D3 Week Wildcat Spotlight: Dayton Magaña

TRUSTING IN A HIGHER POWER

Dayton Magaña’s recovery from a devastating knee injury has been guided by his Christian faith and in turn is enabling him to lead the Wildcats to a brighter future.

While playing defense, the Linfield University basketball player went to intercept a pass when he heard a loud pop. “I tore my ACL and my meniscus in the last game of the season last year against Whitworth.”

Two months after the tear, Magaña had his first surgery in response to a sports injury. The point guard describes the recovery process as slow and tedious, saying “You’re taking baby-steps every day. At first, it’s like flexing your quad, then you’re trying to bend your leg, and now you’re walking. You’re pretty much starting all over.” 

“He’s the one that got me through the process. Looking back, I can’t really take much credit for it. Obviously, I put in work to try to get back, but I prayed a lot, and I definitely feel like that my recovery was a prayer that was answered. I just wanted to play my senior year.”

“Basketball is a sport where some days you might not get the results that you were looking for, even when you put in as much work as you can. I think the same goes with life.” 

Magaña says this concept has ultimately brought him closer to Christ.

“Jesus is the only one you can depend on like that, and He listens. He’s always there for whatever you need.” 

To keep this constantly in mind, Magaña wears a wristband with a cross drawn on while he’s on the court. 

“It was a good reminder of why I’m even out here playing. Jesus is the one who allows me to play and He’s giving me the opportunity.” 

The wristband simply reinforces Magaña’s sense of gratitude during game play. 

An undersized point guard standing 5-foot-7, Magaña originally found himself playing basketball at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California. 

“I wasn’t really recruited heavily out of high school, so I went to junior college. Then I got recruited (by the previous Linfield coach), and I’ve been here since. I thought it was a good fit.” 

This early bond with his father led Dayton Magaña to pursue basketball, despite previously being a football player. Dayton states that, “I naturally stuck with basketball because I liked the challenge and the creativity to it.” 

When he thinks of his plans for after Linfield, Magaña hopes to stay connected to basketball. “I was always interested in staying around the sports scene… and I realized I couldn’t see myself not being a part of basketball. The athlete aspires to pursue teaching or coaching in order to remain active in the sports world. However, Magaña plans to take full advantage of the opportunities ahead of him, saying that he will go “wherever the Lord takes me.”