Student athletes try to keep pace

With school back in session, student athletes are busy working out in the gym and in the classroom.

For many college students sports are a way to unwind from the stress of life and school. For some it is also a way to have part or all of their tuition paid. To perform at high levels is hard to do so while maintaining your grades is a challenge.

Luke Husbands, 22, is in the Border Services program and his second season on the St. Clair College men’s soccer team. Husbands believes the college supports the team and the rest of the athletes.

“For every practice and home game I travel 45 minutes from home and we practice Monday to Thursday from September to November,” said Husbands. “I spend around 5 hours a week traveling to and from practice and potentially more if we play away.”

The team and the college support with the offering of scholarships every semester and other additional bursaries. “With away games they cover food expenses, overall help quite a lot with supporting myself also the rest of the team.”

Some students partake in different sports each semester , while others, like Matthew Rosati, have their sport run year round to balance.

Rosati, 20, is a business student at the University of Windsor and a defenceman in his fourth season with the Essex 73’s of the Provincial Junior Hockey League. He said he believes you always have to focus on the future, even though you’re having fun in the present.

“They understand that schooling is our first priority,” said Rosati.  They actually have a board in the coach’s office where you can put down dates of your exams/tests or even days you need to study and they will give you the night off, no questions asked. While school or even life can get stressful at times, you can jump on the ice and just clear your mind and have some fun. Truthfully come playoff time with the long road trips I have left a handful of classes early so I don’t have to rush to the bus, but I make sure nothing has to be handed in that day and get any missed information from my peers.”

Although they may not be in the classroom, student athletes do learn important life skills on the field, the ice or the court.