The life of a student athlete is far from easy.
Whether it’s going to class, going to practice or participating in games, time is valuable for student athletes, and making good use of it can be hard.
Because of how little free time these students have, relationships can be hard to start and maintain.
When it comes to beginning the relationship, it’s much easier in the off-season, said Chip Crockarell, a senior business administration major and defender on the Union men’s soccer team.
“Rachel [West] and I started talking at the end of soccer season, towards the end of the year,” Crockarell said. “And we started dating in the spring of 2012, so it helped in the pursuit because there was more time to spend with each other.”
“I’m really glad that we started dating spring semester so that we had time to get to know each before soccer season came along so that when it was time for soccer it wasn’t as much of a shock,” West said.
Josh Warren and Cara Snowden, junior history major, also know pursuing a relationship in the off-season is easier—theirs began this semester.
“First semester I told her I had a crush on her, and I told her and she said she wasn’t interested, but we kept spending time together,” said Warren, a sophomore defender on the soccer team.
Snowden said that as their friendship became more platonic, she missed spending time with him alone, and this semester that friendship has turned into a relationship.
“Athletics hasn’t really gotten in the way this semester, especially with soccer workouts only being three days a week,” Warren said. “We’ve had a lot of time to spend together so far, and it’s been great.”
As easy as dating in off-season is for these student-athletes, there is also a season to date through.
Crockarell and West have dated through two soccer seasons now and said time management is most important.
“Time management is a big part. Everybody says each semester is different and it’s true for soccer, too,” Crockarell said. “The fall is hard because soccer is basically six days a week, so Sundays are kind of our days.”
West added, “The time management is so crucial, and finding the times when we can see each other and get good quality time together is hard in the fall.”
Sophomore outfielder Daniel Mathis, junior biochemistry major, and his girlfriend, Kristi Hardester, freshman psychology major, are experiencing the struggles of dating during the season right now, because baseball season is starting to heat up.
“It’s not that new to us because our relationship has been a long-distance relationship anyways,” Hardester said.
