Episode Title: From Devastation to Signing Day - A Unique Path to Collegiate Athletics

Episode Number: 18

Date Aired 7/20/2022

Guest Name(s): Bailey Sadowski 

Episode Summary: In this episode, I talk with Bailey Sadowski about her journey as an athlete cut from her high school volleyball team to her decision to persevere through enormous odds and find her way to the North Park University program where she will compete this Fall.  Bailey’s unorthodox journey reminded me of the power of coaching and the effect, not just physically but mentally and emotionally that a coach has on their athlete.  Bailey’s story will remind you that if you have a dream and are willing to put in the work, it takes some time, but the path becomes clear. 

Key Points, Top Takeaways and Memorable Quotes - 

“My dad always said that, you know, there’s nothing stronger than a female athlete.” 3:33

“I started practicing and I fell in love with it, and I was awful.  I’m not going to–I was so bad and I was so frustrated because I was like I need to be immediately good at something.  And it didn’t click in my head until I was older that you have to work and work and work until you can finally say that “Okay, I’m kind of okay at this.’” 4:38

“I really, at that point my 9th grade year, I still had that drive that I still had to keep working and maybe like respect would come with time.” 26:10

“I had to like flip a switch in my head and I had to say, ‘You know what, I am good enough, I am worthy, I am athletic enough, and I’m going to prove everybody wrong.’” 53:38

“I had to come to terms and face what I had been pushing down for so long, like everything erupted and I had to sit there and be like, ‘You know what?  I can be better, and I need to do better, and I will be better.’” 54:20

“I really had to kind of get myself into a narrative of, you know, if like not everything is gonna ever be handed to somebody.  And I had to be like some people have easy things in life that are given to them, and you know, I never really had that.  And for me personally, I just had to tell myself, ‘If you want something, you have to get up and go do it and you have to keep going.’” 56:43

“I knew that I had to be better for my whole team and that this team had so much potential like, I knew that this team could be one of the best teams I ever played on.  And so I really, I just pushed myself and I was like okay, ‘If I’m going to wake up on the wrong side of the bed or if I’m gonna get upset during a match, I’m going to hide it the best way I can so that my team has the best chance of succeeding.’” 1:05:53

“I think that thing that I would give anybody or any kind of advice is, it took me awhile, but I had to learn that I was more than an athlete.” 1:15:54

“There’s so much more that goes into people’s lives.  You have  to like find that balance because it’s healthy to have friends, and it's healthy to have a social life and you know, have your academics at the same time, it’s student-athlete, student before athlete.” 1:16:25

“Whenever I find myself devoting too much to one thing, be like well you’re more than just that.” 1:17:06

Guest Bio - Bailey Sadowski was born and raised in Covington, Louisiana and always dreamed of being an athlete. She is a recent high school graduate of St. Scholastica Academy and will be playing college volleyball at North Park University in the fall. She has played volleyball since she was ten years old and has a deep passion for coaching and inspiring young athletes. She is a natural leader who loves taking on pressuring tasks that help grow her teammates around her. In Bailey’s spare time she loves to bake, go shopping, and hang out with her friends. 

Show Notes - 

0:00 - What I Meant to Say Podcast Intro

0:18 - Introducing Bailey Sadowski

0:42 - Welcome to Bailey and Our First Zoom Podcast in Studio

2:48 - Let’s Start with the Background in Family and Volleyball

6:49 - Meeting my Mentor, Sam 

7:30 - My Dad was My Biggest Supporter

11:40 - Learning How to Put Yourself First While Being a People Pleaser

13:31 - Volleyball in Your High School Years Starting with 8th Grade Year

16:00 - It’s Time to Start Setting

18:18 - Selfishness of my 8th Grade Coach and Not Moving Up

20:28 - Freshman Year on JV

26:23 - 10th Grade Year I Made Both JV and Varsity

29:55 - Competing With a Girl One Grade Above Me

32:17 - Questioning Interpersonal Treatment and Different Coaching Strategies

34:52 - All Rules Apply 6v6 Story

38:32 - Finishing Sophomore Year and Heading into Junior Year, then COVID Hit and Mental Health Became a Focus

42:11 - Be Better Commercial

42:19 - I Dreaded Volleyball and Wanted to Quick During that Sophomore Season

43:59 - Junior Volleyball Season I Started Seeing a Psychologist, COVID Cut Club Season Short, and Health Issues Hit Me

46:12 - Structured 3-Day High School Tryouts Coming Out of COVID and Zero Intention on Participating, but I Did it to Please My Dad

49:44 - A Week Later the Roster Comes Out and I’m Not On It

53:38 - Flipping a Switch and Telling Myself I Was Good Enough

54:51 - The Best Club Team I’ve Ever Played On

56:10 - What Did You Tell Yourself on the Days You Didn’t Want to Get Up?

58:17 - During Those 6 Months, Their Success Sparked My Motivation

1:00:16 - Some Rumor Started that I Wanted Them to Fail and Lose

1:04:07 - The Best Club Team with a Group of Supportive Girls

1:07:31 - Where Was the Change and When Did College Opportunities Come In?

1:09:09 - Recruiting and North Park University in Chicago, IL Emailing Me

1:15:36 - What Is Your Piece of Advice to a Struggling Athlete?

1:19:04 - Where Can People Find You?

1:20:15 - WIMTS Podcast Closing

Links & Where to Find Bailey - 

IG -  @bailey.sadowski