Student+Athlete Highlight: Skyler Jones
You've heard of student-athletes, where the dash in between student and athlete represents the balance between academics and athletics. The dash comes with relentless work ethic, excellent time management, and focused passion. However, there's a different breed of student-athlete that, in addition to studying and competing hard, is in constant pursuit of Jesus Christ. That's where student+athlete comes in. Like a dash, the plus has a horizontal bar that represents the school-sport balance, but there is also a vertical line that represents the relationship between the athlete and God. Because Christ laid down his life for them, the athlete lives their life for Him. In this blog series, I feature student+athletes who thrive in school and sport while pursuing the true prize.
I am beyond excited to launch my new blog series, the Plus! It has been a year in the making, and now is the time to finally showcase these unique Christian student-athletes. Over the course of the series, a different student-athlete will take the stage (blog) to share their testimony--how they have seen God in their sport and how their faith has shaped their athletic journey.
The very first student+athlete is Skyler Jones, a junior on the Stanford Women's Water Polo team. In the
pool, she is an NCAA national champion and member of USA Water Polo, for whom she won gold at the 2017 Pan-American Games in Peru. I can't imagine treading water for that long, let alone in a competition! Outside of athletics, Skyler is interested in medicine and is a weekly presence at FCA events. She has the sweetest demeanor, and brightens up bible study with her constant smile!
A friend once shared with me how many people's sports testimonies mirror the crucifixion and resurrection. Suffering, through trial and injury, to be raised once again in success. We always say that the comeback is greater than setback. In her testimony, Skyler reveals how the comeback, though great, still pales in comparison to the glory awaiting us in Christ Jesus. Enjoy!
Hello readers! My name is Skyler Jones and I’m a junior on the Stanford women’s water polo team. Over the past 10 years of playing water polo, I have faced many hills and valleys. Through them all, much has changed, but the one thing that hasn’t is Jesus and His presence in my life. I’m so grateful to be able to share some of my testimony with you all today.
What I’ve come to realize is that, as athletes, we often place our hope in things that are of this earth. Take me for example. Before I got injured, I had all of my hope placed in playing water polo. I thought that if I just worked hard enough this sport would carry me through good times and bad. From my perspective, water polo was my future.
The only problem is that earthly things - like water polo - will fail. When they do, what are we left with?
The first story I want to share starts in January 2019 - I was a junior in high school. During this time, I broke a bone and tore a ligament in my hand. It was my first real injury and I was out for two months. The return wasn’t easy, but with God’s help I battled my way back into a tryout for the Junior national team that summer. I earned the incredible opportunity to travel Europe for 5 weeks - where I would be training and competing with Team USA. This trip was a dream come true and an answered prayer. It seemed like my water polo career was falling into place.
Then, a week later, I shattered my right thumb and needed surgery.
Breaking a thumb might not seem like a big deal, and in most sports it isn’t. However, in water polo you use your hands to swim, pass, and shoot. With pins in my thumb I couldn’t do any of this.
At this point in my life, this injury was the hardest thing I had to go through. The surgery was hard. PT was hard. Learning how to pass, shoot, and play again was hard.
But above all, the hardest part was everyone else going on with their summer, while I just watched. I sat back as my national team spot - and 5 week Europe trip - was handed over to a teammate.
So much of my identity was placed in water polo that when I lost the sport, it felt like I lost me. I was counting on those teams to give me validation, instead of seeking it from Jesus. When I decided to lay this self-created idol down and pursue Jesus with my whole heart, I finally received peace that surpassed understanding. My circumstances didn’t change - I was still injured - but my outlook on life was completely different because I was looking at Jesus for fulfillment.
I clung to 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” I started to believe that my present trials were nothing compared to Christ’s eternal promise.
Relying on earthly things to fill you looks different for everyone. As a student-athlete, maybe it’s your sport, friendships, grades, or dreams. These things are all good and meant to be enjoyed, but they aren’t supposed to play God in your life. Nothing on this earth can handle that kind of pressure - only Jesus.
After my injury, my family and I became prayer warriors. We trusted that God would use the whole situation for good in His perfect timing. We knew He would heal me.
And He did.
I was back in action for my senior season, finishing as my high school’s Athlete of the Year. Shortly after, I headed off to Stanford (in the middle of covid) and became the starting defender as a freshman.
Fast forward to only a few months ago - I just finished my second season at Stanford where we won a national championship. I remember getting out of the pool in Michigan on May 8, 2022, with my first national title. There were hugs, tears, and lots of pictures. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement - and so was I…
for about an hour.
Then, I sat down on a bench, took a deep breath, and looked around. The game was over, the excitement was fading, and the crowd was growing quieter.
We had just won a national championship - we were at the top of the top.
Even so, I sat there with the trophy in my hand and asked myself,
Is this it?
Because I didn't think it was enough.
At that moment, I heard God whisper -
It was never meant to be enough.
I realized then that - just like pain - success is fleeting. It's brief. It’s temporary. While it might satisfy us for a little while, sooner or later we will move on and want whatever’s next.
The Lord, on the other hand, is permanent. He is eternal. He is the “Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13, ESV).
He is enough.
The first story I shared came from one of the lowest points in my career, and the second came from one of my highest. In both, I found true fulfillment when I took my eyes off of my earthly circumstances and placed them on God.
Proverbs 3:5 says to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding of things; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (NIV).
One of the Lord’s greatest blessings to us is letting us do life in seasons. In sport, as in life, there will be ups and downs. My advice to you is to be present through them all. Do not let a season of your life - whether good or bad - define who you are. Jesus is the only one who gets to do that. He has a plan and you have a purpose.
Thanks for allowing me to share some of my story with you. No matter what you're walking through today, please know that I am praying for you. God bless!
Skyler
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