A week in the life of student-athletes
FairfieldNow
By Jack Jones, Director of Sports Information
Pulsating sounds emanate from a clock radio. With lightning-quick speed, a hand reaches up and hits the alarm, silencing the abrupt intrusion. The early morning darkness is cut by only the numbers on the alarm clock, which mockingly invite student-athletes to rise out of bed and begin their day. As they lie there enjoying a few minutes of free time, the day's activities begin to swirl in their heads. For many, the day will begin with an early morning practice, followed by a full load of classes, a workout with the strength and conditioning coach, study hall, and possibly a community service project. These are just some of the daily activities that fill the calendar of every student-athlete at Fairfield University. A quick flicker of light changes the clock from 6:00 to 6:01 a.m., a reminder that time waits for no one. Rising from bed, the student-athlete's day begins.
Below you will glimpse the everyday life of a Fairfield University student-athlete. You will gain a perspective through the eyes of Sabra Wrice, a sophomore on the women's basketball team, as well as Chris Atwell, a sophomore on the men's lacrosse team. You will have the rare privilege of feeling the anxieties, the joys, the disappointments, the camaraderie, and the isolation that student-athletes experience on and off the field or court. This is a week in the life of a student-athlete.
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Sabra Wrice
Born: July 16, 1986
Class: 2007
Home: Riverside, N.J.
Sport: Women's Basketball
Position: Guard
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For the Stags, it's all about the team as the women (l-r: Candice Lindsay '07, Wrice, Stephanie Ryan '08, and Cara Murphy '06) break huddle and get ready to play.
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Closely guarded in a home game against Manhattan, Wrice puts those many hours of weekly conditioning and practice to work. Typically, strength and conditioning sessions includes weight and cardiovascular training; the latter include sprints, hill running and time on treadmills, stairmasters, and other machines. Generally student-athletes train two to four times a week with strength and conditioning coach Mark Spellman.
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It's a close game - and it shows - as Wrice waits for play to resume at Fairfield's home court, the Arena at Harbor Yard. As a freshman, she was named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team.
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Breakfast at the John A. Barone Campus Center dining room follows a rigorous morning practice session for (l-r) Baendu Lowenthal '09, Megan Caskin '08, and Wrice.
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No, that's not soda she's getting! It's milk for her cereal.
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Wrice uses Final Cut Pro software to edit a video that includes a scene of her dribbling down the court. Like all Fairfield students, Wrice takes full advantage of the many practical experiences that Fairfield University offers in and outside the classroom.
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A new media film major in the College of Arts & Sciences, Wrice gains hands-on experience in "Introduction to New Media," taught by the Rev. Mark Scalese, S.J.
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A resident of Claver Hall, Wrice surrounds herself with inspiration as she gets ready for some serious study. All student-athletes spend extra time with the books at the Walsh Athletic Center's academic center.
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Getting ready for an away game against Marist College, Wrice gathers her belongings before boarding the bus.
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Chris Atwell
Born: February 12, 1985
Class: 2007
Home: New York, N.Y.
Sport: Lacrosse
Position: Defender
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Sophomore Chris Atwell (right) made a contribution in all 15 games during his rookie season. Atwell and his roommate, Matt Bocklet '08 (left), are also teammates.
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Coach Ted Spencer (center) gathers team members for a pep talk before they take the field against Hobart, which had recently defeated powerhouse Syracuse University.
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Atwell's solid defense contributed to a thrilling 15-9 win against Hobart.
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Atwell, a serious student, is a marketing major in the Dolan School of Business.
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After class, Dr. Mark LeClair, associate professor of economics in the College of Arts & Sciences, clarifies some points of his lecture for Atwell.
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In addition to the 20 hours per week spent conditioning, practicing, and competing each season, student-athletes also do service projects in the community and strive to excel in the classroom. Atwell finds his room in Claver Hall a suitable place to hit the books.
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Atwell (right) expends some excess energy playing table tennis in the Barone Campus Center.
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With the flick of a switch, darkness gains victory over the brightness of the overhead lamp. The student-athlete stares into the black and contemplates the day. Life's lessons have been learned, ranging from the latest in economic theory to the variations of a zone defense. Those lessons swirl in the head of the student-athlete, but quickly give way to a sense of satisfaction. That contentment is the last thing on the student-athlete's mind as he or she looks to the clock radio one last time before falling asleep. |
