Despite being the child of two professional tennis players, Makenna Jones was never forced to play the game. Furthermore, she hated tennis as she never felt good enough, felt her standard was so high and didn't have fun playing the game. Ironically, when her family moved and she was without a soccer club, she decided to choose tennis.

Makenna often felt tremendous stress and pressure to win every match which typically led to panic, negative thought spirals and very critical thoughts about herself. However, when she focused on having fun, her performance excelled. She played for five years at UNC Chapel Hill (2017-2021), earning a top singles ranking of #2 and a doubles ranking of #1. She won 4 ACC titles and 3 National Indoor titles.

She also made it to the professional level reaching a career-high ranking of No. 236 in singles and No. 107 in doubles and played in some of the world's biggest tournaments, including the US Open, Wimbledon, Indian Wells BNP, and Miami Open.

Makenna shares how her mindset played a key role in both her performance and her rocky relationship with her sport. It wasn't until she read the classic sports psychology book, "The Inner Game of Tennis" where she learned how to try less and let her body do what it already can do. Through her ups and downs, she has learned to get through struggle with grace, joy and gratitude.

@kennajones14

Daphne Faldi graduated from Harvard University in 1997 with a degree in Biological Anthropology, where she played both field hockey and lacrosse. After losing her best friend, Dartmouth athlete Sarah Devens, to suicide, Daphne dedicated her career to supporting athlete wellness and mental health.

A certified life coach, she has served as a head lacrosse coach and spent over a decade in school administration. Daphne now works with the YMCA of the North Shore, partnering with donors to advance the Y's mission of strengthening communities and promoting healthy living in spirit, mind, and body.

She also serves on the advisory board at McLean Hospital and collaborates with nonprofits including The Hidden Opponent, Morgan's Message, Katie's Save, The Kevin Love Fund, and One Love. She also works with student athlete mentors at Athletes Better Together. In the mental health field, when so many student athletes struggle and feel alone, Daphne's experience has shaped her message that, "Life is better when we are together."

Passionate about connection and community, Daphne strives to inspire others and spread joy and compassion.

@daphnefaldi, @athletesbettertogether, @coacmh

Mac Childs has had the privilege of growing up with a caring family including siblings and a dog. He attended top schools where he played alongside the most talented teammates and learned from the best coaches all of whom instilled consistency, discipline, and a passion for growing the game. While his environment provided the framework to succeed in athletics, he also grew up in a culture where alcohol and substance use was associated with fun. At a relatively young age, he transformed from a participant to an initiator leading others to confront his choices. In 2021, the age of 18, things had progressed to a point where he had to make the uncomfortable decision to enter a treatment facility, talk about his insecurities and make the commitment to focus on his physical and mental health.

As a senior captain on the Dickinson Men's lacrosse team, Mac is now inspiring others though his play on the field but more so, his impact off the field. He serves as the SAAC membership chair, is a mental health and addiction awareness speaker, advocate and mentor for Athletes Better Together, Dickinson Athletics, and Generation S.O.S. He is described as purposeful, impactful, honest and strong. How does he earn such high praise? He is intentional, has empathy, and believes it's cool to care!

@macmchilds, @athletesbettertogether

Myles Amine was born into a family of wrestling champions. But once he forgot about his family's legacy, he unlocked his own potential to achieve greatness while continuing to surround himself with mentors. By learning from mistakes and focusing on the process, his intentional training has led to more successes than those around him. He is a 5X NCAA All-American, 2X Big Ten Champion, 2022 European Champion, 2X Olympian and 2020 Olympic Bronze Medalist.

Myles shares that we are often surrounded by exceptional people that make mediocre decisions but to raise the standard, champions need to go places that most people won't go and always aim to be the best at whatever they do physically and mentally. His mindset has led to greatness off the mat earning an MBA from Ross School of Business and a Masters in Sports Management at University of Michigan. As he transitions out of competitive athletics and becomes an amateur again, he knows as long as he sets the bar high, he will find a way to get there again.

@mylesamine, @earningearth

Tom Turcich, the tenth person to walk around the world and the first to do so with a dog, captured the world's imagination with his remarkable journey. After the death of a close friend, Tom resolved to make the most of life by seizing each day. The day before his twenty-sixth birthday, he stepped out his front door to begin an adventure spanning seven years, twenty-eight thousand miles, thirty-eight countries and over 34 pairs of shoes!

By traversing the globe on foot, Tom immersed himself in the diverse cultures and landscapes. But his expedition was not just a physical feat but a profound introspection. Each step was a testament to an unwavering commitment to self-discovery of his adaptability and capability but also his realization of his selfishness and lack of generosity compared to others.

Through encounters with strangers, weeks of solitude, and a sheer resilience of spirit, Tom emerged as a beacon of inspiration and serves as a reminder that fulfillment lies not solely in reaching a destination but in the transformative power of the journey itself. Ironically, through taking more steps in life, he developed the psychological assurance that what he is doing by staying still is enough!

Tom has been featured on CNN, BBC, Good Morning America, The Guardian, and countless other news outlets.

@theworldwalk, tomturcich.com

In the sport of water polo, Amanda Longan was "late to the pool party" as she was introduced at the age of 14. Day 1, she hated it but by day 2, she was hooked. Since then, she has excelled at every level including 2 National Championships at USC, was MPSF player of the year, NCAA player of the year and Cutino Award Winner (equivalent to the Heisman) in 2018. She has also made 6 world championships rosters winning 4 world championship gold medals. She is a 2X Olympian, gold medalist in Tokyo and now pursuing the LA Olympics in 2028.

With increased pressure and competition, Amanda found that the mental demands were far more challenging than the physical ones, so she really invested in her mindset and reminded herself that she is really that good. Despite her work ethic, talent and previous accomplishments, she later learned that being a leader does not always take place in the starting lineup. In fact, true leaders also learn how to be followers. By embracing her role and ability to make an impact regardless of circumstances, she experiences an appreciation for the opportunity to do hard things.

@amanda_longan, @usawaterpolo

In the sport of lacrosse, Julie Myers is a legend. As a player, she achieved a National Championship. As a coach, she is responsible for 2 total National Championships, 6 Final Four appearances, 5 Title Game appearances, 5 ACC Championships and 27 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. She was also National Coach of the Year in 2004, ACC Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2006 . She was inducted in the US Lacrosse Hall of fame and the IWLCA Hall of Fame. In 2022, She earned the Diane Geppi Aikens Lifetime Achievement Award.

But athletics is only part of her story. Julie's success in sports and life is a result of grit, resilience and putting family first. Growing up, she loved competing with her siblings while appreciating how lucky she was to be able to play. As a coach, she emphasized the value of relationships and feeling connected. As a mother, she made hard decisions that kept her on the right path.

In one of the biggest tragedies to affect the lacrosse communities, the death of Yeardley Love to abuse by an ex-boyfriend, Julie Myers realized that who she was and what she accomplished was just a drop in the bucket of life but also learned that every drop is incredibly important. With the beginning on The One Love Foundation, she was determined to make her ripple bigger by creating social change, raising awareness about relationship abuse and educating about relationship health. Now as CEO, she is responsible for ultimately teaching us all to "Love Better."

Julie Myers' message and legacy show us that, "It is amazing what people can do, especially when they have to."

@join1love

Maddie Prohaska was initially drawn to soccer to spend time with her friends but fell in love with the goalie position because it was, "weird, different, unique." It also produced special moments where it was all on her. As her career evolved, so did her mindset from "nothing else matters, I will give up everything" to" I will strive to strike what's important for my physical and mental performance."

Not surprisingly, by thinking about things differently, she started to train differently using visualization, journaling, meditation and reframing her approach on the field. The results were record breaking. At University of Auburn, Maddie played over 96 matches with 36 shutouts! She was a 2022 Golden Glove Winner and 2023 Team Captain. In March 2025, she signed with Seattle Reign FC and in June 2025, she was selected to the Team USA U23 team.

She shares that she didn't always believe she was capable but started to once she realized others did. By focusing on her feelings and identifying her values off the field, she is able to be where her feet are typically stopping a soccer ball and giving her team a chance to win!

@m.proha

Despite growing up in a hockey family and living in a hockey town, Casey Dornbach was taught early on that if he wasn't passionate about it, he didn't need to do it. But he fell in love with the process of growth, striving for something and the feeling that comes from learning and getting better. At Harvard, whether in difficult classes or the challenge on a D1 sport, he "honored the gifts he was given" and did everything to the best of his ability. As a professional hockey player, he has dedicated time and intentionality to his mental training resulting in the mindset to believe that he "can make mistakes but also be his best,"

As the Founder of Whole Hockey Group, Casey is redefining what it means to train like a pro—blending neuroscience, breathwork, and game IQ to prepare the next generation for success on and off the ice. He gives rising players what he wishes he had: a system built around longevity, elite skill detail, and internal growth. Now in its second year, WHG has become a trusted path for high-level athletes seeking to elevate their game.

@caseydornbach, @wholehockeygroup

Dominic Pietramala is a standout collegiate lacrosse player who made a major impact during the 2025 season. He was named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, recognizing him as one of the nation's elite players. Pietramala earned All-ACC honors and was named an Honorable Mention All-American by both the USILA and Inside Lacrosse, while also being selected to the USA Lacrosse Second Team All-America. He led the ACC in goals this past season, showcasing his scoring ability and leadership on the field.

Before his collegiate success, Pietramala was one of the top high school players in the country—winning the prestigious C. Markland Kelly Award as Maryland's top high school player and being named the Mid-Atlantic Boys Player of the Year during his senior season.

As a younger player, Dom was initially motivated to be the best version of himself to gain his father's approval, but once he learned to be the best for himself, his game went to another level. When so many players want to be like their role models, he grew up wanting to be different. When others try to overcome their perceived limitations, he utilizes them to excel even further. When others have the ultimate dream of winning awards and championships, Dom's dream was always to play for his dad alongside his brother. In storybook fashion, last season his dream came true during a breakout game against Johns Hopkins, on the same field where his father left an irreplaceable legacy!

@dompietramala