Commitment to greatness
"Commitment to Greatness" is a project that reveals the multifaceted nature of athletic dedication through portraiture, action and environmental shots. By highlighting athletes in moments of solitude and practice, the project aims to show the focus, strength, and resilience that define their journey. These portraits offer a closer, more personal look at the individuals behind the performance, while their stories reveal the character and commitment that drive them to success.
“The bond you build on a team - especially a winning one - is unlike anything else. Hockey has been an outlet for my mental health, and being surrounded by brothers who have your back every day is truly special. It also helped me through moving around a lot as a kid, making it easier to connect and build friendships wherever I went.
Hockey has made me more talkative, more confident, and better at meeting new people. My parents are the biggest reason I push myself to be the best player I can be and go as far as possible in the sport.
To me, commitment to greatness means finding something you love doing, everyday and showing up every day with no excuses.”
Crossley Stewart
Collegiate Hockey Player
“For volleyball, I love the interpersonal connections - success depends on knowing your teammates on a deep level, and that's really beautiful to me.
Track is the opposite. It requires a kind of individual mental toughness I used to hate, but after finding my competitive drive through volleyball, it’s something I now crave. Pushing my limits with no one else to blame has become a daily challenge I love.
Pursue something you can’t imagine living without, not just something you're good at. There will be days you’re tired and don't want to go, but if you truly enjoy it, the idea of quitting for good should feel impossible.”
Mia Gerber
Collegiate Volleyball and Track & Field Athlete
"No matter how much time and effort you put in you will never be perfect. There is always something to learn or improve upon.
Every performance I strive to entice another person in the audience to get involved and come back. We perfect our craft from 9:45am-3:30pm and then many of us go on to teach the next generation from 4pm-9pm. However, every time we set foot in the room to teach we remember why we are there and the passion always returns.
In many ways I feel like I am living my ultimate goal. I do what I love on a professional level among family and friends. I couldn't ask for anything more! Don't give yourself to anything you don't LOVE. Because training is WAY too difficult to do without love."
Katherine Duffy
Rochester City Ballet - company dancer
“Coming into college, I always asked myself, ‘What if?’ and that question pushed me every time I succeeded. As a freshman, I wondered, ‘What if I break the UC and conference records?’ - and I did. The next year it became, ‘What if I final at NCAA and Olympic Trials?’ - and I did that too.
All year long, I swim twice a day, staring at the bottom of the pool for two hours at a time. I do this all season in hopes that I might drop .1 of a second. What keeps me going are the friendships I have made along the way here at Cincinnati.
My ultimate goal for swimming was to become a first team All-American at NCAA and final at the Olympic trials. Fortunately, I have done both of these already. After March, I will be stepping away from competitive swimming forever and I want to be able to step away knowing that I was happy and ended on a good note."
joleigh Crye
Collegiate Swimmer
“For me, fencing is unique - it’s an individual sport, yet you form incredibly close bonds within your club. At the Rochester Fencing Club, sportsmanship and long-term growth matter more than titles.
Fencing helped me grow as a person and realize if I got 2nd out of 150 people I can consider that a success! I fenced from 8-15, took time to explore other sports, then returned at 19 and competed in the Junior Olympics. I know it sounds cheesy, but literally just put your mind to it and you can do anything.
True greatness comes from a commitment to learning; you can train endlessly, but without listening to coaches and peers, you won’t get far.”
Jackson burns bulmer
Elite fencing
“Commitment to greatness means pushing beyond comfort zones every single day - in the gym, on the ice, in the classroom, and in personal life. It's showing up early to practice, giving 100% in every drill, and holding yourself accountable even when no one is watching. It's staying disciplined while balancing the demands of being both a student and an athlete.
It also means putting the team above yourself, striving not just for personal excellence but for the success of the group as a whole. It's about handling adversity with resilience, learning from mistakes, and refusing to settle for “good enough.” At this level, it’s the difference between being average and becoming a leader, someone who sets the standard and inspires others to rise with them."
Tyler Mahan
Collegiate hockey player
