Wabash College athletics has announced a new partnership with Mental Training Plan (MTP) to provide student-athletes with mental performance training, tools, and resources designed to enhance their competitive experience.

The partnership began in late August with workshops for the Wabash football team and meetings with six other athletic programs.

MTP, led by Ben Carnes and Dr. Carmen Carnes, specializes in providing athletes with practical skills and tools designed to help them perform at their best under pressure. Ben Carnes holds a master's degree in education with a focus on coaching, while Carmen Carnes earned a doctorate in instructional leadership. Together, they bring extensive experience in coaching, education and curriculum development to the program.

"As we pursue excellence in our athletic department, it is critical that we provide our student-athletes with the tools that are essential for excellence," Wabash Director of Athletics Jim Peeples said. "Our partnership with Ben and Mental Training Plan is a critical piece of the preparation our student-athletes will have that will not only allow them to perform at their highest level, but the skills they learn can be applied throughout the rest of their lives in any field they choose to pursue.

"We are very excited to have Ben and his team as new partners providing this training for our student-athletes. This is one more way we are setting ourselves apart from our competition in NCAA Division III athletics and enhancing the Wabash student-athlete experience."

The training will focus on areas including confidence, focus, attention control and emotional management, with the goal of integrating mental performance skills into Wabash teams' existing training and practice environments.

"We're not just telling athletes to 'be confident' or 'stay focused.' MTP gives them practical tools for how to actually do those things," Ben Carnes said.

The MTP approach is designed to complement the physical and technical training Wabash student-athletes already receive by providing a structured framework for developing and strengthening mental performance skills.