Every year, student athletes are faced with the challenge of balancing their responsibilities as hardworking students while putting in their best effort as members of sports teams. While this struggle has always been present, the absence of an in-person school year last year has made the transition to a full schedule even more difficult. Senior student athletes know this very well, given the intensity of senior-year academic responsibilities.  

“You’ve got to keep your grades up for the first semester because you’re looking to get into college,” senior soccer player Peter Borger said. “You slip up now, maybe you won’t get into that school you want to.”

Balancing a typical sports season with a senior’s academic commitments is challenging enough, but senior athletes typically have a bigger role in their sport. Seniors usually have a larger role as a leader and a role model on and off the field, court or race course.  

“I’m one of the captains, so there’s leadership [that] comes with that and just being a senior … There are younger kids, they’re sophomores and juniors. So you’re going to show up every day, work hard and get to show them what it means to represent the school as part of the team,” Borger said. 

 Despite the added responsibility, the return to normal fall sports has been much appreciated by athletes around RM. 

“It can be a little stressful at times, but it’s nice having a family to come to after school and it’s a great place to go to and it’s such a great community,” senior volleyball player Iris Postovit said. 

“I love being able to train as a team again and have normal meets and practices,” senior cross country runner Nisha Athrey said. 

Through the careful balance of sports and school, seniors have had four years to perfect their time management and learn strategies to succeed amid all of their duties. 

“Take your time to create great relationships with your teachers,” Postovit said. “That’s super helpful.” 

“You’ve got to have good time management,” Borger said. “Sometimes you have it, sometimes you don’t … you’ve just got to do the best you can.”

Employing time management is very important in maintaining a healthy balanced schedule, and the benefits of doing so are noticeable, especially after a year of virtual school, when there weren’t as many things to keep track of.

“It’s definitely harder than last year because I have less time, but I’ve learned how to manage my time over the years so the return hasn’t been too bad,” Athrey said.  

The student-athlete balance is an annual challenge, and even those that achieve balance admit that it isn’t easy. 

“Balancing soccer and school, some nights you’re gonna be up really late, and [you’re] not gonna get all the sleep you need, but you’ve got to sacrifice for the grind,” Borger said. “The grind never stops.”