For this story I interviewed Lola Senderhauf(Junior) and Kailee Patch(Freshman) to get different perspectives on the advantages and disadvantages of different age student-athletes. And if they experience similar things with being a student athlete.
To start off both Senderhauf and Patch both agreed that one of the biggest things about being a student athlete is all the stress that is being put on the mind and body. “When you play a sport as a student-athlete it usually takes a lot of your time and dedication(Patch), ‘It can make you very mentally and physically tired’(Senderhauf).
Though Patch is younger she stated that she is not as little as her teammates, and they agreed with that. “I think that because I am a younger athlete I may not have as many opportunities, but no one ever underestimates me. In fact, it is quite the opposite” (Patch).
While Senderhauf is older, she talks about how being older comes with the younger kids looking up to them and also the perks that come with it! “ I think so because I personally, with being older at practice, really shows how the younger kids look up to us especially when they are new, ‘You get to pick out all the bonuses you get like team shoes, clothes etc.’(Senderhauf).
To end this interview I asked both Senderhauf and Patch to give some advice based on what Senderhauf would say to younger athletes and Patch with keeping up grades. “ Probably learning how to balance your personal life with your sports, and to not give up when times get hard(Senderhauf), ‘ If you do your work, it is not hard to pass grade checks. It is important to talk to your teachers if anything comes in the way of your work, so that your grades do not drop’(Patch).