In order to participate in sports at Pattonville, students must have a grade point average of 1.5 or higher. With practices and homework, students must be able to juggle a lot in order to compete in the classroom and on the court.

I talked to a few students from different sports to get their insight on how they manage to keep up their grades.

Freshman basketball player Kelcie Rhimes “To be completely honest, Academic Lab is where I get all my homework done during the day instead of at home after practice. Focusing in a quiet room instead of a loud house is more effective in the long run. You’re more motivated when you’re in a learning environment.”

Sophomore football player, wrestler, and track runner Terrell Sanderson “It’s not easy. Some nights I sacrifice sleep depending on how much homework or studying I have to do. Sports are definitely a huge commitment, especially if you play more than one.”

Freshman varsity volleyball player Samantha Schuler “Time management is key to be completely honest. I play select and for Pattonville, so between the two, there’s a lot of traveling and time involved. In order to stay on top of things, I dedicate certain amounts of time on only homework and studying each night.”

Whether you play a sport or not, time management is a skill everyone should practice. Sports and clubs you participate in are a big responsibility. There are many resources for you to keep up with school and for you to have fun. Everyone should be encouraged to join something they’re interested in. As long as you stay focused, you’ll be successful.