Mark Breunig ‘20: “Everything was set up for me to succeed”

“I like that you can play a lot of sports here,” says Mark Breunig ‘20.  “Playing multiple sports has really helped me explore a broad variety of interests and challenge myself in new and interesting ways.”

Breunig has played four sports at Davidson Day: middle school lacrosse, varsity golf, varsity basketball, and varsity soccer. 
 
“I joined the golf team as a sophomore, and I really started not great,” says Breunig, “but I wanted the challenge, I wanted to improve.”  
 
Breunig competes for more than just the thrill and fun of sport—though he’s quick to share that joy is a critical component of his athletic experience—he competes to improve his knowledge of the sport, his athletic skill and ability, his fitness, his leadership ability, and his mental game. 
 
“I am committed to working hard,” says Breunig, “I have to work hard, to put in the effort, because that’s what a good leader does.”  
 
On leadership, the good and the bad
 
“I’ve watched good and bad captains and leaders in years past,” says Breunig, “and I knew that leadership would be a challenge.” 
 
“Mark is a great athlete, and I could play him anywhere on the field,” says Varsity Boys Soccer Coach Brad Laatsch.  “When he started playing with us, he wanted to run around and score, but we identified a need on the team for him to play as a center back.”  So Breunig became a starting center back, a role in which he is thriving, said Coach Laatsch. 
 
At the beginning of the season, Coach Laatsch tapped Breunig to wear the captain’s armband.  “Sure, he’s versatile, skilled, and technical,” says Laatsch, “Beyond his athleticism, he’s a leader, he’s coachable, and he earns and commands the respect and trust of his peers.” 
 
That didn’t make leadership easy for Breunig.  It’s especially difficult to lead in an environment where so many of your teammates and peers are also close friends, says Breunig.  “It can be stressful at times.”
 
He found his leadership style by balancing the lessons he gleaned from the many seasons of athletics he’s played, and in his own commitment to the team.  In a phrase, says Breunig, “I try to lead by example.” 
 
 “I think that if I’m going to motivate others, if I’m going to be asking them to sacrifice themselves for the team, if I’m going to be asking them to give everything they have in a drill or at a practice or in a game, I’ve got to first show that I’m willing to sacrifice myself as much or more than I’m asking,” says Breunig. 
 
“Everything was set up for me to succeed”
 
For a long time, Breunig knew he would play college basketball.  He knew it. His AAU team competed in regional and national tournaments, and he idolized legends in the sport.  
 
He knew it.  And then, he decided that perhaps that wasn’t the plan meant for him.  
 
Basketball—and only basketball—was time consuming.  Breunig couldn’t see himself dedicating three, four, six, twenty-four hours a day to the sport.  
 
That’s when he decided to pursue other interests.  He’d long been fascinated with sports—in general, and specifically.  He watched Premiere League Soccer. He watched golf—and not just the majors.  He watched and enjoyed sports, he followed teams and players, and he developed an affinity for many of them.  He followed his interests at Davidson Day, participating in a different sport each athletic season beginning in middle school.
 
Breunig gave serious thought about leaving Davidson Day after his 8th grade year.  Some of his peers were planning on leaving to go to larger or bigger schools.  He thought about his interests, and what mattered to him. And he almost left. 
 
“But I realized that Davidson Day was going to be a really good fit for me,” says Breunig.  “Everything was set up for me to succeed.” 
 
He elected to stay—for the academic experience, for the athletic opportunities, and for the AFAR program.  
 
“I realized that I had developed such strong relationships with my teachers and coaches,” said Breunig.  “And that was really important to me.”  
 
Meaningful connections on and off the field
 
“I’ve been here since I was four years old,” says Breunig, “and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know my teachers, especially those who are also my coaches.”  
 
Coaches at Davidson Day develop meaningful connections with their students and their student athletes, says Breunig, “which is critical to coaching a team—you can’t just run players into the ground with drills, you’ve got to have the relationships with them so they’ll want to run, and they’ll want to work.” 
 
That’s what makes coaches like Brad Laatsch so effective, says Breunig.  “He makes a strong personal connection with us, as players, sure, but also as people.” 
 
“Of course he also knows when to yell at us, too.” 
 
That connection makes a difference.  When players believe in a coach, they also believe in their team, and they believe in each other.  Even when there are doubts, says Breunig, remembering the weeks of practice leading up to a soccer match against Charlotte Latin.  
 
“A lot of us were expecting to lose,” said Breunig, “but Coach Laatsch told us for weeks that we could win, preparing us physically, strategically, and mentally.”
 
The team suffered a defeat, 1-0.  “But it was the best game that we’ve played,” says Breunig, “I think it was the best game that we’ve ever played.”  
 
Those connections—on and off the field—also generate excitement.  Breunig says that when the stands or stadiums or bleachers are full of students, teachers, and parents, it makes a big difference for those teams.  It makes a big difference for him, too.  
 
Sports are a great metaphor for life, says Breunig: “You have to work to improve, you have to rely on teammates, you have to develop your own skills and strengths, and sports are also naturally varied, just like careers or technical skills in the real world.”  
 
So when Breunig says that he plays for more than just playing for fun, he means it.  He’s preparing for success—on the court, on the field, on the green, and off.  
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