Eighteen professional athletes representing multiple pro sports drew about 1,500 aspiring young athletes and participants to the 2014 SuperFest event, a sports-themed, free community event presented by the Rock Church in partnership with Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU). Held on the campus of PLNU, SuperFest included a speed camp by its premier sponsor SKLZ, as well as golf, soccer, football, baseball, tennis, volleyball and basketball clinics.
“SuperFest is a great opportunity for families, friends and teams to simply come together and have a great time, while getting some great insight on how to play — and more importantly — live like champions,” said Marcus Preciado, pastor of strategic outreaches for the Rock Church.
This year’s SuperFest began with a pep-rally atmosphere that included a disc jockey, giveaways and a chance for guests to win autographed prizes while competing against their favorite athletes. Miles McPherson, senior pastor and former San Diego Charger, led a question-and-answer session with a panel that included such stars and superstars as Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (a former Padre), Chargers special-teams captain Darrell Stuckey, Padres catcher Nick Hundley, former Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial-arts fighter Dominick Cruz, and Chantelle Anderson, a previous second-round overall pick of the Women’s National Basketball Association draft.
During the panel session, the athletes shared about their life struggles, role models and the lessons they have learned throughout their careers. Stuckey shared about his senior year of high school when his step-father was convicted for sexually assaulting one of his siblings and how he took on additional responsibilities to help maintain his household.
“At that point, when you thought you were perfect [and] everything was high-rise for you, you crash and fall on your face,” said Stuckey. “At that point in your life, you feel like you’re broken. You [begin to question] how everything can be repaired.
“Sometimes, the one thing in your life you think is going to break you is what makes you who you are,” he said. “The only reason I got through that was because of faith, stability in my household and my mother being a strong, extraordinary person.”
McPherson added his own thoughts. “Sometimes, we think our problems are big until we hear someone else’s story,” he said. “Hopefully, God is encouraging and letting you know you are not by yourself and that you can overcome whatever you are going through.”
As the athletes shared about role models both good and bad, Hundley said that though most athletes may play well on TV, they may not make good role models.
“Just because we are on TV doesn’t make us more important,” said Hundley. “Just because the things we do are televised and watched by a lot of people doesn’t mean anything. [Success] doesn’t mean anything if you don’t treat people with dignity and respect, if you go home and don’t take care of your family.”
After the panel, guests participated in clinics with PLNU athletes and the pro athletes. Children stood in line for their chance to have Gonzalez or Hundley work with them on baseball fundamentals as the rest of the SuperFest team engaged kids in various other clinics.