Powerful Knowledge
Ohio Wesleyan Students Study the Effects of Educating Young Athletes About Sports Performance
Name: Shelby Bay '26
Hometown: Canal Winchester, Ohio
High School: Bloom-Carroll High School
Majors: Psychology and Health & Human Kinetics
Name: Maddie Hoyt '26
Hometown: Pataskala, Ohio
High School: Watkins Memorial High School
Majors: Exercise Science and Public Health
Minor: Nutrition and Psychology
Name: Maria Thibodeaux '27
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
High School: Oak Hills High School
Majors: Nutrition and Exercise Science
OWU Connection Experience: Participating in Ohio Wesleyan's annual Summer Scholarship and Research Program (SSRP)
Bay, Hoyt, and Thibodeaux worked with Drs. Elizabeth Nix and Elizabeth Starns to study the effects of educating young athletes on their performance. While their study has concluded, they plan to continue the program in future one-day meetings.
Bay: "[We] conducted a pilot study of The Whole Athlete Program to evaluate how lessons on nutrition, exercise science, and mental aspects can affect items such as motivation, engagement in physical activity, and dietary patterns."
Thibodeaux: "My job was to teach about what to eat before, during, and after practice, along with hydration. Coaches only get so much time with their athletes, so we are trying to fill in the gaps."
Hoyt: "We are done collecting all of our research, and we are continuing to analyze our data. In the future, we will be writing a manuscript and presenting at other conferences."
I have always loved how being involved in hands-on learning allows me to explore my interests on a deeper level.
Why This Experience?
Bay: "I'm very passionate about the idea that athletics are more than physical, and this SSRP was a great way to work with other people in different fields to implement a more holistic approach to sports."
Hoyt: "I have participated in research opportunities at OWU in the past, and I have always loved how being involved in hands-on learning allows me to explore my interests on a deeper level. As an athlete, this research opportunity was especially important to me because we were working closely with two local swim teams. Personally, I have seen how prioritizing strength training, proper nutrition, and mental aspects of sports has positively impacted my own sports performance, and I was excited to help younger athletes understand these benefits as well."
Thibodeaux: "This was meaningful to me because this is what I want to do in my future. I want to work with athletes and help them figure out how to eat to perform better in their sport. This was something that I didn't get while being a young athlete, and if I would have, I would have performed better."
Favorite Moments
Thibodeaux: "My favorite moment was working with the kids and joking around with them before our lessons started."
Bay: "Getting to hear the kids talk about how they felt better physically and mentally after meets during our meetings made all of the work feel so worth it and showed me that my future goals are to help people."
Hoyt: "My favorite moment was teaching the athletes power movements. I spent a session teaching the swimmers explosive exercises, and it was fun to see them improve with these new movements. I enjoyed watching them understand how these exercises can positively translate into their swimming performance.
Lessons Learned
Bay: "I learned how to adapt quickly when plans don't work out the way you think they will, as well as develop skills in finding and understanding research articles, data analysis, and communicating research findings."
Thibodeaux: "[S]ometimes things don't always go to plan, but that doesn't mean that it went wrong. Some of my lessons did not go the way I planned, but the athletes were still learning the information regardless. This experience also taught me that this is something I want to do as a career. Finally, these experiences are important because it is good to interact with the community and give back. "
Hoyt: "In my exercise science classes at Ohio Wesleyan, I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about how to write workouts for different types of athletes. This research project gave me the perfect opportunity to practice prescribing exercises to young athletes. I have also learned which muscles are most activated during certain movements, so I enjoyed applying these concepts to the main motions involved in swimming.
"Our research provided me with direct experience toward my future career as a physical therapist. As a future physical therapist, I will be responsible for writing programs for my patients and encouraging them to adhere to their workout plan. I got direct practice writing programs, encouraging the athletes to strength train in their free time, and correcting their form, which will all be useful in my future.
"Getting involved in research is an extremely valuable opportunity. Research has helped me gain a greater understanding of my field, and it allows me to contribute toward helping the field grow in the future. "
Campus Involvements
Bay is the vice president of membership and Panhellenic Delegate for Kappa Alpha Theta and a captain for Ohio Wesleyan's Cheerleading team.
Hoyt is a member of the Ohio Wesleyan Swim & Dive team, Model UN club, Circle K International, and Cooking Matters, as well as a coach for the Delaware Ohio Racing Club and for the Delaware Special Olympic Swim Team.
Thibodeaux is a member of the Ohio Wesleyan Swim Team, Cooking Matters, and Model UN club.
Why Ohio Wesleyan?
Bay: "I loved the opportunities that OWU had to offer."
Thibodeaux: "I really liked the smaller campus and the small class size. That way I could get to know my classmates and professors better."
Hoyt: "There were numerous aspects that made Ohio Wesleyan my top choice. I enjoyed learning about all of the opportunities within the Health & Human Kinetics department, and I felt confident about being prepared for my future after meeting the professors. I also loved the small class sizes, which have allowed me to form great connections with my classmates. I also had an amazing experience meeting the coaches for the Ohio Wesleyan Swim Team, and I loved how close the team was."
Plans After Graduation
Thibodeaux: "My plan after graduating is to start doing nutritionist work. This project especially helped me prepare for that. Also, OWU has taught me the importance of hard work and time management."
Bay: "I want to go to graduate school for a psychology or sports science program. The faculty has helped me shape my education to match my interests and be able to apply them to a practical setting."
Hoyt: "I will be attending graduate school to obtain my Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree next year. Ohio Wesleyan has given me the hands-on learning and knowledge to feel confident as I enter this new chapter of my life. The professors within the department have helped set me up for success by ensuring I am meeting the requirements and deadlines for each DPT program."