 "Photo: Photo courtesey of Brad Helton")
 "Photo: Photo courtesy of Marshall University Sports Information")
 "Photo: Photo courtesy of the Athletic Department Video Staff")
 "Photo: Photo courtesy of the Athletic Department Video Staff")
Most students’ lives are stressful enough just worrying about grades, but student-athletes have to deal with the same stress every day, plus the pressure of doing their personal best on the field or court.
Their daily schedules show how hectic life is for student athletes, even in the teams’ off-seasons.
Chris Lutz: Basketball
Chris Lutz, senior guard for the Thundering Herd basketball team and business management major, starts his day with class from 10 a.m. until lunchtime.
After lunch, he usually goes to the training room for back treatments.
“After that, I have an hour or so until I have a have to go to the gym and get ready for workouts,” Lutz said. Workouts start at 3 every day.”
He normally stays at the gym until 6 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, Lutz and his teammates meet at 6:15 p.m. for a mandatory team dinner at Harless Dining Hall.
On weekends, the team usually plays a pick-up game and has a team meeting every Sunday.
The basketball team had training almost everyday this past summer.
Lutz said he has found time management to be the most challenging thing about juggling basketball and school.
“The most challenging thing for me is motivating myself to get schoolwork done and to make sure I study and stuff like that, because usually after workouts I’m pretty tired,” Lutz said.
In his free time, Lutz said he really enjoys sleeping.
“Usually I’m really tired all the time so I try to find a little bit of time here and there to squeeze in a nap,” he said.
By the time he gets home at around 7 p.m., Lutz said he is tired so he basically takes a shower, has a snack and goes to bed.
Lutz said he would like to continue his basketball career after graduation.
“Hopefully I’ll get to play pro somewhere, whether it’s overseas like somewhere in Europe or Asia,” he said. Hopefully just play professional ball somewhere.”
Liz Orton: Soccer
The Marshall women’s soccer team is currently in the middle of its fall season with a 7-1 record.
Liz Orton is a senior goalkeeper and political science major from Ft. Collins, Colo.
A typical day for her includes waking up for an 8 a.m. class followed by a 9:30 class. Afterward, she goes to training and she sometimes lifts weights.
After that, she does homework and usually hangs out with her teammates.
Orton said the most challenging thing isn’t necessarily just going to class and practices.
“It’s actually when you do have free time, it’s getting the studying in because a lot of times you just want to sleep and hang out, but you really need to be studying.”
When the team travels, team members have to make arrangements with their professors to make sure they get all of their schoolwork done. Orton said her professors have been really understanding of her soccer schedule.
Orton said she usually does her homework in the hotel when she travels with the team to away games.
The women’s soccer team is planning its next road trip in two weeks to play games Oct. 9 in Dallas, Texas and Oct. 11 in Tulsa, Okla.
“I have two mid-terms the week that we’re leaving.” Orton said.
She said she would probably be taking one midterm before she leaves and one when she gets back.
After she graduates from Marshall, Orton would like to study abroad for a semester.
Marcena Bertoldo and Caitlyn Jackson: Softball
The Marshall women’s softball team is not in season, but it’s still busy training and focusing on school.
Marcena Bertoldo, senior psychology major from Beaumont, Calif. plays second base for the team.
Bertoldo describes her life as pretty hectic.
The softball team has regular practices every day except Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The team’s practice typically involves 1½ hours of weight training and up to two hours of regular practice.
Players get extra training in with coaches on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Caitlyn Jackson, senior criminal justice major from Ontario, Calif., is a pitcher for the softball team.
Jackson and Bertoldo agree the most challenging thing about being an athlete and a full-time student is managing time and stress.
“This is my fourth year and just thinking back to my freshman year, I was stressed out all the time,” Jackson said. “I think at this point you realize that softball is not your life, and there’s other things like family that come first.”
Kristen Barry can be contacted at ryder8@marshall.edu.
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