Student-athletes balance books

By DON STEWART
Collegian Sports Writer

Describing the task student-athletes face in attempting to juggle both sports and academics is, well, academic.

It's a challenge.

In most cases, being a student-athlete is like having two full-time jobs. In addition to keeping up with classes, athletes have to deal with the responsibilities of being a member of their teams.

"It's real tough," redshirt sophomore football player Chafie Fields said. "I don't think people realize how tough it is to be a student-athlete. It's a lot more than just playing ball. There's never free time for you so you can't really have a social life."

Athletes have plenty of reasons to care about their grades. They must meet certain academic requirements in order to play their sport. In addition, most college athletes won't go on to play their sport professionally. Knowing this, they push themselves in the classroom in order to improve their chances of getting a job.

In pushing themselves, however, student-athletes are forced to deal with the issue of time management.

"I don't think it's really that hard if you just know how to manage your time," junior women's basketball player Christine Portland said. "When I first came here I was so overwhelmed, and my grades showed that."

Like Portland, many student-athletes find their freshman year to be tough. Courses are harder and coaches are more demanding than they were in high school.

"I guess all freshmen go in and get that reality check," redshirt sophomore volleyball player Sergio Pampena said.

As a freshman, senior basketball player Pete Lisicky was determined to study every day and never miss class. He said he learned quickly he didn't live the same life as regular students.

"What happened was I just got burned out," Lisicky said. "I got mono(nucleosis) my freshman year."

Now, Lisicky focuses more on keeping himself sharp physically, mentally and emotionally. He said missing a class once in awhile is worth it if you aren't feeling well.

"Sometimes it's just better to take that nap just to make sure you're physically OK," Lisicky said.

David Yukelson, the Academic Support Center's coordinator of student athlete programs, said time management is a skill, not a maturity issue. To help teach this skill to freshman athletes, Yukelson said the Academic Support Center runs an informal peer helping program in which older athletes guide younger ones.

In addition, the University requires freshman athletes to take BBH 297A, a one-credit, time-management course. Freshmen are also encouraged to attend study hall by their teams, not as punishment, but to help them learn time-management skills. Tutors are also provided by the University and through other channels to any athlete, including freshmen, who needs help.

"It can be quite difficult (balancing academics and athletics), but for all the help we get we shouldn't have an excuse for not to be able to do it," freshman gymnast Dominic Brindle said.

Time-management skills are tested the most during athletes' seasons --their busiest times of year. During this time, athletes have to focus even more time on their sport.

Road trips present a big hurdle for student-athletes to leap during their season. They sometimes have to miss days of classes while on the road. So, in order to stay on top of their course work, student-athletes have to work closely with their professors.

"The teachers here at Penn State are great," sophomore field hockey player Traci Anselmo said. "I think they're real nice and it gives you a chance to know your professors better."

Many student-athletes, like junior wrestler Clint Musser, take less credits during their season. Musser said he usually takes 18 credits in the fall and 12 in the spring.

"There's so much focus on the season, I don't want to overload on academics," he said.

Even with the lighter course load, however, Musser said it's a challenge to keep his grades up during the season. When he comes home after practice and opens a book, Musser is so tired he often falls asleep.

"You've just got to say to yourself, 'It's gotta be done,' " Musser said. "It's not the funnest thing in the world, but it's gotta be done."

The toils of student-athletes aren't fruitless, however. In addition to keeping themselves eligible and earning an education, most student-athletes get a chance to compete and experience the glory that comes with winning. They usually get a scholarship for their troubles as well.

"I think it's really rewarding to be a student-athlete," junior volleyball player Christy Cochran said. "I know people say it over and over, but it's the truth."