This March, we’re celebrating the trait of Effort & Drive — the daily commitment to show up, push forward, and raise the standard for yourself and the people around you. Few relationships capture that spirit more clearly than the one between Ricky Ceballos and Holden Trent.

Effort and drive should be at the heart of everything we teach and reinforce with young student-athletes. While talent may open doors, it is effort that sustains progress and drive that pushes individuals past their limits. We constantly remind student-athletes that effort is a decision they control every single day, regardless of circumstances. Whether it’s in training sessions, classrooms, or personal development, the standard remains the same–show up and give your best. This mindset builds better athletes and more disciplined and resilient individuals.

Perseverance is often described as the ability to keep going when things are difficult. For my son Holden, perseverance was not a motivational phrase or a lesson in a book. It was simply the way he lived his life.