Juggling two different sports, schoolwork, and extracurricular clubs while still maintaining good grades. For some student-athletes, it’s just a part of their daily life.

At Mount Carmel, student-athletes prove that sports build character both on and off the field. Balancing academics, sports, and clubs is definitely tough, but it is the discipline and time management that they are taught at school that helps them overcome the challenges. 

Sports teach student-athletes how to manage their time, stay disciplined and build a strong work ethic. These skills are not just useful for the games; they go into the classroom and everyday life. 

For hockey and volleyball player Kenny Groen, an MC junior, balancing both sports while maintaining high academic rankings involves late night study sessions after a practice or game. 

“I get back from the activity bus at 7, go to hockey practice at 8:20, and get home by 10,” Kenny said, giving an example for the effort involved. “I then do homework until midnight.” 

Being disciplined and always getting work done on time is a challenge for some students. 

“I think that discipline goes hand in hand with sports and academics,” said Mr. Phil Segroves, Mount Carmel’s athletic director and head basketball coach. “You have to have discipline both on the field and in the classroom.”

Groen explains that his day is packed from morning to night. 

“I can’t watch YouTube or relax like other students,” he said. “I have to do schoolwork on the bus or else I’d be up way too late.”  

Sports require a lot from students like Groen, especially when volleyball and hockey practices overlap. These demands make most athletes stay focused on their schoolwork as well as their sport.

Athletic Director Phil Segroves agrees that sports push students to be more disciplined. 

“Our athletes are held to higher standards,” he said. “If you don’t have high character and don’t make good decisions, you’re not going to be playing. Whether it’s football, wrestling, basketball, hockey or any sport, Mount Carmel students know they have to keep their grades up if they want to stay on the team.”

For student-athletes, sports also build leadership. Groen’s leadership on the hockey team reflects this. 

Groen’s coach, Liam Madrigal, saw that a new freshman player was having a little bit of a hard time while at practice. “Coach had me take him under my wing, and try to help him improve over the season,” he said.

Coach Segroves thinks it’s important for coaches to guide athletes in the right direction. 

“Some coaches at other schools think students just need to get the job done, but here, we understand the pressure these students are under,” he said. “It’s our job to help them manage their time and stay on top of their studies.”

Sports not only build discipline and leadership, but they also encourage students to work their hardest in the classroom. Groen’s  determination to maintain a high GPA motivates him through the tough, long days.

 “There are times where I want to slack off, but I realize I have a lot of work to do before the due date,” he said. “I’ve had a couple of all-nighters for projects which drained me.”

Whether it is balancing sports and school or learning to lead others, student-athletes like Groen show how sports build character in more ways than one. 

As Coach Segroves puts it, “Our athletes know they have to work hard in everything they do.”