I named my program Grit and Grind because I believe becoming your best is a combination of determination and relentless effort. I have lived my life by this and I hope to pass on that mentality to the kids in this program.

At the end of every year, we do an awards ceremony. There are some stat-based awards and some special awards given to the kids that display the qualities our teams are named for:

• Grit: Mental Resilience

Grit is about turning the impossible into possible, and continuing to push through boundaries. It is conditioning your mind to approach obstacles as just that a challenge to be better and not as dead ends.

• Grind: Physical Resilience

Grind is about doing hard work. Being called a grinder is the ultimate compliment in my book. Grinders get things done no matter what it takes. If you’re striving for success, grinding through long hours of training and working hard are necessities.

I believe that being tired or not feeling like it are not options if you want to achieve your goals. These moments are the ones your opponent is using to defeat you. Keep grinding and don’t let the regret of not working harder than your opponent be something you think back on. 

Another thing that I believe is part of this process is gratitude. Something I often struggle with is living in the present moment. Stopping to really appreciate what I have and where I’ve come from. I had to grind my entire way through life. I refuse to quit and I want to instill that into every single athlete that plays in this program. 

The truth, though, is that being grateful for what you have is sometimes difficult. We all need to credit ourself for the hard work we’ve put in. The reality is we don’t get everything in life that we want. Nothing is handed to most of us. Grit and grind symbolizes making the most of every opportunity we are given. So appreciate what you have and every chance you get to play this game because it’s never forever. 

- Coach Austin