After the first scrimmage of the season, freshman Ayallah Sanogo, and three other freshmen are pulled aside by coaches to discuss their placements for the upcoming season. Immediately after earning her spot on the varsity volleyball team, Sanogo’s teammates, filled with radiance and joy, surround her to congratulate her placement. Fueled by her desire to compete, Sanogo seeks to constantly improve herself and her team, making her a valuable “stand-out” asset to her team.
“I’ve always had a love for [my] sports,” Sanogo said. “It’s easier to do something you love so to me [finding a balance between them] has always been easy.”
Sanogo plays for the varsity volleyball team and varsity girls’ soccer team. On top of this, she allocates time for studying her sports, along with school to further embody her representation of a student athlete, and find a balance that allows her to work toward her academic goals despite her strenuous time commitment to sports. Sanogo’s passion for her sports keeps her disciplined to work past any roadblocks.
“Finding the balance between these two sports is definitely a struggle,” Sanogo said. “It really is a lot.”
Allocating time for two competitive sports along with school poses a challenge for Sanogo. Despite the demanding schedule, Sanogo works with her coaches and parents to find a routine.
“We don’t shortchange anything here with our practice. And I know how demanding it is in soccer as well, not just with the conditioning, but just the physicality of their game,” head volleyball coach Amanda Shingleton said, “but I actually talked with her club [soccer] coach, and we kind of came to an understanding of how we’re going to balance this and help the athlete be successful.”
Sanogo earned the Newcomer of the Year award this past season and was voted upon by numerous coaches across the district, further validating her unassailable work ethic. Undeterred by her older competition, she strives to set the example on the court through her keen attention to detail, and desire to compete.
“She works really hard, and she’s super explosive in the weight room,” Coach Shingleton said. “Usually you worry about freshmen and the technique [aspect], and just trying to do too much too soon, but she’s just so strong naturally [she has that ability] to step in and [compete].”
Sanogo’s salient presence on her team goes beyond her physical performance on the court but is also reflected through her encouraging and supportive attitude throughout games and practices. Despite challenges and conflicts, Sanogo maintains positivity and finds ways to contribute by always having a “team-first” mindset.
“She always does exactly what is asked of her, and she does it to the best of her ability with maximum effort,” Coach Shingleton said. “She’s super competitive but she knows it’s not always about her. She always looks to contribute and do what’s needed to make the team better.”
For the upcoming years, Sanogo plans to continuously improve and work on her goals of playing at the collegiate level alongside her academics. Overall, Sanogo’s desire to compete, along with her ability to find the balance between school, sports, and her social life sets an example for student-athletes, showing that success in all aspects of life is possible.
“I don’t get home until dark [on practice and game nights] and I still have homework,” Sanogo said. “I just remind myself why I’m doing it to stay disciplined. I love my sports and I feel like God gave me this purpose and I can’t put the hard work I’ve put in to waste.”