Student athletes at SUNY New Paltz face challenging schedules that begin early in the morning and end late at night. Freshman softball player Maddison Rappold said the time commitment of being a student athlete is much greater than she expected. Junior biology major and softball player Julia Perhacs finds it difficult to balance her academics and athletics but knows Division III was her best option. Sophomore basketball player Sam Colca's typical day involves morning workouts, classes, studying, and evening practices. Senior baseball player Tyler Bell credits his sport with keeping him disciplined and productive in school.

1. A Day in the Life of a Student Athlete
Starting most days before the sun, and usually ending in the early morning hours
of the next day, student athletes here at SUNY New Paltz face a bit harder of an
adjustment to make when going through college.
Maddison Rappold, a freshman on the New Paltz softball team talked about her
early morning workouts and said, “it’s so different than you would expect, coming to a
Division III school people always anticipate it to be less of a commitment. When I signed
on to play here, I had no idea what I was in store for.” Talking about her regimented work
out hours, extra practice hours, and trying to balance school and studying on top of that,
Rappold said, “It is for sure a huge change to experience.”
Tired, sore and hungry are just three of the many feelings most athletes tend to
experience all the time.
“People say it gets easier to balance and manage your time as you get older, but
I’m entering my junior year, and I have yet to get it down to the perfect science. It always
seems to be my sleep that misses out the most, but I know that in the end it’s definitely
worth it.” Julia Perhacs answered, when asked about what comes to mind when she
thinks about her daily routine as an athlete.
Perhacs, who is half way through her third year here at New Paltz, is majoring in
biology, knowing that she has a very strict academic track to take, she knew that coming
to a Division III school was the best option for her to be able to tackle academics and
athletics at the same time.
“I am up every day before 7:00 AM, usually in the gym by 7:30, then off to class
for 9:30.” Knowing that her day doesn’t stop there, Sam Colca, a sophomore on the
basketball team said, “after class I usually will run back to my dorm to grab a bite to eat,
then it is off to either my next class, or the library to catch up on my work until my next
practice later on that night.”
Tyler Bell, a senior on the men’s baseball team here at New Paltz said, “It’s really
crazy to think how much I accomplish in a day here at school. When I’m home I don’t do
much of anything, but being so regimented within a schedule it really works for me
because I would definitely be really lazy, and do a lot worse in school if it wasn’t for
baseball.”
For many athletes, these long days have become the norm. Being in what feels
like overdrive all the time, athletes here at SUNY New Paltz face schedule adjustments
and long days with a smile.
“As hard as it is, I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. I know that even
when I’m exhausted, physically and mentally, I chose to do this, and ultimately I am
lucky to be given an opportunity such as this one,” said Katie Rutcofsky.
“Waking up is definitely always the hardest part for me, once you actually get up
and get moving your body just sort of adapts to the lack of sleep. My favorite part is

2. definitely when I get to eat, I know that I’m not going to be successful in any workout, or
even in any class if I am hungry, so I am constantly stopping by the Student Union
Building and the dining hall for a quick meal, or two!” said Taylor Corwin, a junior on
the softball team.
Learning to adapt to a different lifestyle when away at school, college athletes are
morphed into sort of “super humans” according to Gary Gall, strength and conditioning
coach for all of the athletes here at New Paltz. “I love being able to watch these kids
grind it out not only in athletics, but also with their academics. It’s really special to see
their drive and determination because you know these are the kids who will give you
100% no matter what task they are assigned, or how much sleep they are running on, or
lack there of for that matter.”
Blog Post:
Entering college as a student is a major adjustment, but when coming into school
as a college athlete your priorities and tasks at hand double. With the constant working
out, practicing and time spent doing schoolwork athletes here at SUNY New Paltz
discussed how a day looks for them as an athlete. Beginning in the early hours of the day
their days usually begin and end with practice. Tired, sore and hungry are just three of the
many feelings most athletes tend to experience all the time. Although knowing their
commitment when signing a letter of intent to play the sport of their choice, athletes have
to learn to adapt to the rigid structure of being a student athlete, while also balancing
being a student.
Tweet 1: A day in the life of a student athlete, as told by SUNY New Paltz athletics!
Tweet 2: Tired, hungry, sore and smiling: an inside look at what it takes to be a student
athlete.
Contact List:
Taylor Corwin: 845-546-8490
Sam Colca: 845-518-2731
Tyler Bell: 201-398-8388