What centers a championship athlete—and how connection shifts everything.
What makes Boston College women’s lacrosse so consistently elite? According to back-to-back ACC Defender of the Year, Sydney Scales, it’s not just the talent—it’s the relationships. (Can you tell Sydney Scales and Dempsey Arsenault were teammates?
In this episode, we sit down with one of the top defenders in the game to talk about pressure, identity, and what it really means to lead. From loving competition to learning how to love the process, Sydney shares how she’s grown into a more grounded, confident version of herself—even when things felt repetitive or overwhelming.
“Some of my first thoughts going into a big game are, ‘I don’t have to do this alone.’”
She’s clear: “If you want to reach your highest potential, you have to pour into relationships.”
You’ll hear:
The identity shift from high school to college lacrosse
What to do when the sport you love starts to feel monotonous
“Wow, we’re living the same day over and over again. On repeat. It was hard.”
How developing leadership skills gave her purpose beyond performance
The exact mindset shift that helped her play with more freedom and joy
Why pouring into teammates isn’t just good for culture—it’s good for your game
Embracing growth over grind: “By senior year, I developed a deeper love for the process.”
Whether you're a parent, player, or coach—this one is worth the listen.
Resources mentioned: Huberman Lab Essentials
Next up: Sydney nominates Audra Tosone, UMass lacrosse alum, health coach in training, and one of Sydney’s former high school teammates.
🔗 Access full episode here.
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