Mental health is a big discussion we take part in here at City High, and with the incorporation of local brands like UFA (Unbreakable Female Athlete), many female athletes have brought that discussion to new levels. 

“Athletes are often burdened, especially female athletes, by the pressures to be successful in their sport, to be the best version of themselves, to look the part and act the part but that’s just not real life. Female athletes are humans too and supporting the human side is just as important as supporting the athlete,” JV Girls basketball coach Paul Roesler has been a major advocate for the mental health support recently implemented in City High’s athletic programs.

It has not just been our school to take these steps towards promoting support and a feeling of community. Individual sports recognize new levels of sportsmanship and connections, reinforcing the concept that it is easy to connect with other athletes experiencing similar things. 

“The other teams and the other lanes always say ‘Good job, you did great’ after a race. We have a very supportive environment for girls swimming in Iowa, and I’m very thankful for that,” shared Margalit Frank ‘24, a captain for the swim team.

As the swim season came to a close, the senior captains were able to discuss their past four years with the team, highlighting the good and opening eyes to the bad. Something many people look past when talking about girls’ sports is the lack of support from peers, and with that fewer people in the crowds to impress. This has been a topic of interest for many female athletes as they watch their male peers be given big spotlights to show their talents.

“We’re here all the time, morning and night. We’re always at the pool,” Kalea Seaton ‘24 said of the swim season, emphasizing all the work the team put in. Her fellow captains backed up her statements about struggling with something that does not have an outcome people celebrate. 

Peer support is just one of many struggles faced by female athletes. Many student-athletes could share their stories about mental health and balance while in season. To many of these athletes, there is no definition of “balance.” It is just something that you sometimes get better at with time, and everyone has to figure it out for themselves. High school athletes often discuss the stress that comes with prioritizing academics and sports. Long practices and games hinder the ability to do work and can cause you to fall behind, which in turn creates less fun in your athletic environment. It is a full, revolving circle, and many outside perspectives fail to recognize how incredible success is in these situations.

“Our first wrestling meet was a good reminder of the strenuous work required for small successes. I’ve missed cheering on teammates and the feeling that comes with supporting the people who go through the same relentless workouts as you. It’s unmatched,” comments Sierra Pruessner ’24, a member of the wrestling team since its beginning as a sanctioned sport in Iowa. 

Both the wrestling and swimming teams are gaining more support and coverage during their lengthy seasons. Yet, the athletes are still burdened with the stress that comes with their sports.

“The mental side of swimming is something that I’ve always struggled with. But, it’s what defines swimming as a sport. Being able to get through it, knowing what that struggle looks like for you, and also knowing how to reach out when you need help is important,” said swimmer Kalea Seaton ’24 after discussing balance and mental health in a long season.

Discussions over loss of passion and what it means to enjoy your sport happen constantly throughout high school, especially with female athletes. It is hard to keep moving forward, and it is harder to know when mental health needs to be a priority over the sport you are in. Taking breaks and communicating are steps being taken by our very present and progressing coaching staff here at City High, especially staff connected to the brand Unbreakable Female Athlete.

“Unbreakable Female Athlete celebrates, recognizes, and supports all female athletes and our basketball team using its platform to promote female athletics is extremely important to us,” Roesler said. He is a sophomore volleyball coach and a JV basketball coach, throughout his time at City High, his support for athletes has been unwavering.

This brand has brought a lot of support and connections to City High, and with the addition of new coaches this year, awareness has been extending to very high levels. “Unbreakable”, when used to describe female athletes does not just mean one thing, but many different things.

“An unbreakable female has an unwavering belief in their ability to accomplish anything they put their mind to. They don’t let others’ opinions determine their fate, and they work consistently and relentlessly to reach their goals. They display selflessness by putting their ego desires aside and they do whatever it takes for the greater good of the team regardless of whether they are a starter or the last person on the lineup,” newly appointed varsity volleyball coach Carolyn Giese shared.

August Palmer ‘25, a girl’s basketball player and a part of the team that brought UFA’s message to our school also stated what being unbreakable means to her.

“An unbreakable female athlete is a positive role model on and off the court. As female athletes we also have an impact on the little girls that come to our camps and games, they look up to us,” Palmer said. “We show them the impact female athletes can have through sports.” 

“Unbreakable means not giving up easily and always trying to improve yourself physically and mentally,” Shoana Emmanual ‘26 shared her definition of “unbreakable” after placing 9th at the Dan Gable Donnybrook wrestling tournament. 

As the message of UFA shines through our female athletes, the impact they have has increased, and soon “unbreakable” will have a new meaning altogether.