From Opposition to Opportunity
Piper, Paige, and Payton Stafford strive for hopefulness and joy during an unpredictable season.
This is a story about accepting uncontrollable change while choosing positivity. This is a story about surrendering in the midst of unknowns. And this is also a story about family.
Piper, Paige, and Payton Stafford (Pictured below) are three sisters on the Southwest Christian High School women’s varsity soccer team. Piper is a sophomore and Paige and Payton are seniors. All three sisters play and start on the varsity team. All three Stafford girls scored in the same game on August 29, 2020 against PACT Charter School. They are teammates. They are sisters. And they are each other’s role models.
“They’re captains this year,” Piper said, “and I feel like a lot of people look up to you guys for your attitude and how you play on the field.” Paige and Payton lead the team in captainship along with Avery Tollefson and Emma Baribault. Piper receives direct instruction from her sisters on the field. The Stafford family admits to sisterly bossing one another during games, but since their relationship is close they all can take it. The sister-bond allows for more blunt communication during the game, but in a loving family way.
The 2020 soccer season has been different than other seasons in the past. Their schedule was modified by 20%, bringing the total game count down from 16 to 11. On September 21st, a decision will be made from the Minnesota State High School League regarding sections and state, and the outcome of post-season in terms of competition, games, and elimination. As of now, the extent of the season is unknown.
“I feel like, especially this year, we don’t know how many games we’re going to get in,” Payton said, “We’re just having to be flexible, and speaking for myself, I like to know the future.” Naturally, there is tension between preparing for practices and games, and surrendering control of the current season.
“We’re probably the best we’ve been in a while,” Paige said, “and we don’t even know now if we’ll have sections. It could end at anytime and we’ve been waiting for this year for so long.” The mindset for these athletes is different. It’s more complex, more mature. Not only do athletes have to work towards their skill-level and focus on winning games, but they live with the idea that their season could be canceled any day. “We’ve all been really grateful to have the chance to play,” Paige said. “I feel like I’ve had a new appreciation even for practice. I don’t want to complain if who knows how many practices we’ll have.”
The Stafford sisters turn to their faith to help them completely surrender and find joy in the middle of an unpredictable season. One way they continue surrendering and choosing optimism is through their team devotionals and Bible study with their mom.
The women’s soccer team has devotionals every day before practice, led by head coach Mark Anderson. On game days, each player takes a turn preparing a message and sharing. The team prays before and after every game, inviting the opposing team to join for the post-game prayer. Piper, Paige, and Payton also do a Bible study at home with their mom. Once a week they talk about the Bible study all together, while individually working on it daily.
“My mom has been helping us this year with our faith and I feel like I could ask her anything,” Paige said. “She’s so strong in her faith that it inspires me.”
Piper points out how her mom lifts her up during this uncontrollable time by relating to her. “She’s been through a lot of the same things.” Piper said.
Whether losing or wining, the team has focused on goals and lessons that can be applied on and off the field. Anderson has been teaching the players about sportsmanship through setting goal limits when playing teams that have less skill. Whereas, losing brings about new challenges too. After losing unexpectedly to Holy Family 0-1 in the last minute of the game, breaking their streak of being undefeated, Anderson coached the team on having perspective and bouncing back from defeat.
“Mark said this can kind of define the rest of our season. We can either be super disappointed and not try anymore because we’re no longer undefeated,” Paige said, “or we can come back stronger.” The Stafford sisters agreed they came back stronger as a team immediately heading into their next game against Jordan High School, winning 3-0.
Piper, Paige, and Payton continue to create opportunities of joy and optimism in a season of opposition through the community and faith foundation in their team, guidance from their mom, and relationships with one another.
Written by Callie Chase