On November 17th, during a school wide assembly recognizing Morgan girls soccer for their recent state championship, Jonathan Harder, Coach of the Class S state champion Morgan girls soccer team, took time to praise his team, publicly, for not only excelling in play on the field but also in the classroom with their average of a 3.9 GPA.
Harder’s comment highlighted that student athletes at the Morgan school are students first and athletes second. When practices interfere with school schedules, students are forced to find different alternatives and ways to get their work done.However, how high achieving athletes pull this off, often is hidden by their play on the field.
Pawprint sat down with a Junior, All State lacrosse player, Emma Holecz to talk about her success on the field and in the classroom. Holecz emphasized the importance of separating time and managing your time correctly. “If you want to be successful on the field and in the classroom, it’s super important that you make sure you know your schedule and when you can get work done.” For Holecz her most productive time is not only after school but also after a practice or game. “I work my best at night, when I am not thinking about a game or practice I tend to get more work done.”
With time management being as important as it is, the planner has been an extremely helpful tool for Holecz. “I update my planner whenever I get work assigned. It’s a good visual reminder of what I need to get done and when,” said Holecz. Holecz had a successful sophomore year in lacrosse last year, breaking 100 points and finishing the year with 90 career goals. While doing all this, she managed to uphold a top 5% GPA for her grade. “I study and do work for about six hours a week. I try to be as productive as I can,” said Holecz. For Holecz that means sometimes having to do work on the way back from a road game on the bus, or even staying up until well past midnight to get assignments done. “Its very difficult, I do my best to keep up with everything.”
Junior, and three sport athletes, Hayden Darr also spoke about the difficulties when playing multiple sports and excelling in the classroom. Darr plays soccer as well as being a member of the wrestling and baseball team. Darr not only leads on the field but in the classroom as well. He focuses on the task at hand and aims to do the best he can at everything in life. “I try to go a hundred percent into everything. If I’m on the field, it’s full effort, and when I am at school, it’s full effort.” Darr says that the workload is difficult, but he knows that it can be done. “To be able to do well, you can’t procrastinate. Don’t leave things for the next day. I am guilty of it at times, I get caught up on other things, but I’m starting to get better at it.”
Kate Gardner, an all conference soccer player and key member to the Morgan girls soccer state championship team, said that her biggest advice was to create a to-do list. “Every day I make a to-do list and anytime I get something done, I check it off.” Gardner says that the biggest struggle is time management. “Last year, as a junior, I really struggled with time management. But since then, through time and experience, I got better at it.” Gardner played soccer year round and struggled to find time to balance having a social life, succeeding in soccer, and being a good student. “My biggest advice is to ask questions, when you’re unsure you need to ask questions.”
Being a great athlete and student is easy, by no means. Through work and with special techniques it is very achievable. Time management and organization is much needed in order to be as successful as possible. Holecz, Darr, and Gardner all have a drive to them to not just succeed, but to excel in everything they do, on and off the field.
