From early-morning alarms to late-night homework sessions, the daily life of a student-athlete is a careful balancing act between academics and athletics. For junior and senior athletes at Stoughton High School, success doesn’t come from talent alone, but discipline, planning, grit and dedication that lasts from morning to evening.
Senior four-year swimmer Gavin Reiser spends most of his day either in the classroom or at the pool.
“The majority of my day is spent in school or swimming before and after school,” Reiser said.
His busiest time of year is winter, when final exams overlap with challenging practices as the boys swim season ramps up. Some days start before sunrise due to morning practices, leaving little room for rest. To stay on track, Reiser uses any available free time to catch up on schoolwork, making sure academics don’t fall behind his athletic commitments. Reiser will continue his academic and athletic journey at Oakland University this coming fall.
Senior four-year wrestler Gatlin Empey also starts his days early, often before most students are awake.
“My day is usually focused on school and sports,” Empey said.
He prioritizes schoolwork first, then athletics, especially during the winter wrestling season, which is his busiest time of year. Empey emphasizes controlling what he can each day by eating healthy, taking care of his body, learning new techniques in his sport, and improving his strategies for competition. To manage everything, he avoids procrastination, packs his things the night before, and plans ahead to complete schoolwork at school and have some time for relaxation at home.
“My biggest consumer is planning for the next thing,” he said. Empey will continue on to play football at North Dakota State University this fall.
For four-year Senior soccer player Madelyn Bakken, being busy is a year-round commitment.
“I play soccer all year round, so I’m pretty much busy all year,” Bakken said.
Her fall and spring seasons are the most demanding, as she plays club soccer in the fall and high school soccer in the spring. A typical day starts with school and is immediately followed by practice, with club practices sometimes requiring her to drive to Waunakee. During the season, she practices 2-2.5 hours a day, with games during the week and occasional weekend commitments. Early mornings are common as well, whether for strength training during the high school season or long-distance travel for club games. Bakken will continue her soccer journey this fall at Carroll University.
Despite their demanding schedules, these athletes prove that success is possible both on the field and in the classroom. Their daily lives are filled with early mornings, long practices, and careful planning, but also with perseverance, responsibility and pride. Through dedication and time management, they continue to represent what it means to be a role-model student-athletes at SHS.
