Playing one sport at the college level—let alone two—takes time and energy.
But for some student athletes who play more than one sport, it’s achievable because they know how to manage their time.
“Basically, I take all my classes during the day, and then … I have a good two to three hours before practice … [where] I try to get all my work done,” Oliver Rivas, a first-year architecture student, said. “I just try to keep good time management … and also enjoy the sport that I play.”
The college has at least eight students on team rosters for more than one sport this school year.
According to Athletic Director Duane Herr, students participating in more than one sport is not uncommon.
“We have seen it,” Herr said. “Especially with cross country to women’s lacrosse and soccer to women’s lacrosse.”
Herr added: “I think the connection … for [women’s] soccer to basketball has been a little bit more than we’ve seen in the past.”
Of the eight students who play on two teams, three played women’s soccer and basketball.
Still, playing two sports can present challenges, like overlapping game and practice schedules.
“Each season, there’s always going to be off-season workouts for the other sport,” Rivas, a midfielder and defender for men’s soccer and lacrosse, said.
Playing schedules for women’s soccer and basketball competed for her time, Holly Wall, a second-year communications student who plays both, said. “I had to, like, miss the first month of our basketball season this past year, and that was tough.”
Still, Wall, a shooting guard on the women’s basketball team and a winger and attacker on the women’s soccer team, said the experience has benefitted her.
“I think it’s a great way to make friends,” Wall said. “I think it’s a great way to, like, find support outside of school, both through coaches and, like, our athletic staff, and you get that support, like, all year round.”
Women’s basketball head coach Lionel Makell agreed.
“I love it when they play multiple sports because that means they got to keep their academics on point,” he said.
