Although being in a sport is one of the most common paths for high schoolers to go down, it seems like being a student-athlete has caused lots of stress for students.
Some believe that sports are just a distraction from school. Some even say that sports should not be in schools programs due to the stress it has on students.
Student athletes are very busy. With school from 7:15 a.m-2:15 p.m, then practice for a couple hours after school, all along with homework, it seems sports makes some students have to sacrifice time with friends and family so they can do both.
One cross country runner, Nate Wietbrock (11), shares how he thinks school sports affect his life.
“An obstacle that came from school and sports was trying to find time for work, family, and friends, besides the time I spend at school and practice,” Wietbrock said.
Another issue that comes from balancing school and sports is when student athletes sometimes forget about their school work, and only think about their sport they are participating in. This is when the sport becomes an issue, not only due to the bad grades, but also because this significantly lowers your chances to play your sport for college.
According to Coach Tutterow, academics are one of the most important thing about an athlete’s career.
“The thing about academics and sports is doing well in the sport but neglecting the academic portion just closes doors that otherwise would be open,” Tutterow said. “Many students don’t realize this, but if a college coach calls to inquire about an athlete, one of the first questions they ask is ‘What are their grades like?’” The next question is usually, ‘What is their ACT score?’”
Well, it looks like sports aren’t really a positive thing for students. They make you more busy, have less time for loved ones, and can take away from academics. With all of these in mind, why do students love these sports so much, even with the hardships that come with them?
Even though all of these things can be true, students have had positive effects from balancing the two.
“I think balancing the two has definitely given me a small amount of time management,” Wietbrock said.
Aidan Brown (12), who is a soccer player, also struggles to find time to balance school work and sports.
“It has helped me be more responsible with my time and not take it for granted, however, I do have less of it so there is less I can do in general,” Brown said.
To put it short, with all of the hardships and stresses of being a student athlete that is successful, it’s still worth it for them. It looks as if both the fun of the sport and the positives that come with being a student athlete makes the stress, hardships, and busy schedule all worth it.
