistent and loving part of my life.

This past year, my best friend committed suicide. This, as you can guess, was one of the hardest times in my life. At first, I didn’t know what to do with myself—how was I supposed to keep going? But you didn’t allow me to question my self-worth. You proved to me that life was an amazing thing filled with any support I need. You gave me a second family away from home at the time in my life when I needed it most, and for that, I will never be able to thank you enough.

Life isn’t always easy, happy, or fun, but in those hard times when I have needed an escape, you are the one that has been there for me no matter what. You have blessed me with some of the most influential and impactful leaders and coaches and the best teammates and friends I could ever ask for. Through these people that you have given me, I have learned a new sense of growth, positivity, and challenge. You have all tested me, pushed me, and loved me in ways that I could have never imagined. You put a new passion and drive in me that I didn’t know was possible. To be the student-athlete I wanted to be, I needed consistency, a strong work ethic, dedication, and discipline. These are the things that you, Acro, insisted I learn.

Throwing girls in the air, catching other ones that feel like they are going to land right on top of me, and trusting others to hold my entire body up on their own sounds absolutely insane to some. People wonder why we put our bodies through the pain and hard work that you demand, but I have never questioned my decision to put my whole heart into you. I want to thank you for all of your lessons—believing in myself, believing in others, pushing through the lows and embracing the highs, and a dedication and drive I wouldn’t know without you. I will be forever indebted to you.

Love always,
Jaycie Blankenship, #12
West Virginia Wesleyan College