Sophomore Saidee Perno plays both JV and varsity basketball and varsity soccer for Clarke Central High School. Perno acknowledges the benefits and cons of playing multiple sports. “In playing sports, anyone can have a struggle in grades and everything,” Perno said. “It just depends on how much dedication you have for the sport.” Photo by Julie Alpaugh and edited by Hannah Gale.
By HANNAH GALE – Staff Writer
Many Clarke Central High School athletes transition between sports throughout their high school career and face pros and cons in doing so.
There are three athletic seasons at Clarke Central High School fall, spring and winter. Many sports seasons and tryouts overlap, which can lead to difficulties in balancing out social life, academics, and athletics, but keeps student athletes in shape.
“I think it’s good that (athletes) participate in other sports. I think it keeps them competitive,” head varsity girls basketball coach Carla Johnson said.
Sophomore, junior varsity and varsity basketball and varsity soccer player Saidee Perno believe that there are more benefits to playing multiple sports than cons.
“I’m the type of person who always likes to be doing something, so I kind of like how they’re back-to-back because right when basketball finishes, I’m into soccer, so that’s a benefit,” Perno said.
Many coaches believe that playing more than one sport will help keep student athletes in shape. For example, the CCHS wrestling coaches require their wrestlers to play a fall sport or to participate in off-season conditioning.
“I ran cross country this year to help my conditioning for wrestling,” junior, varsity wrestler and JV cross country runner Zach Chastain said. “I’m definitely in better shape than I was when I started for wrestling last year.”
The advantages of playing multiple sports outweigh the disadvantages in the eyes of Chastain and Perno, but the consequences, such as injuries and academic performance can shorten an athlete’s career.
“If you get involved in too too much, it could be where a student athlete’s body starts to maybe break down a little prematurely,” Johnson said. “They may be more susceptible to injuries”
An increased risk to an athlete getting injured is not the only downside to playing multiple sports. Keeping up with academics can be a struggle as well for student athletes and hinder their athletic careers.
“I didn’t have as much time to get established at school, so it was a struggle at first. I just had to start skipping practices sometimes to do homework.” Chastain said.
Some coaches require study halls in order to ensure the players keep up with their academic courses because of the rigorous practice and game schedule some athletes face.
“In playing sports, anyone can have a struggle in grades and everything, it just depends on how much dedication you have for the sport,” Perno said.
The differing rules of separate sports can also affect how one plays and the time it takes to get an athlete’s head back in the right sport.
“I’ll be spending so much time (playing) basketball, and then I’ll go into soccer season and I’ll want to pick (the ball) up with my hands ‘cause that’s how difficult it is to switch back and forth (between sports),” Perno said.
Although this proves to be a struggle for some athletes, Johnson believes the team is still capable of doing well.
“Getting back in basketball mode might take a little longer, but I don’t think it takes away from our success,” Johnson said.
Because of Perno’s dedication to both of her sports, she plays club basketball and soccer teams to maintain her skill set during CCHS’ offseason.
“I always try to make it even. For example, right now I’m doing club soccer and I’ve been doing that for a while now, but once school basketball starts, that’ll become my priority because it’s for the school.” Perno said.
Even though some student athletes feel overwhelmed, Johnson believes that athletes are capable of balancing academics and athletics.
“As long as the kid is dedicated to their sport and to what they’re doing, it’s a good thing,” Johnson said.
