Dallas Steward’s path to the Sioux Falls Stampede bench began as a player chasing his NHL dreams. After a successful career in college and in the minors, the Chippewa Falls, Wis., native decided to hang up the skates and pick up a whistle. Transitioning from player to coach has been a learning experience, but the same passion with which he played is now being translated to his players through his Christ-like modeling of dedication and determination.

One win from a storybook finish to his collegiate career at Cal Poly, Chase Pami lost the 157-pound NCAA title match in 2010. That loss—and his subsequent wrestling with the Lord over it—eventually spurred the Las Vegas native to new depths in his faith. Now training with Team USA to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Pami is teaming with FCA Wrestling to share Christ from his new platform.

Coming off her third consecutive season of All-Pac-10 honors, Washington’s Kristi Kingma was set to have a stellar senior season in 2011 when a knee injury in exhibition action ended her year before it began. Now, with a new appreciation for the game, Kingma sees her redshirt season as a blessing from her Lord—one she plans to enjoy from start to finish, embracing every struggle and triumph along the way.

I absolutely love the New Year! If the previous year was long and difficult, the New Year provides a fresh start and a clean slate. If it was exciting and fulfilling, it brings an expectation of great opportunities to come. Either way, the possibilities and potential are energizing.