Growing up in Chrisney, Indiana, on a family farm, I learned early that hard work and discipline weren’t optional—they were part of daily life. But alongside feeding livestock and helping out with chores, another part of my upbringing played a big role in shaping who I am today: youth sports. Whether it was basketball, baseball, or football, I was always on a team, always in the game, and always learning lessons I didn’t even know would stick with me for life.
Today, as an attorney, a former public defender, a judge, and someone involved in many areas of public service, I often find myself drawing from those early days on the field. Youth sports don’t just build athletes—they build character, resilience, and leadership skills that last a lifetime.
Learning to Work as a Team
One of the most obvious takeaways from sports is learning how to be part of a team. It’s not about being the star player—it’s about showing up, playing your role, and trusting the people around you. That’s a skill that transfers directly into the courtroom, the judge’s chambers, and any community-based work.
In law and public service, nothing happens in a vacuum. You work with prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, clerks, probation officers, and treatment professionals. You need to know how to communicate, how to listen, and how to lead without overshadowing others. Youth sports taught me how to put the mission above my ego—a skill that’s absolutely necessary when the stakes involve people’s lives and futures.
Resilience in the Face of Loss
In sports, you win some and you lose some. I still remember games where we left everything on the field and came up short. As a kid, those losses stung. But they also taught me how to handle failure, learn from it, and get back up the next day ready to try again.
In the world of law, setbacks are inevitable. You don’t win every case. You can’t solve every problem. But what matters is how you respond when things don’t go your way. Youth sports helped me develop the kind of mental toughness and emotional maturity that are critical in public service roles—especially in high-pressure situations.
Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime
Showing up for practice, running drills, sticking to routines—all of those things might seem small at the time, but they add up. Sports demand consistency. You learn how to follow through even when you don’t feel like it. That same kind of discipline is what keeps lawyers prepared for court, what keeps judges fair and focused, and what allows community leaders to show up day after day for the people who count on them.
I’ve carried that sense of structure with me through law school, long hours at the public defender’s office, and now in my role on the bench. The habits I formed on the field—the early mornings, the late practices, the never-quit attitude—helped shape my professional work ethic.
Accountability and Leadership
Sports also taught me about accountability. If I missed a block or didn’t hustle back on defense, the team felt it. There was no hiding from it. That kind of direct feedback helps you grow. It teaches you to own your mistakes, fix them, and move forward. That mindset has served me well as a public servant.
Good leaders—especially in law and government—have to be willing to look in the mirror, admit when they’re wrong, and strive to do better. In sports, you don’t get better by blaming the ref or your teammates. You get better by doing the work. That lesson has stayed with me in every role I’ve held, from attorney to judge.
Connecting with the Next Generation
Even today, I stay involved with youth sports—not just because I enjoy them, but because I believe in their power to transform lives. I’ve seen firsthand how a kid with no direction finds purpose on a team. I’ve seen confidence bloom when someone gets their first hit or scores their first touchdown. I’ve seen young people learn leadership, patience, and respect—lessons that carry into their schools, homes, and future careers.
Some of those young athletes will go on to become attorneys, police officers, teachers, and public servants. And even if they don’t choose those paths, they’ll still benefit from the character they developed on the field or court. That’s why supporting youth sports is an investment in the future—not just of our kids, but of our communities.
Final Thoughts
When I look back on my journey—from a kid on a farm in Southern Indiana to serving on the bench in Warrick County—I see a clear line connecting those early mornings on the practice field to the work I do today. Youth sports gave me more than memories. They gave me a foundation built on discipline, teamwork, accountability, and resilience.
In a world that often feels divided, where leadership is needed more than ever, I believe the values we teach through youth sports are part of the solution. They shape young people into adults who care, who work hard, and who lead with character. And that’s exactly the kind of person we need in the courtroom, in government, and in every corner of public life.