The definition of luck according to the dictionary is success or failure apparently brought on by chance rather than by one’s own actions. As athletes, all of our lives we’ve been told good luck before games. But why? Is luck real? Before doing the research for this article I already had my answer. I am a firm believer in Christ therefore I believe that everything happens for a reason and that it’s already been decided, even those terrible bad hopes to the face (Ephesians 1:11). My answer to the question isn’t ultimate. There is no right or wrong answer, simply your answer. Here’s what some of the amazing student-athletes at Nicholls State University had to say.

Jackie Johnson (softball): I believe that you set yourself up for luck. There has to be luck in sports, it gives you hope and it adds excitement.

Alex Tucker (baseball): I don’t believe in luck. I believe in controlling the controllables. I believe that you get what you deserve. The game always knows and it’s out of your control, like a bad hop. God has a written plan.

Emani White (basketball): I don't believe in luck I believe in God. I’ve always believed in God because I was raised in the church. When I was younger I did believe in luck but as i grew older I needed something more. When i go to say that I’m lucky I correct myself because instead I know that I am blessed and that it was God.

Jarred Scott (baseball): I do believe in luck because you can’t control everything. If an umpire calls a ball a strike that was clearly a strike there’s nothing you can do about it. Sometimes things happen and sometimes they don’t.

Sydney Bourg (softball): I don’t believe in luck I think of “Telelestai” which translates from Greek to “It is finished” (God’s last words on the cross). He already decided whether you were going to catch that ball or not.

Ethan Valdez (baseball): There’s 300 Division I teams in the U.S the teams that make it to the World Series don’t get there by luck. They get there because they play as a team and their drive as a team is bigger than their selfish needs. God has a plan and sometimes it changes but I’ve worked for everything I’ve gotten through Him.

Megan Landry (softball): I do believe in luck because people don’t always deserve what they get. God holds and creates luck and gives it to people.

“Big Al” Wilson (football): I don’t believe in luck because I believe that everything happens for a reason. The work that you put in determines the outcome before the situation occurs.You work for Him and everything comes back to him. Me working for what i have is a reflection of what he’s done for me.

Taylor Morrison (basketball) I believe that you're just blessed. When something good happens in my life I don't think, “ooo I’m lucky.” I think, “ooo I’m blessed.” There’s no explanation for luck however, God predetermines everything. When you hurt yourself it makes you think. After my shoulder injury i really had to reevaluate my life and look at how i was living. I don’t believe in luck.

Jae Skoda (baseball): I don’t believe in luck I believe in preparation.

Jordan Talley (football): I believe that lucky things happen. People don’t practice one-handed catches. When those plays happen in games they could be acts of God but nobody works at that, it’s not practice.

Adam Ward (basketball): There’s a possibility of luck but things just happen. In a game I was playing once this guy made a shot from the opposite free throw line and the only thing I can attribute that to is that anything that could happen will. There are an infinite amount of possibilities as to why things happen I don’t think everything is predetermined. Anything that can happen will happen at some point just ‘cause. Things happen because they can.

Chelsea Rou (former volleyball player): I believe in blessings. God put us here already knowing what he wanted for us. I had a scholarship to play volleyball and i lost it because I cracked my back. I hated God for a long time. But later I realized that He took what I thought was everything so that I could change my perspective on life. Before volleyball came before church, my family and school. After getting volleyball taken away I was able to appreciate everything I had and I’m in a better place. So I don’t believe in luck I believe that everything happens for a reason.

Tyler “Tank” Johnson (Football): I don’t believe in luck I believe in God’s favor.

Moriah Strother (softball): I don't believe in luck, I believe that you create your own luck. There’s no such thing as coincidence in my world. Everything happens for a reason. No one is more “lucky” than someone else. Your preparation going into the game is very important but you never know what you’re going to face when it comes to a real game situation. It’s all about timing, being in the right place at the right time. Being in the moment and trusting all your preparation to make that “she got lucky” play. But it’s not luck that allowed her to make that play. It’s her preparation, it’s God’s timing. If anything that girl is blessed that God gave her the opportunity to make that extraordinary play and then trust herself and her ability to execute it.