With countless pages to read, papers to write and social activities to attend, the typical college student has more than enough to fill the day. More often than not, students feel as if there are not enough time to accomplish everything that needs to be done and still have time left to relax. Photos by The Lumberjack (clockwise from top left): Matt Beaty, Bryan Kinkade, Chad Sexton, Craig Johnston

With countless pages to read, papers to write and social activities to attend, the typical college student has more than enough to fill the day. More often than not, students feel as if there are not enough time to accomplish everything that needs to be done and still have time left to relax.

In addition to the numerous hours spent on homework, try adding on 20 hours a week of practice, weight lifting and study-hall time. Sounds rough, but that’s the life of a student athlete at NAU.

“The perfect student athlete is somebody who is gaining something out of their education as well as contributing to their team,” said cross country head coach Eric Heins. “It’s a neat combination to have athletics and academics combined. There are greater things to learn by being a student athlete to become a better person and to prepare you for life.”

Being a student athlete requires the individual to be more than just a contributor on the field. With NCAA requirements for grade point average, as well as further academic requirements enforced by the Big Sky Conference, athletes need to expend as much effort in the classroom as they do on the field.

“I don’t think people realize how hard it is to be a student athlete,” said Steve Shaff, NAU’s assistant athletic director. “They see the games and competitions, and those are fun. Everyone enjoys those. But so much goes into it, not only with their academics, but with their preparation time in the weight room, conditioning and practice time. That goes on during the offseason when they’re not competing too, so it’s a year-round endeavor to be successful at the Division I level.”

For senior Curt Sweeney, a fourth-year wide receiver for the NAU football team, his day starts early with weight lifting twice a week at 7 or 8 a.m., followed by some time to eat or shower before heading to a day’s worth of classes. After his classes, he heads to football practice around 2 p.m. and gets done at about 7 p.m. At that time he can finally get started on his homework and other things that need to get done.

“Not to take anything away from students because they have a hard job too,” Sweeney said, “but we’re doing two jobs at once. I have to focus on everything about football, knowing the plays and the play calls, and also trying to get my school work done in time – all in the 24 hours in a day. It’s pretty tough.”

Although Kristi Andreassen, a junior defender on the NAU soccer team, agrees that life can get tough as a student athlete, she said she is used to it. In fact, aside from being an All-Big Sky First Team selection last year, she carries a 4.0 cumulative GPA, and was named a two-time Big Sky All-Academic and Golden Eagle Scholar-Athlete Award recipient.

“We definitely have a lot less time to work on school work,” Andreassen said. “Time-management is really important, but it’s a skill you develop. I’ve been a student athlete since elementary school, and I learned how to deal with it. But definitely there are days where I don’t get started on my homework until I get home from practice at 7 at night, and I still have to eat dinner and shower.”

Yet not all athletes handle the balance between academics and athletics as well as Andreassen. Shaff, who is in his 10th year with NAU athletics, said he noticed his share of athletes not make it at NAU. He believes some athletes are not ready for the transition to a Division I athletics program.

“It’s very difficult to be a student athlete,” Shaff said. “With the hours required to be successful in the classroom and on the field, not everyone can make that transition from high school or junior college to be successful at this level in those areas. It takes a lot of time management and discipline to be successful, especially in-season.”

One athlete who had an easy transition from high school is Kelli Dallmann, a freshman setter on the NAU volleyball team.

While playing in every set and ranking second on the team in kills and assists in her first season at NAU, she said she balanced class time with volleyball in a transition that has not been as difficult as she anticipated.

“It’s been a little easier than I expected,” Dallmann said. “I was a little freaked out, but it’s going good. I study way more now, and volleyball-wise, it’s mentally tougher. Sometimes it’s hard to stay focused on school because I get excited coming to practice and games, but it’s been way fun.”

In addition to school and sports, another aspect of life that student athletes must account for is the time they spend with friends away from their sport.

This may be difficult with the time spent on studying and preparation for their sports, but sacrifices often need to be made.

“We have the same courses as any other student on campus,” said junior cross country runner Jason Pedersen. “Being an engineering major, I have classes with the same people and I’ve missed out on trips they’ve done because I’m not able to go due to cross country stuff. But it’s my choice to [be a student athlete] and I’m fortunate to have the opportunity.”

For Rebekah Schmidt, a junior midfielder on the NAU soccer team, there is more to life away from the NAU campus.

During the summer, Schmidt got married, so in addition to being an All-Big Sky Second Team selection on the field and maintaining a 3.9 GPA in the classroom, she has the responsibilities of her relationship to deal with at home.

“[Life] hasn’t changed too much,” Schmidt said. “I still try to go out with everyone and do the normal stuff. But I do set more time aside to be more at home and make sure all the meals are fixed, whereas the girls go out for dinner. I have someone to support me through the whole thing, and he understands what I’m going through, so he’s very supportive. I feel like my role is so much more different and I try to be the at-home person now.”

Despite a multi-faceted life that demands juggling classes and practices, Sweeney treasures his life and would not trade it for anything.

“We play the best when we look at the crowd and [the students] are in our classes and they know who we are,” Sweeney said. “We’re representing them as a student body. The underlying thing is it’s just fun. We’re doing what we love to do and for most of us are getting paid for our school. We get to do what we love to do and still finish school for free. You just can’t beat that.”

And for Andreassen, the stress and hard work on and off the field became especially worth it when she won the school’s first Big Sky Championship in soccer as a member of the team last year.

“[The hard work] is so worth it,” Andreassen said. “You dedicate so much time and we’ve been working for a championship and to finally get it, it shows everyone why I do this, why I spend my time working on soccer, so I can win a championship and be rewarded for it.”