DePaul University Athletics
Jade Gates: Trusting the Process
2/28/2019 10:00:00 AM | TRACK AND FIELD
BIG EAST Field Standout Reflects on First Year and Personal Growth
Sophomore track and field star Jade Gates finished last outdoor season placing 21st in the javelin throw at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships West Preliminary. The All-BIG EAST performer earned the BIG EAST Championship Outstanding Field Performer honor after winning the hammer throw and finishing second in javelin at the conference meet.
While these feats didn't come easy for the St. Louis, Mo. native, the biggest obstacle she overcame was herself.
"Last year I was really hard on myself," Gates said. "I find that I'm my biggest critic. Even if I have set a new personal record or I make progress, I'm never satisfied. In a way that's good, but you also can't deny yourself any credit."
It started to feel that head coach Dave Dopek was speaking directly to her when addressing the squads at practice.
"He would say, 'I'm tired of you guys coming to me with personal records and saying that you could have done better,'" Gates said. "'You're taking away from the fact that you did something you've never done before.' I was known for doing that."
Changing a mindset isn't the easiest task to accomplish, but it is part of trusting the process. While technically an individual sport, Gates believes that every member of the Blue Demon track and field team helps everyone else grow as a whole, which is part of the process.
"Our group was more separated last year, but getting second place in the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships was unexpected," Gates said. "In that moment, we started buying into what coach Dopek was preaching to us. It is an individual sport, but I tell people all the time that it's really not. We are a team and have to show up as a team."
The strong bond that began at the league competition in New York continues to this day, no matter the level of experience.
"The freshmen are asking me how I'm doing," Gates said. "The seniors are talking to sophomores. Everyone knows and loves everyone. Having that support system is so much better this year. All of the upperclassmen are people I look up to.
"When I meet someone new, I try and learn from them. Everyone is good at something. The women on the team that are my role models teach me how to deal with people and how to face adversity because they've been there."
In the face of adversity, the two-time BIG EAST Women's Field Athlete of the Week knows that she can turn to her fellow throwers who all want to see each other reach their potential.
"To come here and be surrounded by 10 other throwers who love to throw and want to do well and want to see me do well is awesome and overwhelming," Gates said. "This is a culture that we take seriously.
"I had never really thrown the weight or hammer until two months before I came here. Dominic Marshall took me under his wing. I never asked. Coach never asked. It's kind of something he just did. He was the reason I fell in love with the hammer and weight throw and now they're my favorite events. It's crazy because I went to nationals in javelin, but that's fine.
"It meant a lot to me because nobody had ever done that before."
Athletics departments across the nation have their own unique identity. For Gates, she couldn't have found a better match in DePaul. While strong team chemistry and bonds are important to her and her squad, she also appreciates the hard work and dedication from all of the Blue Demon teams.
"No matter what type of success that you have, every sport and every athlete carries themselves with pride," she said. "Watching the soccer girls when they're lifting and being around men's and women's basketball, you see the dedication and work ethic. You don't get the option, it's something we just do. You buy into it and believe in it. It's really natural. Everyone is here for a reason and everyone knows that we belong."
Another shining moment for Gates was the NCAA's Diversity and Inclusion social media campaign earlier this year. Last fall, the national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee launched their first-ever social media campaign that reached over 64 million people on Twitter alone.
Captains' Council led the planning in the department's week-long participation which included creating videos and graphics.
"I didn't get to see everyone do it because everyone was filming at different times," Gates said. "I know the athletics department is diverse and that everyone looks different, but to see it in a video was awesome! Some people think that we're all just athletes and there aren't other things we can do. We are so much more in addition to athletes.
"It was good to see the video and the faces in it. We're all from so many different places and do so many different things. It was powerful to watch."
Having never competed on an AAU or travel team while attending Incarnate Word Academy, Gates' career has taken off thanks to her determination, a dedicated work ethic and the close bond with the Blue Demons around her. This was something she sees as completely different from her time as a Red Knight.
"In high school, nobody really took track seriously," she said. "Everyone was doing it so they could have a senior night. Now at DePaul, I found this is something I really want to do. I'm really passionate about throwing and I'm really good at it.
"We're all excited for the BIG EAST indoor and outdoor conference meets because we can do some great things this year."
While these feats didn't come easy for the St. Louis, Mo. native, the biggest obstacle she overcame was herself.
"Last year I was really hard on myself," Gates said. "I find that I'm my biggest critic. Even if I have set a new personal record or I make progress, I'm never satisfied. In a way that's good, but you also can't deny yourself any credit."
It started to feel that head coach Dave Dopek was speaking directly to her when addressing the squads at practice.
"He would say, 'I'm tired of you guys coming to me with personal records and saying that you could have done better,'" Gates said. "'You're taking away from the fact that you did something you've never done before.' I was known for doing that."
Changing a mindset isn't the easiest task to accomplish, but it is part of trusting the process. While technically an individual sport, Gates believes that every member of the Blue Demon track and field team helps everyone else grow as a whole, which is part of the process.
"Our group was more separated last year, but getting second place in the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships was unexpected," Gates said. "In that moment, we started buying into what coach Dopek was preaching to us. It is an individual sport, but I tell people all the time that it's really not. We are a team and have to show up as a team."
The strong bond that began at the league competition in New York continues to this day, no matter the level of experience.
"The freshmen are asking me how I'm doing," Gates said. "The seniors are talking to sophomores. Everyone knows and loves everyone. Having that support system is so much better this year. All of the upperclassmen are people I look up to.
"When I meet someone new, I try and learn from them. Everyone is good at something. The women on the team that are my role models teach me how to deal with people and how to face adversity because they've been there."
In the face of adversity, the two-time BIG EAST Women's Field Athlete of the Week knows that she can turn to her fellow throwers who all want to see each other reach their potential.
"To come here and be surrounded by 10 other throwers who love to throw and want to do well and want to see me do well is awesome and overwhelming," Gates said. "This is a culture that we take seriously.
"I had never really thrown the weight or hammer until two months before I came here. Dominic Marshall took me under his wing. I never asked. Coach never asked. It's kind of something he just did. He was the reason I fell in love with the hammer and weight throw and now they're my favorite events. It's crazy because I went to nationals in javelin, but that's fine.
"It meant a lot to me because nobody had ever done that before."
Athletics departments across the nation have their own unique identity. For Gates, she couldn't have found a better match in DePaul. While strong team chemistry and bonds are important to her and her squad, she also appreciates the hard work and dedication from all of the Blue Demon teams.
"No matter what type of success that you have, every sport and every athlete carries themselves with pride," she said. "Watching the soccer girls when they're lifting and being around men's and women's basketball, you see the dedication and work ethic. You don't get the option, it's something we just do. You buy into it and believe in it. It's really natural. Everyone is here for a reason and everyone knows that we belong."
Another shining moment for Gates was the NCAA's Diversity and Inclusion social media campaign earlier this year. Last fall, the national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee launched their first-ever social media campaign that reached over 64 million people on Twitter alone.
Captains' Council led the planning in the department's week-long participation which included creating videos and graphics.
"I didn't get to see everyone do it because everyone was filming at different times," Gates said. "I know the athletics department is diverse and that everyone looks different, but to see it in a video was awesome! Some people think that we're all just athletes and there aren't other things we can do. We are so much more in addition to athletes.
"It was good to see the video and the faces in it. We're all from so many different places and do so many different things. It was powerful to watch."
Having never competed on an AAU or travel team while attending Incarnate Word Academy, Gates' career has taken off thanks to her determination, a dedicated work ethic and the close bond with the Blue Demons around her. This was something she sees as completely different from her time as a Red Knight.
"In high school, nobody really took track seriously," she said. "Everyone was doing it so they could have a senior night. Now at DePaul, I found this is something I really want to do. I'm really passionate about throwing and I'm really good at it.
"We're all excited for the BIG EAST indoor and outdoor conference meets because we can do some great things this year."
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