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The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association in partnership with the National Federation of High Schools recently launched a #MyReasonWhy campaign to highlight the benefits to high school sports and activities participation and share positive stories and memories from student-athletes, parents, coaches, officials, and more.

Kory Fredrickson, the girls basketball coach at Denmark High School, decided to ask his players about what they feel is important about high school sports, specifically what is their reason to persevere. Below are the team's responses.

• The game of basketball has been the most time and effort consuming thing I've done for the past 9 years besides my education. It has blessed me with my BEST friends and taught me an abundance of life lessons, few of which include: a healthy competitive drive, how to be a leader, how to be a team player, and how to be mentally tough. It has been the strongest bond between my mom and I, and I play to impress her and to make her proud of me each and every game. Every time I think about why I persevere in basketball, I think about all those things, but what I think about the most is the fact that in 2 months I will NEVER ever get to play this sport again at this level with the people I love. I will never again have a town full of people supporting me and my goals, and I will never have a gym full of fans jumping and screaming for our team. That alone is enough to push me to be my best and make the most out of every moment. I will miss this sport with all my heart and I don't want to have any regrets over the ending of it. That's why I persevere.
• I persevere because basketball is my life. I play because I love the game and the people I play with. My teammates are my family and we have been though a lot of ups and downs together. The ups and downs that we went through are what made us so close. We are a family. I love that feeling being on the court with the people I love. I love the adrenaline that goes through my body when I'm about to step on the court. The feeling I get before playing a game is something that I could never explain. I persevere because I am not a quitter. At times basketball can be hard and frustrating, but I will never quit the game that means so much to me. Knowing that one day I won't be playing this sport anymore makes me persevere and always want to do my best.                     
• I have been playing with my senior teammates since I was young. These people have been a big part of my life, and since we have been playing this great game, we all believed we could achieve great things in our high school years. I can honestly say these have been the best years of my life, and it is because I have been playing the game I love with the people I love. It can't get much better than that. Now, we have come to a few bumps in the road (ups and downs) and I don't believe that is a good enough excuse to just quit or give up. I truly believe we can do something great this year, because we have a connection and heart that not many teams do. We just have to find our missing piece and work together to accomplish our goals. Preferably before March ;) So i persevere because I know we aren't done here yet, and I want to achieve things I put my mind to, and I believe in my teammates also.              
• I persevere because this is our last chance. Most of us have been playing this game together since we were in 3rd grade, and with the younger people involved now, we have become a family. We have grown so much as a team over the years and you can't just give up on something as great as that. These girls are the people that I trust the most and the people who became my best friends through this crazy sport. So I persevere for my team. For each and everyone of them. I also persevere because I want to improve. Basketball is one thing that isn't always going to be there, and I want to be the best basketball playing I can be while I still have the chance.     
• I persevere because I love this game. I love the feeling of being out on the court with some of my best friends. I love that no matter what we always support each other and that keeps me going. I persevere because that is what basketball has taught me. To achieve what you want, you are going to have to work for it. Sometimes that means doing things on your own, but a majority of the time it is with the greatest teammates you will ever play with. I persevere because I know that I won’t be able to play another game, but my teammates still need me there and I still need them.                                                     
• I persevere in basketball for my team and to have fun. Basketball isn't an easy sport, and not everyone can do it. There are tons of ups and downs with both wins and loses, but we have to get through it together. Everyone has to do their part. In my opinion, to do this I owe it to my team to persevere. If I'm not willing to push through everything and never give up even during rough games, then I'm letting down my team, and we won't succeed. I'm here to have fun and help my team out, so I persevere for them. 
• The reason I preserve is because the feeling of being on a team that supports you and loves you is far greater than any win. The team chemistry this year makes winning games worth the hard work and discipline. Losing a game only makes us closer because we build upon our weaknesses and work towards improving our performance. Giving up isn't an option to me because, I'd be giving up on my self and more importantly my team. I love this team so much, when I get down on myself for a missed shot or bad pass, they're there with words of encouragement and support. This team is the reason I persevere.     
• I persevere for the love of the game. I love every aspect of the game along with my teammates. 
• I persevere for the love of the game. I have spent countless hours practicing and playing this game. I love the feeling of being out on the court with some of my best friends playing the game I love. When I play, I play for my team. Basketball requires you to be mentally and physically strong. I love the feeling of coming off the court with bruises and knowing that I did everything I could to help the team. Through playing basketball, I have learned how to be a better leader, a team player, and have made some of my best friends. Without this game, I wouldn't be who or where I am today. This game has taught me so much and I don't know where I would be without it. I persevere for my team and for the love of the game.
• I persevere because success doesn't come without some setbacks. I have been in sports since I was five years old. I have a competitive nature and I never give up.  I have lost a lot of games, and sometimes it does feel really terrible.  But the feeling I get when my team wins a game is unparalleled. There is no comparison to the feeling of winning after all the hard work my team and I have put forth in practices.  All the hard times are worth it.
• I persevere for the people who doubt the ability of our team. Knowing that people doubt you and your ability is a bad feeling. Being able to overcome the negative thoughts people put towards you is a great feeling. Knowing that people are doubting you makes you have to be mentally strong to allow yourself to overcome the negativity being placed on you. I have grown to love the game of basketball, and the feel of being part of team. All the hard work that I have put in makes me feel that I owe it to my team to help them overcome the doubt placed upon me or the team, that is why I persevere.                                         
• I persevere because basketball is a demanding sport. You can't be very good at basketball without being mentally strong because the mentality part of the game separates the good from the great. I myself struggle with being mentally strong sometimes (layups), but that is just another reason why I persevere. I want to push myself to the limit so I can be the best player I can be. Another reason why I persevere is the physicality of basketball. There isn't a single person who hasn't been roughed up playing basketball. The challenge of the physicality I why I love the game so much because it makes me want to get to that next level and get the next boxout and rebound. I honestly don't know how I'd know what hard work was without the game of basketball because it has taught me how to overcome.                                                
• I persevere because the game of basketball is a hard sport on your body and your mind and when you learn how to over come those hard challenges it makes you passionate and excited and everyone likes to feel those feelings. I also persevere because the game of basketball is something I have learned to love and without it I would be missing a big part of who I am today.
• Coach Fredrickson:  So why do I persevere. Whether it is in basketball, in the classroom, or in my personal life; it is rather simple. I choose to. You don’t ever know what is going to happen. To me it doesn’t matter if we are 0-7, 7-0, or anywhere in between.  To quote the Rock, “It doesn’t matter!” What matters is that I choose to persevere. I choose to believe that you girls can achieve amazing things. It doesn’t matter if we are playing against bigger, faster, and/or stronger competition. I choose to believe that we can be successful.