April 22, 2025

Making a Bigger Impact

Troy Giegling

Vice President, Regional Sales

The role sports play with athletes and communities

It was the last inning of a night game, and our team was down by four runs. We had two outs with girls on first and second base. Our next hitter, a small, quiet girl named Maya—who was our seventh hitter in the lineup—walked up to the plate. She adjusted her hips, bent her knees, and gripped the bat just like she had been taught.  

We were never supposed to get this far. Nobody expected our small South Dakota team to do well in a softball tournament in Kansas City, a place known for the highest level of competition. Yet here we were, about to get eliminated from the semifinals under the bright lights. I was proud that we had come this far. I exhaled as the pitcher released the ball. 

But then Maya dug in, gathered herself and delivered a solid triple that brought a girl home. Then another. Then the next batter brought Maya home. Suddenly, my team of 11-year-old girls were up in the dugout and on the fence. They believed. I could see it on their faces. 

This is why I love sports. It has the power to unite coaches, fans, and athletes and make them believe in something bigger. And that belief is something you can carry off the field to math tests, house projects, marriages and more. I’m reminded of this whenever MMTH builds a new field. The impact is so much bigger than the size of the turf. 

I think every kid should have the chance to play sports. Get them off their iPads. Get them outside. Sports can lead to lifelong friendships and passions. It exposes them to leadership, guidance, critique, challenges, and triumphs. Playing sports sets kids up for success in the classroom and beyond. It provides them with an easier transition into adulthood. 

For the past five years, I’ve been lucky enough to coach my daughter’s softball team. I do not take this responsibility lightly. I take it with all the seriousness, dignity, and empathy it requires. It gives me a front row seat to watch my daughter and her friends grow as athletes and as young women.  

As a coach, it’s my job to reach each athlete individually. I always want to make sure they know that the coaches and their teammates always have their backs. How do I best coach a player who's methodical versus another who's all action? The answer, again, is helping them find belief. Belief in themselves. I want them to see in themselves what I see. I always make sure they know that I and their teammates always have their backs. And seeing my coaching lessons actually make a difference in a player’s performance is unbelievably rewarding. 

The experience of coaching and being involved in youth sports has also influenced how I approach communities and clients at MMTH. It's not just about building fields and facilities; it's about the impact they have. It’s about the lives they touch. It’s about the power of a young girl becoming part of a team. And it’s about that team working toward a common goal. 

When I talk to decision makers about upgrading their fields, I want them to know that it’s not just about having a nicer playing surface. It's about opening opportunities for so many more kids, sports, and other community activities. 

In 2023, South Dakota recognized softball as a sanctioned high school sport. Which means that more girls get the opportunity to play after middle school. That’s big! The girls get to continue playing a sport they love. They get an opportunity to further develop as players and compete with more girls from all over. They get to hold their heads high as they walk through the hallways of their school and be part of something bigger.  

That makes an impact that can be felt beyond sports. And that’s what it’s all about.  

And by the way, my team of gritty girls ended up winning that game 5-4 and carried that momentum into taking home the tournament title.