Summer Times 2007

BY KARA MICHELOTT

Grades, relationships, and time seem to be slipping through the hands of high school student athletes.

“There have been plenty of times where I should have been at home doing my homework rather than out on the soccer field practicing, and my report card shows it,” said Kristina Kostkas.

Student athletes seem to forget that the word student comes before athlete. This often results in slumping grades during the season, says Austin Lindley, teacher and volleyball coach at
Spanish River High School.

“Some of my players are also my students, and I unfortunately do notice a decrease in grades during season,” said Lindley, “ but there is really nothing I can do, my players are so focused on getting to states that it’s like nothing else matters.”

And he’s almost right. Not only are grades slumping during season, but social time is lost as well.

“I hardly hang out with my friends during the fall, I’m always with the team,” says Spanish River student Casey Gnann.

Plenty of student athletes can willingly admit that most of their time is spent on the court or field rather than at the dinner table with family or perhaps a night out with friends.

“The team becomes family during season, and all other relationship are sort of put on pause,” said Spanish River girls volleyball Coach Roxy Bradway.

But that’s not the only thing put on hold. Activities aside from an athlete’s main sport seem to get put on hold as well.

“When tennis season is not going on, I try not to do other sports because I don’t want to get hurt for my main sport of tennis,” said Joey Kinderman. “I remember when I was in middle school I didn’t participate in gym class because my tennis coach didn’t want to risk anything.”

Apparently the eyes of student athletes are focused more on the trophy than report cards and relationships. As long as high school sports remain demanding in time and energy, student athletes’ dedication to sports will have the capacity to take over their life.