Sophomore Giovanni Rischmoller: Retaining focus and checking in

Sophomore Giovanni Rischmoller has played badminton since freshman year. At the beginning of this year’s season, he created a pregame routine to keep himself focused and calm during badminton matches. Before a match, Rischmoller takes three breaths with his eyes closed to clear his mind, then checks his grip on the racket and wipes his shoes before stepping onto the court. These three steps are a must before playing, but he also sometimes stretches, depending on how his body feels.

Rischmoller finds that the routine helps him relieve stress. “I don’t really feel that nervousness or pressure to play,” he said. “If I don’t do it before a game, I feel more nervous than I usually do.”