Mateius Brown taking a breather after lifting weights at 5 a.m. Photo by Morgan Miller.
Western Carolina University has around 350 student athletes who are all a little different from the average student. Student athletes handle a lot more than most people think. WCU takes pride that our athletes not only perform well in their sport but exceed in their academics.
Whether it is on or off season, student athletes are constantly training, practicing and studying. Most athletes get up before the sun and go work out in the gym around 5 a.m. After that they go to classes. They usually have one more practice later in the day if they don’t have a game or competition, and then do homework at night.
“The biggest struggle of being a student-athlete would have to be time management,” said WCU track team member, Mateius Brown.
He explained that as an athlete he has learned to push through all of the mental and physical exhaustion from juggling school work and his sport. However, Brown said he is still extremely grateful to be an athlete at WCU because they gave him opportunity to be an athlete and get an education. His biggest motivation is his family, who are the reason he keeps pushing through each day. He also writes the word ‘mom’ on his wrist everyday to remind him to never give up because he has a mother who believes he can be successful at whatever he puts his mind to.
That initial struggle is worth it in the end because Brown has been able to break a couple of shot-put records for indoor and outdoor track and field.
“Being able to balance academics, social life, and your sport while trying to stay stress free is a constant struggle,” said Terryon Robinson, WCU football player who graduated in December 2017.
He did all of this by “prioritizing and keeping academics above all.” Robinson said that, as a student-athlete, it is important to “take advantage of every opportunity” and take everything seriously because it is a “blessing to be able to play sports in college.”
Mateius Brown doing a box jump exercise. Photo by Morgan Miller.
These athletes make it through the day each week because of the motivating coaches and the support from Western’s professors and athletic staff.
“WCU absolutely supports each athlete,” said Jake Niezen, Cats’ baseball player. He further explained that all of his professors are helpful and understanding when baseball gets in the way of his attendance and homework, but still treat him fairly just like any other non-athletic student. He said that baseball is the reason he puts in more effort to exceed in academics.
“Part of being a student-athlete here at Western Carolina, the expectation is not only to meet but exceed,” WCU Assistant Athletics Director, Ryan Jones, explained.
Athletes and coaches stress the fact that school comes first. Each coach makes sure that their athletes are completing their assignments and putting more effort into their school work than the sport.
The average day of Mateius Brown, a WCU student-athlete. Photos by Morgan Miller
