Personality is fluid, changing constantly over time and between different situations and environments. As people are exposed to new situations, they, in turn, become new people. While one may act and behave a certain way in their everyday life, they may change to being the exact opposite when they are thrust into an uncomfortable situation or an environment with a different tone than they are used to being around. One such environment is that of sports. The crucible of competition is often seen as a great experience, in which athletes are capable of near-inhuman feats of skill, speed and strength; however, few realize the affect that sports truly have on the participants and players while on the field. Many times, stress and pressure change the athletes entirely and morph their personalities. People may become nearly unrecognizable while in the middle of a game or match and oftentimes are this way while preparing for their sports during practices and scrimmages as well. Competition changes them, and the allure of being a champion turns them into they something usually are not.

One specific example of someone who morphs during sports is junior Nicolas Fier. His switch in personality comes as soon as he shifts into sports. In particular, he notices a change within himself while he wrestles. Fier’s entire mindset changes and he realizes instantly that his difference in thinking and personality is needed to come out on top of his opponent.

“When not playing a sport I’m generally a nice guy,” Fier said. “When I go into sports I need to turn into this mean, butt kicking machine.”

Fier said that even though he is normally nice and fun to be around, when he starts getting into a sport he flips a switch and gets more aggressive, which helps him win matches and be a better athlete. On top of this, Fier said that while normally he is a sympathetic guy, as soon as his adrenaline is released before a match, his mindset changes entirely and his determination begins to kick in.

“When I step onto the mat, I have to look at my opponents and not feel any sympathy,” Fier said. “I have to be able to do whatever I need to do to accomplish what needs to be accomplished.”

In other words, Fier begins to see everything in a new way once he gets into a match. Fier changes into a heartless competitor who does not care about anything other than getting a win. In a sport such as wrestling, where inflicting pain is necessary to do well, this kind of mindset and personality is crucial to succeeding in a match, meet or tournament; however, in situations such as practices Fier is required to keep this in check. If he does not control himself, there is the possibility of injuring one of his teammates. Athletes such as Fier often change into completely different people when confronted with the challenges accompanied by sports.

Another example of an athlete who changes when on the court is Arnold Glapajone. While best known as a math teacher and sophomore basketball coach at Antioch Community High School, Glapajone is also a skilled basketball player. Glapajone has played basketball since college recreationally and loves the sport, but he also recognizes the change in mentality needed to be successful during a game. What Fier and Glapajone have in common is that while fun, laid back and funny in their everyday lives, they both also find themselves tuned in, focused and serious when they start to compete. While laid back in his classroom, when it comes to playing basketball, Glapajone also finds himself becoming a lot louder and talking much more while he is in the heat of the game.

“I become a lot more vocal and I concentrate a lot more on everything I am doing,” Glapajone said.

While Fier plays a sport in which everything he does is to benefit himself and win as an individual, Glapajone instead participates in a sport where he must be a team player. Both change who they are to get the win, but Fier does it for himself while everything Glapajone does is for his team.

“I change to win and make my team better,” Glapajone said. “Hopefully it inspires them to do the same.”

Glapajone and Fier change similarly, but their motives for changing are completely different. Their shift in personality is a key part of how they play and leads to an increased determination to win.

For other athletes, the shift is not between their personal and athletic lives, but instead between two different sports. Junior Brad Parfitt plays football for ACHS and dances competitively for Shine Bright Dance Studio and realizes that his personality changes depending on what sport he plays. When playing football, Parfitt is more aggressive and humorous, but when switching into dance he becomes more focused.

“I feel I’m more serious in dance,” Parfitt said.

Due to football being more of a team sport than dance is, Parfitt feels that he is much closer with his football teammates than with his fellow dancers. Part of the reason that Parfitt is closer with his football teammates is because he goes to school with them and sees them everyday. The other part is, he believes, simply that a football team is forced to work together much more than a dance team is. On top of feeling closer to his teammates in football, Parfitt also prefers the sport of football to that of dance.

“I [prefer] football because I have been doing it longer and I put more time into it during the season.” Parfitt said.

Personality shifts happen for many people in new or different situations. Different situations require different mentalities, and knowing when to act what way is important to winning games.