Jett Travis ’27. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
This edition of student-athletes’ pre-game rituals features Jett Travis. This is part of a series of articles about student-athletes’ pre-game rituals. Read them all here.
Jett Travis ’27 is a first-year Junior and member of the Northwood Varsity hockey team, and he had a unique pre-game routine. Jett adds, “Every time I do this routine, I feel like I can play at the best of my game.”
“My day starts when I wake up, and I do a couple of stretches. Then hop in the shower and listen to music that fires me up for games. I keep jamming out while I put on my suit.”
“I hop on the bus that takes the team and me to the Olympic Center. The moment I stepped off the bus, the mood changed to all business. Before entering the locker room, shoes must be removed to keep the floor clean. Change into the warm-up gear to get comfortable and get my skates sharpened by Coach Tommy Spero before the coach’s meeting.”
“After the meeting, I throw on my AirPods and turn on the band AC/DC before I grab my tape bag and my game stick. I step into the arena and start taping my stick with white tape: the knob and halfway down the blade, from middle to toe. It always must be black tape.”
I would play soccer with the team for three games, and during warm-ups, we used a dynamic warm-up that got my legs moving. A good there-and-back of High knees, Butt kicks, Side shuffle, karaoke, Super Marios, Leg risers, can openers/closers, Hamstring stretch, and sprints.
“When it comes to hitting the tunnel, that’s when everyone and everything is blocked out of my mind, and that’s when I know I’m ready for this game.”
“If something is working, why switch it up?” Jett said. Jett has stuck with this routine for many years, and it shows that it keeps him at the top of his game. As it does not seem Jett is slowing down anytime soon.
