Three Sport Star , Burnside , Shines Year Round . By : Brad Davis
In a time where several athletes specialize in one sport , Weslyn Burnside has chosen to play it all , and it seems to be working very well for her . At Greene County Tech , Burnside has a list of accolades across three sports that could fill up a program of its own . The senior was selected to the All-State volleyball team earlier this year , while leading the Lady Eagles to the 5A State Tournament . That completed the trifecta , as she had already earned All-State in basketball and softball as a junior . Burnside has also been All-conference as a sophomore in all three sports , along with multiple alltournament teams across three sports , as well as Jonesboro Sun ’ s Best Under the Sun in basketball and softball last year . All the accolades are a product of great time management and hard work that Burnside enjoys every minute of .
“ As a multi-sport athlete , it is definitely very hard going from season to season to season without a break all year around , but I wouldn ’ t have traded it for anything ,” the Lady Eagle explained . “ It ’ s always fun staying busy and on the go . Playing multiple sports has helped me with many things in life , and has helped me in each sport in a different way as well as given me a lifelong family of players and coaches . I would recommend multiple sports to anyone , but it does take time and effort . I absolutely love it .” She says it is not easy , but worth it in the end . “ Balancing three sports is a challenge , but it ’ s just about finding ways to get from practice to practice when I have had to , as well as all of my coaches being on the same page and understanding throughout all of these years . I never get an off season , so some days are longer than others , but it ’ s all worth it .”
Burnside not only feels being successful in one sport helps her in another , she feels that it has provided lessons that she keeps with her in life . “ Experiences in other sports over the years have not only helped me in sports , but life too ,” she explained . “ There ’ s not a lot of time to sulk after a season because the next one is coming . I ’ ve learned to move on , from next play , next game , with a better attitude and approach . As well as become a better teammate throughout the years and remember that it ’ s not just about me at all , that it ’ s about everyone as a whole .”
Burnside credits her parents for instilling the love of all these sports in her and guiding her along the way . Another big inspiration is her older sister , former three sport standout at Paragould High School and University of Arkansas softballer Braxton Burnside . “ My parents , and my sister Braxton had the greatest impact on me through my sports journey ,” she reiterated . “ My dad is all softball and coached me from 6-12 years old , and my mom was all volleyball and coached me from 6-14 years old , and they both have a head knowledge for basketball as well . They both pushed me out of my comfort zone , and we butted heads at times , but I truly wouldn ’ t have made it here without them . My sister Braxton played softball at U of A , and hasn ’ t just only pushed me as a player , but as a person and she is the first person to tell me when I am wrong . She gives me a different outlook of what a great athlete looks like as well as a young woman . She will be my biggest supporter and biggest critique and I couldn ’ t thank her enough for that .”
Playing so many different sports throughout the years , Burnisde has had a lot of different coaches who she also credits for her success . She says each one is different and has taught her different things . “ I ’ ve always been a player that is okay with somebody on my tail always ,” she said . “ I will never take it to heart , it only pushes me to be better . That started at a young age ,