Being a student-athlete is challenging. Balancing practices, workouts, schoolwork, and other responsibilities can feel overwhelming. For those who compete in multiple sports, the challenge only grows. The constant switch between seasons, combined with the pressure to perform at a high level in both sports and maintain high academic standards, is exhausting. Especially at a school like Rocky, where excellence in both athletics and academics is expected. At Rocky, student-athletes find ways to balance the demands of multiple sports and their academics, all while striving to succeed in both areas.

One student-athlete at Rocky is sophomore Parker Kleinkopf, who plays football and runs track. These sports seasons take up nearly the entire school year and sometimes overlap. This makes time management crucial for him. Kleinkopf says, “Playing two sports at once means that you’re going to have less time for homework and less time to hang out with your friends.” He later said, “Sometimes it seems like a lot, but at the end of the day, I really enjoy it.” Despite having a busy schedule, Kleinkopf maintains a strong GPA of 4.04, showing that he can perform in the classroom. This is just one example of an excelling student-athlete playing multiple sports at Rocky.

Lucas Grace is another student-athlete at Rocky. Grace is a sophomore. He competes in both basketball and football. Grace recently finished basketball season and is preparing for a long football season. A typical day for Grace includes seven hours of school and two hours of practice. Plus at least one hour of studying film, which is necessary for him to continue to perform if he wants to continue to play quarterback at Rocky. When it comes to school, Grace is not one to procrastinate. Grace says, “I just do my work when it’s assigned and don’t procrastinate,” He went on to say, “I get my stuff done right away.” Playing both football and basketball can cause a significant amount of stress to one’s body. To prevent injuries and maintain peak performance, Grace incorporates recovery strategies such as ice baths and daily stretching to stay in optimal condition. Despite the physical challenges of competing in two sports, Grace stays dedicated to excelling both on the field and in the classroom, consistently managing his commitments with focus and determination.

Lastly, freshman, Ben Chandler is another multi-sport athlete at Rocky. Chandler plays both baseball and football. Similar to Kleinkopf and Grace, Chandler quickly learned how to manage the demands of multiple sports while staying on top of his schoolwork. Between practices, games, and lifts, Chandler must find time to work on his homework. Chandler says, “I just focus on one thing, instead of trying to do everything at once.” This strategy helps Chandler with all his responsibilities. This mindset also prevents him from feeling overwhelmed or exhausted. Chandler has clearly shown how he is able to handle being not just an athlete, but also a focused student here at Rocky.

All of these students show that with hard work and good time management, balancing multiple sports and academics is certainly possible. At Rocky, student-athletes like Kleinkopf, Grace, and Chandler can stay focused on their goals and succeed in both of their sports, along with school. Even though it can be tough at times, they manage their responsibilities. Their ability to stay on top of everything is a reminder that staying organized and putting in effort really pays off. This is the mindset of a champion. Six-time NBA champion, Michael Jordan, once said, “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”