Their names are peppered throughout sports history—Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, Jim Thorpe, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Lolo Jones and Marion Jones. They are multi-sport athletes that took their talents to the world's stage and achieved success at the highest level.
There are several factors that attribute to someone's success in being a multi-sport athlete—raw athletic talent, desire to compete at the highest level, hard work and dedication to the craft and simply the love of sport itself. Other factors in being a multi-sport athlete that should also be taken into account range from—immense wear and tear on the body, physical and mental fatigue and career burnout.
Sanders, who was a dual sport standout for both the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Braves, once made a unique double dip by playing in both an NFL game for the Falcons and the National League Championship Series for the Braves on the same day. "Both of them were important," said Sanders of the games. "Both games were important. It's a game. There's fans. There's teammates. There's family. Everything. Every time you compete, it's important."
Salem College has eight student-athletes competed in multiple sports over the course of the 2019-20 season—Rachel Black, Maria Ferrer, Emily Inman, Hope Morrison, Corrin Shores, Lauren Holman, Amy Stutzer and Isabella Verdicchio. Over the course of the next two weeks we are going to analyze the careers of Salem's multi-sport athletes.
CORRIN SHORES
Corrin Shores is the lone three-sport athlete featured in this seven-part series about Salem's multi-sport athletes. Shores has competed in basketball, swimming and volleyball in her collegiate career.
Through the first three years of her Salem volleyball career Shores has appeared in 178 sets, amassed 389 digs (2.19 digs / set) and accrued 61 service aces. A member of the USA South All-Sportsmanship Team in 2018, Shores ranked in the top-five of three major statistical categories in 2019, including service aces (34—2nd), digs (208—5th) and digs / set (2.14—5th). She notched at least five digs in 21 of 28 matches over the course of the season.
The Elkin, N.C., native quickly transitioned from the volleyball court to the pool in mid-November, competing in five meets for the Salem swim team. She competed in seven events including the 50 butterfly, 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay. Shores was among the Top-3 finishers in nine meets, including a first-place performance in the 50 freestyle of the Pfeiffer Dual (Feb. 1, 2020), where she streaked down the pool in 29.59.
In her first meet of the season, a dual with Pfeiffer on Nov. 9, 2019, Shores along with teammates Olivia Kleven, Ashleigh Nelson and Amy Stutzer to bring home first place in the 200 medley relay with a time of 2:09.38. After notching a pair of second-place finishes in relays at the Guilford-Sweet Briar Dual (Nov. 16) and Greensboro-Virginia Wesleyan Dual (Dec. 7), Shores teamed with Kleven, Allison Wakefield and Rachel Black to place first in the Pfeiffer Dual (Feb. 1) with a time of 2:06.61.
Shores' collegiate career also includes a one-year stint with the Salem basketball team in 2017-18. During that season she played five games, played 14 minutes, grabbed five rebounds and handed out one assist.
Shores recently discussed competing in both swimming and volleyball at Salem over the course of the 2019-20 season and provided the following answers:
How has being a multi-sport athlete been advantageous to you when competing against others?
SHORES: The most advantageous aspect of being a dual-sport athlete is being able to stay in the proper state of mind to compete. When in the volleyball season, we have practice every day except one and competitions up to three or four times a week. This and college classes is not the easiest thing, but I feel like I put more effort into both school and sport when in season. After a 6 a.m. practice, I am more alert in my classes throughout the day and get more work done. This transitions directly into swim season, where we have 7 a.m. practices every weekday. Though I go to my 8 a.m. classes wet after swimming, I am a more productive student then I am in the off season. Not having to worry about not understanding a topic allows for me to be more competitive in the classroom as well as on the court and in the pool and give my 100 percent to all endeavors.
What is the most difficult thing about transitioning between sports and sport seasons as a multi-sport athlete?
SHORES: One of the most difficult things about the swim and volleyball seasons is that they overlap. When in volleyball season, I end up missing many practices and meets for swim. As a teammate it is not fun to watch your fellow swimmers put so much work in and not be at their sides in a race or cheering them on. Though I do have volleyball, I do wish I could be two places at once.
Obviously anyone who is playing multiple sports loves to compete at the highest level. Describe a little bit where your competitive nature comes from when you compete?
SHORES: One reason I am so competitive is because I am an Aries. Aries thrive to compete against others and themselves, always wanting to be the best they can be. One of my downfalls as an athlete is I do get frustrated with myself when I miss a serve, shank a pass, or do not beat my previous time in a swim event. I get this way because I know I can do better for my teammates and my coaches.
Who is someone (or possibly a number of people) that you find motivation from as an athlete or possibly even a non-athlete (ex: parent, grandparent, relative)?
SHORES: All of my coaches growing up have encouraged all the values I have in sports. I began playing basketball when I was in third grade and my coach Bradley Stokes would often say to me when I apologized for messing up on the court, "Don't be sorry, be better." That stuck with me and I continue to remember this, even though I still apologize a lot when I mess up. Another coach for basketball and soccer in high school, Charlton Foster, often told me to not to "be a pansy." I remember this when I want to quit a long swim set or a hard volleyball drill.
What is your most memorable moment in each sport that you have competed at while at Salem and why?
SHORES: The most memorable moment for me for Salem College volleyball was beating Greensboro College at N.C. Wesleyan College in the 2019 season. This was one of the best games we played as a team, constantly communicating and celebrating when we did well. After this game, fellow captain Taylor Moulton told the team she had never been prouder to be a Spirit than during that game and I agree.
For Salem swim, the most memorable moment was our first home swim match of our inaugural season. Seeing friends, family, and Salem College faculty come out to support us and cheer us on at our home pool was amazing. This was also my first meet for the swim team so that helped.
How does competing in swimming help you in bettering your game on the volleyball court?
SHORES: Swim helps me stay in better shape for volleyball. During open gyms and working out on my own I can tell that my endurance is better.
Additionally, how does playing volleyball benefit you when you are competing in swimming?
SHORES: Volleyball serves have a similar motion as swim strokes, thus volleyball helps me keep my shoulders strong for swim.