Student-athletes have a lot on their plates during the on-season, here is a new look at what it’s like to be a student-athlete at Blaine High School. 

There are many roles high schoolers can play: employee, student, athlete, volunteer, etc. Combining student and athlete can be a heavy load to bear. Practices, conditioning, weights, games, sleep, nutrition, classes, homework, and required volunteer hours all have to fit into a short 24 hours. This can vary from sport to sport. Here’s how some BHS student-athletes manage to do it all.

David Diamond, a 12th-grade, point guard for the Blaine Boys Varsity Basketball Team says that he manages to make it work in his day by just finding the time. On the other hand, Lilliana Peterson, a 9th grade, back base for the Blaine Competition Cheer Team and the Blaine Winter Sideline Cheer Team tries to check as many of these boxes at once as possible. By combining her time with friends at cheer, and completing assignments with friends, she does it all in less time. 

Elyse Evans, a 10th-grade point guard for the Girls’ B-squad Basketball Team, has found that good communication and a solid schedule are keys to her success as a student-athlete. She only allows herself to work on the weekends, prioritizes family and her relationships, and sets time aside every day for homework. Colten Piedade, a 9th grade, right-wing and right defenseman for the Blaine Boys Youth Hockey Team on the other hand tries not to procrastinate. He tries to separate his work into groups of prioritization and how long the task will take him to complete. 

Even though these four athletes compete in a range of activities and are in different grade levels, they all are committed to both academics and their sports. This is what makes a great student-athlete: commitment to both. To compete as a high school athlete, you have to remain eligible. That means passing all of your classes, staying on top of your work, and maintaining progress toward graduation. But you also have to keep improving your skill level in your sport to stay on the team. This is a balancing act that takes practice and discipline.

When asked what it is like being a part of a Blaine High School sports team, Diamond said, “It’s a very fun experience. I love the guys, I love our coaches, and even though it’s a lot of time, I think that the fact that everybody likes each other and wants to be there, it’s worth it.” Peterson shared, “It’s like a party every day.” Evans stated, “It has its perks, it’s a very kind group of people… it’s very lively, lots of commotion.” Piedade concluded, “You just end up building relationships…, and you get to have fun while doing it.”

Blaine High School applauds you for your hard work, dedication, and commitment. We are so proud of all of our student-athletes and all that they have accomplished.