Growing up, Mason Vilhauer lived in Yucaipa and still does to this day. Throughout his life he didn’t really like playing sports, but that was until he started playing basketball…

¨When it came to basketball, I was really hesitant, but when I tried it, I really liked it and we kept doing it. And eventually I made one of my best friends from the sport. His name was Connor. Unfortunately, I don’t talk to him that much anymore, but he was for about four or five years, he was one of my best friends,” Vilhauer said.

Vilhauer’s first challenge came in high school when he enrolled in SBHS and joined the basketball team.

¨My first high school challenge was adjusting to a new environment. I was worried about fitting in and seeming “normal¨ he said. “Now that I’ve grown into the person I am today, I feel good about expressing myself and how I present myself.¨

 Those early games against Indian Springs taught him and his teammates about patience, resilience and growth. The lessons from those losses paid off in a big way by junior year.

¨You might know the school Indian Springs. Our freshman and sophomore year, they gave us quite a challenge in basketball,” he said. “But, our junior year, we finally overcame that. Because of that trial and error and learning how to succeed, we were able to overcome them and become league champions.¨

Another sport that Vilhauer plays is track and here’s what I infer, Running isn’t just about strength or stamina, for Vilhauer, it’s a test of how much heart you have when the pain sets in.

¨When it comes to running, it’s really about your heart  because it’s gonna hurt,” Vilhauer said. “I mean, anybody that’s ever ran before will tell you it hurts to run, to go for several miles. It’s just something that it takes a lot of heart and perseverance ¨ 

Vilhauer’s journey wasn’t just about playing sports. It was about building a mindset. Struggles in his early years shaped the winning culture he now carries with him.

¨I achieved three league titles for my three sports. Since freshman and sophomore year, I struggled with winning a lot, honestly, but this last year, we won all three sports. So that was a big thing for me. I finally won. I had a winning culture about me and I’m able to apply it to other areas in my life by using the same principles such as perseverance, grit, and determination. Those things are a few keys to my success & I believe I carry those traits with me in all aspects of life,¨ Vilhauer said. 

The biggest lesson I learned from Vilhauer is simple: don’t be afraid to try. New challenges may hurt at first, but if you commit and put your heart into them, they can become your greatest success.