Some athletes wait until they reach the next level to develop elite habits. Others, like Alex Kowalczyk, start from day one. 

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When Alex arrived at Wayne State College as a freshman linebacker, he was already committed to doing the little things that lead to big results. In his first season on campus, he began using XA Score as a daily tool to track his weight, recovery, and readiness. What started as a way to monitor his weekend weight fluctuations soon became an essential part of his routine—one that has lasted over 470 days with only one missed check-in.

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Consistency Isn’t Luck. It’s a Choice.  

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The best in the world track their recovery, manage their workload, and fine-tune their habits daily. So does Alex Kowalczyk.

When he first started using XA Score, it was about weight management during a weight-gain phase of the offseason. He saw a pattern—his weight would increase during the week, but drop three to five pounds over the weekend when his routine changed. Instead of guessing, he adjusted his fueling and made a plan. That simple awareness became a foundation for something bigger: tracking not just weight, but sleep, soreness, and readiness to ensure he was progressing towards his weight and future performance goals. 

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Over time, his approach evolved. He began paying closer attention to sleep consistency, soreness trends, and overall recovery. The data reinforced what he already knew: how he prepared today would determine how he performed tomorrow.

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At first, he just wanted to track his weight. Then, the data showed him something he hadn’t fully realized—his sleep and recovery directly influenced how he felt on and off the field.

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“I started seeing patterns in my sleep and recovery that I wouldn’t have noticed otherwise,” Kowalczyk explains. “That’s when I really bought into tracking everything. It just made me better.”

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Entering the 2024 season, Kowalczyk was on the D2 Football Elite 100 watch list and the College Football Network D2 preseason All-American first team watch list. Expectations were high, but for Alex, preparation wasn’t about external recognition—it was about the daily work that leads to elite performance.

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Resilience Through Adversity 

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Kowalczyk’s commitment to his process was tested when he faced back-to-back season-ending injuries. Many athletes would have checked out—mentally and physically—but Kowalczyk doubled down on what he could control. Tracking his daily readiness became part of his recovery process.

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Instead of guessing how his body was responding to rehab and training loads, he had data to back up his decisions. He used XA Score’s feedback loop to monitor soreness, adjust recovery strategies, and make sure he wasn’t pushing too hard or too little. Through the ups and downs, his streak continued.

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Beyond the Field: The Mindset of a Leader  

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Football isn’t the only place Kowalczyk applies his relentless consistency. While balancing the demands of college athletics, he completed a double major in accounting and finance and is now pursuing his MBA. His ability to handle adversity, maintain discipline, and stay committed to his process isn’t just something that makes him a better player—it’s a mindset that will carry him beyond football.

His ability to handle adversity, stay disciplined, and control what he can isn’t just an athlete’s mindset. It’s a leader’s mindset.

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“Every day is a new battle,” Kowalczyk says. “You just have to put your best foot forward, no matter what’s happened the day before.” 

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Kowalczyk’s approach mirrors XA Score’s core philosophy: Do The Next Thing Right.

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The Earned, Not Bought Mentality  

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In a world where many athletes look for shortcuts, Kowalczyk proves that consistency wins. He tracks his recovery like a pro, fine-tunes his habits like a leader, and stays disciplined like a champion

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“You can’t buy your way to success. You have to earn it,” he says. “Every rep, every habit, every decision—it all adds up.”

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His advice to younger athletes?

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Take ownership now. Track what matters. Build elite habits before you think you need them. Because success isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you create.

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