College athletes balance physical demands with life and academics

Sophomore+right+forward+Obioma+Onejeme+number+three+steals+the+ball+from+the+Sierra+College+defender.+Onejeme%2C+who+started+in+eleven+games%2C+has+scored+five+goals%2C+one+being+a+game-winning+goal.

Halimeh Edais

Sophomore right forward Obioma Onejeme number three steals the ball from the Sierra College defender. Onejeme, who started in eleven games, has scored five goals, one being a game-winning goal.

Being a college student can be stressful, and adding in hours of sports training can make it that much more hectic.

Freshman midfielder Bradley Moorhouse said he devotes his life to soccer and all that comes with it, keeping himself busy by meeting with trainers before and after practice as well as coaching children in his free time.

“I’m on the field all the time, so I don’t have time to get a job, buy a car and go out to eat with friends,” said Moorhouse, the men’s soccer team captain. “Basically just go to school, go to practice, eat, sleep then all over the next day.”

Obioma Onejeme, a sophomore right forward, said her social life has taken a toll since joining the women’s soccer team.

I’m on the field all the time, so I don’t have time to get a job, buy a car and go out to eat with friends.

— Bradley Moorhouse

“I don’t socialize with friends as much as I used to,” said Onejeme. “I work a lot less hours and if people ask me to cover shifts, I can’t.”

Onejeme said that every single day in her week is packed and that she is always staying busy, whether it’s soccer practices or games, school or work. She said she plans on staying organized by writing everything down in her agenda, making sure to prioritize the things that need to be done first or the things that are more important. 

“I plan on taking everything day by day, just so I don’t overwhelm myself,” said Onejeme.

Onejeme said she does not plan on continuing soccer at a 4-year university but is hoping to transfer to Sacramento State and continue her schooling through their nursing program.

Moorhouse, however, is planning on transferring to a state school and continuing his soccer career there. 

“The dream is to go pro, but my fall back plan is to become a math teacher,” said Moorhouse. “I’m talking to a few schools right now. I’m looking at Chico State, Sonoma State and a few other CSU’s.”

Cesar Plasencia has been coaching women’s soccer at CRC for 15 years and has witnessed plenty of student athletes balancing all of their responsibilities. 

“It is not easy being a student athlete,” said Plasencia. 

Plascencia said time management, taking care of your body and then trying to get yourself mentally ready to compete all throughout the course of an entire semester is difficult.

“It’s not easy for them to handle all that, so I admire those who find a way to maintain a high GPA and also success on the field,” said Plasencia.