The Sounds of Game Day

Photo by: Ashley Alonzo

Athletes all over the world use music to prepare themselves for the big moments of game day. Iconic songs such as Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” have been used by superstars like the great pitcher Mariano Rivera and currently by the Virginia Tech Hokies football team.

Here at Ottawa University, music helps athletes prepare for their competition in different ways. Ty Quintana, a senior outfielder and first baseman on the OU Braves baseball team, used the smooth salsa stylings of Eddie Palmieri’s “Vamonos Pa’l Monte” as he walked up to the plate last season.

The song features Quintana’s late grandfather Ismael Quintana, who was a famous pioneer of salsa music, on the lead vocals. Quintana says he will be walking up to a new song this season and is looking for a song, which “puts me into the mood of how nothing can stop me.”

For Lady Braves softball senior centerfielder Kenzie Stevens, a walk-up song is something that helps her find the drive to play hard. One of her walk-up songs was Keith Anderson’s “Pickin’ Wildflowers,” but she also prepares for games by listening to a variety of country and hip-hop. 

Nathan Roth, a crafty left-handed pitcher on the OU baseball team who warmed up to the spellbinding Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir,” describes how he is not an emotional or explosive player.

Roth says, “I just look for a song that I like and puts me in a positive state of mind. I don’t want something that’ll get me too excited and lead to me making a mistake by trying to do too much. I also don’t worry about intimidation. I prefer to just focus on myself, rather than the opponent.”

Though OU soccer does not have individual walk-up songs for each of its players, Lady Brave’s senior utility player Kayla Saucedo says, “Remember the Name” by Fort Minor would be her choice. However Big Sean’s “Nothing is Stopping You” is a constant part of her warmup before each soccer match.

Shaye White, a sophomore on the OU women’s cross country team, says, “Do it Myself” by Russ or The Blacked Eyed Peas’ “Let’s Get It Started” would be her choices of walk-up songs. White says, “I like to listen to hip-hop and rap because fast paced music gets my heart racing,” adding “it also helps with motivation.”

The OU men’s lacrosse team is all about getting hype before games according to senior Joel Harrell. Harrell says his team mostly listens to rap in the locker room to prepare for games.

Two sport athlete Elisha Allen, a senior linebacker on the OU Braves football team, listens to Meek Mill, Future and Drake while warming up for football games. Allen, an infielder on the OU Braves baseball team as well, talked about taking a different approach to playing in a baseball game. Allen says his controlled approach in preparing for a baseball game is why he prefers to listen to J. Cole.