Written by Emma Weber

I made my bracket as I do every year –– artfully crafted toward the underdog. If two teams are close in rank, I choose the lesser rank. This strategy has proven me well: I’ve won three brackets, and I am currently leading in this year’s tournament. I hope I didn’t just jinx myself.

I think the underdog story is so popular because of what it communicates to us. We want to root for them because their success seems to communicate, “You can overcome the challenges!” It’s even a trope we see over and over in the media; look at movies like “Rocky,” “Kung Fu Panda,” “Facing the Giants,” “Legally Blonde,” “Moneyball” and countless others. We want to beat the odds!

Major names like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Audi Crooks and Paige Bueckers show up on our screens and tell us we are capable of big things. Although not all these teams are underdogs, we still sit and root for them because they give us something to be excited about. When I watched Iowa’s game against West Virginia, I couldn’t peel my eyes off my little phone screen. When I called my dad Tuesday morning, we talked about the game like we were on the court.

Sometimes when hype videos play in chapel, I get emotional. When I hear my friend Lauren talk about her experiences on the Harding women’s soccer team, I smile at the shared goal. Since I am a washed-up athlete, I am constantly reminded of the inspiration a team can bring into life.

The other day, a professor asked me if I had ever tried to write an eulogy for myself. He said it might help me think about what I want to be remembered for, which may in turn clarify what I want to prioritize now. As I sat down later at home, I tried to think about the things I want to outlive my time.

I realized I need to get way better at sports so I can become a trending Google search. That way, no one would ever forget me. TikToks would circulate of my greatness, and people would put my face on the fronts of magazines. Maybe I would even get a statue made of bronze outside my old high school.

Obviously this is a joke, but this hyperbolic view points out vividly why living for fame is so silly. My favorite athletes should simply remind me of the importance of being a good teammate to others. Caitlyn Clark is made better by everyone who pours into her. I want to be someone who hopes in other people, has patience during tough times and celebrates success. I want to root for the underdog because I wouldn’t be where I am today without someone rooting for me.

Find the people who cheer you on, even when the odds seem unbeatable. Spend your time in communities that tell you that you are capable and that you can overcome the challenges. When you have people to look up to and voices cheering you on, it is hard not to believe in yourself. When you stop feeling like an underdog, look around and find those who need hope and become their teammate.

To those who has invested in me — thank you. To those whose bracket I’m beating — I’m not sorry.