Hello!

I'm Maya Karthikeyan, a student at Sycamore High School, and the creator of Match x Mind. As a student-athlete, I’ve seen firsthand how much mental health impacts performance, confidence, and everyday life. Sports are often portrayed as purely physical, but I believe the mind is just as important as the body.

That’s why I created Match x Mind: to talk about the side of sports people don’t always see. The stories, the struggles, the highs and the lows athletes deal with that don’t make it onto the stat sheet. I wanted a place where athletes could feel seen, supported, and celebrated for their whole selves—not just their wins. I wanted a place where people get informed about how much of a mental toll being an athlete can be.

If you’re reading this, I hope you find something here that inspires you, comforts you, or reminds you that you’re not alone in whatever you’re going through. This space is for you.