Colton Janssen gets ready for a pitch. (Colton Janssen submitted photo)

Editor’s note: Here is your chance to tell your story about your team, your school or your favorite player. If you’d like to join The Gazette’s growing list of high school contributors, contact J.R. Ogden at jr.ogden@thegazette.com

By Colton Janssen, Starmont senior

STRAWBERRY POINT — The life of a multisport athlete at a small school is an underrated achievement.

I know because I am one.

I’m involved in football at the moment but also participate in basketball, track, and baseball.

My week consists of maintaining and conditioning my body for all sports, not only the sport in season. The days of a multisport athlete are consumed with conditioning, schoolwork and practicing.

Rare moments of socialization are highly cherished.

It’s 5:45 on Monday morning, my alarm rings and it is time to hit the weights. The football players are expected to be at the school at 6:30 a.m. for lifting.

After the team lift, I show and am ready to hit the books for seven hours, starting at 8:30. The long day of school actually is my only time of true physical relaxation.

Around 3:30, the bell rings for the last time and football practice is looming. Anyone who has experienced a football practice can relate to the physicality of what it takes to get through a full session.

Gotta get that homework done …

But my day is not finished because it is time to hit the batting cage for an hour. I also play baseball in Cedar Rapids for Perfect Game, a weekend league with great competition. I normally have a doubleheader, which starts Saturday mid-morning. Let’s not forget the warm up before the game.

For most people, Saturday is a day of leisure, but for me, it’s a work day.

Need to get that writing assignment finished …

Homework isn’t going to do itself, so I hit the books until about 9:30. After homework, I may have a half-hour to an hour to kick back and watch some TV before crashing.

This is the average day for me in the fall.

Friday nights are the major focus of my week. That is what I practiced for all week. After the physical abuse and mental drainage during a football game, I go home as soon as possible to get some sleep for my baseball games Saturday morning.

The desire of competition doesn’t end Friday.

The diverse weekend schedule is what really shows the needed stamina it takes to be a multisport athlete. Anyone who has experienced a football game realizes how challenging it can be to be fully functional and playing to your best early the next morning after such a physical game the night before.

For the multisport athlete there is little time for recovery after each event. When Monday rolls around again, it is back to the grind with morning lifting and football practice.

As you can see, there is never a dull moment through the week for an athlete trying to improve their skills for not only one sport, but all their sports.

The toughest battle they face is concentration and focus. Taking a day off here and there is not going to get you where you want to go. You have to stay focused and obedient to your training rules.

I’m not the only student-athlete doing this. It is a common routine many larger schools and communities may not realize is taking place.