While most athletes are confined to just one sport during their collegiate career, some possess the ability and determination to expand their talents to multiple athletic seasons per academic year. These students have to navigate not only the season they’re in but also school and their personal lives, all while preparing themselves for their next sport. 

That preparation varies from sport to sport, especially when athletes are actively competing while preparing for the next season. Senior women’s soccer, wrestler and lacrosse player Anna Davison is far too familiar with that fact, as she noted how difficult it is to prepare her body for each incoming season.

“It’s definitely not easy because they’re all very different sports,” Davison said. “I would say getting into wrestling shape is the hardest. I definitely struggle with that at the beginning of the season, so I try and take every opportunity I can during soccer to stay in shape for wrestling season.”

Not only do the athletes have to focus on competing to the best of their abilities, but they also have lives to lead off the field. Especially seniors, as they try to not only stay prepared for their season but also prepare for life after their time at Augustana. 

One of those seniors, women’s soccer player and dancer Kendall Filanowicz, was very blunt when talking about the steps she’s had to take to ensure she stays on track and just how draining this endeavor can be. 

“As of recently, I’ve definitely prioritized my academics as a senior,” Filanowicz said. “I’m a communication sciences and disorders major, and right now we’re doing clinicals and have patients, and it’s super demanding. I’ve found myself having to communicate with the coach of the soccer team, and he’s super understanding. But, thinking back to my freshman year when I did soccer, dance and lacrosse, I was so exhausted mentally.” 

Rest is something every student actively tries to get more of, with that fact being even more true for student-athletes. Those who participate in multiple sports during the year are constantly putting themselves in a situation where they are incredibly overworked, even if it is of their own volition. 

To be a multi-sport athlete, you need to love what you’re doing. However, if you were to ask many of these athletes if they would go back and change anything, their answer would sound very similar to that of senior women’s volleyball and water polo athlete Carli Udovich. 

“Oh, no, I love it too much to give it up,” Udovich said. “Honestly, I just wish I would’ve worked harder. I think every athlete will say that, but if I could go back in time and talk to myself as a freshman, I would just say to make time for yourself because I feel like people get caught up in trying to do too much with sports and academics that they just lose time for themselves to just relax.”

With little time to rest and recover as student-athletes alone, it’s astonishing that they are able to handle that much of a workload and still manage to dedicate their offseason to another sport that they love and can’t live without.