After a long semester of work, many students breathe a sigh of relief as they look forward to the upcoming holiday season. It's a time to visit family, friends and recharge for the New Year.
Despite this, some Penn State athletes find that the rigors of Div. I athletics significantly shorten the break. In many cases, demanding schedules prevent athletes from traveling home at all.
Students on teams like men's basketball, women's basketball and the wrestling team, among others, will compete throughout the holidays and into the New Year.
These athletes know that remaining competitive at this stage of the season is important to build momentum that will aid them later in their respective schedules.
However for many, especially those not travelling home at all, this sacrifice can be very hard.
Hailing from Canberra, Australia, Lady Lion senior guard Melanie Croser knows how difficult time away from home can be.
"It's hard to be away from my family, especially during Christmas," said Croser.
Without time spent with family, many athletes like Croser are able to turn to their teammates for support.
Over the holidays teammates become like extended family, said Croser, adding that she often travels home with other members of the Lady Lions for a few days to enjoy Christmas with their families.
Even athletes that are able to travel home for a short time find the break shortened significantly and rely on the team for support. By competing at the highest levels of college athletics at a time many may rather be home, these Penn State athletes form lasting friendships that bring them together as a team.
It is this camaraderie, along with rigorous holiday competition that provides key opportunities for each team to bond in a special way. Having a sense of family with teammates plays a large role in developing the team unity key to a successful Div. I program.
In addition, many coaches see holiday competition as a chance to test their teams determination and coordinate key strategies for the rest of the season. As a three-time All-American wrestler for Penn State, wrestling coach Troy Sunderland knows well the effects of holiday competition on his squad.
"We try to give them as much time as we can," said Sunderland.
Wrestlers who can travel home are allowed to leave as soon as finals are done and must report back the day after Christmas.
However, athletes know that they're required to work hard to win and holiday practices and matches provide coaches and players with more time to focus on fitness, nutrition and skills, said Sunderland emphasizing that this time provides a good spring board into spring matches, Big 10 competition and the NCAA's.
Despite the sacrifices, the ability of our Penn State athletes to develop unity, discipline and talent throughout the whole season has been a big part of the university's athletic success in the past. If current Penn State athletes are any indication, the future of Penn State athletics promises to be as bright and promising as the holiday season to come.
