The life of the varsity athlete is rough but rewarding

By Rob Huelin

The life of a varsity athlete at Yale is one of toil and sacrifice, triumph and satisfaction. Cheering crowds, Ivy titles, and life-long friends are balanced by a more disciplined lifestyle, less free time, and hours of sweat in the gym and on the field.

The basic dilemma of every athlete at Yale is how to find the time to do everything that needs to be done. The answer is through discipline. Early practices (often before eight in the morning) and less time in the afternoons make for days that begin and end a little earlier than is the norm for the non-varisty athlete. Head to Commons for breakfast and you will be greeted by a host of athletes, either coming from a morning run or work-out or heading to the early classes that are a must for the in-season schedule. Those same demands mean that while most students work until 3 a.m., the varsity athlete needs to be in bed. An all-nighter is taken at the expense of performance on the field of competition.

Road trips are a further challenge, taking athletes off campus for two to four days at a time and making missed classes and irritating rescheduling a constant problem. The workload for Yale classes is heavy, and the varsity athlete is not exempt from the rigors of academia. Planning is a must; the daily life of an athlete can be dominated by routine, with class, practice, study, and a second extra-curricular or work-study job penciled into the day's plans.

Practice is just as demanding as time management for the varsity athlete. Hours in the gym, hard running in the pre-dawn hours, weight-lifting, stretching, and punishing physical contact are in store daily. Blisters, sores, bruises, cuts, and aching muscles are all guaranteed. The varsity athlete will do dozens of drills, take hundreds of jump-shots or slap-shots, run thousands of wind sprints, and spend more time getting into shape than anyone can measure.

But the payoff of the hard work is tremendous. Athletes will be in the best shape of their lives. The weight-lifting and running can pay off with tremendous physical and mental confidence. The discipline required to run seven miles at practice during cross-country season can translate into the discipline necessary to be an outstanding researcher or a top-notch chemist. Hours of concentration while playing sports can make concentration during exams and study much easier. The sleeping and eating habits of varsity athletes lead to a healthier, more energetic lifestyle.

Varsity teams create some of the closest friendships a person could have. The bonding experience on the field is impossible to duplicate. The travel that can feel like such a burden during midterms is one of the best parts about participating in varsity sports. In 1997, Yale athletes will compete in San Diego, Chicago, Florida, Canada, Puerto Rico, Argentina, England, and a dozen other places around the globe, offering athletes experiences other Yalies don't get to have.

Of course, the most important benefit of playing a sport at Yale is the competition, the chance to become a better player against some of America's top athletes. Hard practice means a strong, toned body that can be pushed further than most athletes realize when they arrive at Yale. The roar of the crowd during a hockey or football game, and the rush of a goal scored on a Soccer/Lacrosse Field are all part of the athletic experience. Everything about athletics at Yale is built on a proud tradition of excellence that filters down to each new generation of athletes. The tension of a match-up with Harvard, the excitement of being involved with major college sports, and the mystique and power of that big blue "Y" contribute equally to the fantastic experience that is being an athlete at Yale.

Discipline, time-management, and sacrifice--these are all a part of being a varsity athlete. But the rewards--the excitement of competition, the life-long friendships, and the weight of pride and tradition that the Yale name carries--are worth the cost.

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