They say facing adversity in sports is one of the true tests in determining which athletes are persistent enough in sticking to their goals and reaching the next level.
Whether it’s being cut from a team, overcoming injuries, losing a close family member, or being undersized, some players have the mental fortitude to put almost anything behind them and use it as inspiration. Just ask Marcus Stroman.
Oregon Ducks linebacker Kaulana Apelu is cut from the same cloth.
Listed at 5-foot-11 and 196 pounds, the former high school running back tore his ACL in high school back in his junior year in Oahu, Hawaii. Already undersized for his position and looking to recover for his senior year in 2014, he then tore his other ACL, restricting him to just two games over a two year span, which mitigated his chances of being recruited. But through pure preservation, Apelu, who lost his father at age 13, made the Ducks squad in 2015 as a walk-on. He finished with 29 tackles, and one interception in his first of two career starts last season.
His walk-on status was retracted on Sunday, and it was for the better. During a Ducks practice, his coaches halted a drill, and that’s when the emotions started to pour out when his mother popped up on the scoreboard with an exciting announcement.
If that doesn’t move you, then we’re not sure what will. Understandably, Apelu’s teammates swarmed him with elation. How cool is that to see? And Post-Malone ‘s “Congratulations” song works perfectly with the message.
This might be the best #MondayMotivation you’ll see all day, and it’s a daily reminder to keep on pushing and never give up on your goals, no matter how bleak the circumstances may be.
(h/t to For The Win)
