Student-athletes at Northwestern State University are a unique and dedicated group of individuals. They work on maintaining their grades and academic standing all while participating in long practices, competitions and traveling with their teams.
Rick Cabrera, coach for NSU men’s basketball, looks for certain qualities in players that may indicate good team members and that they know how to take care of their education. “We look for high-character young men that know how to handle themselves on and off the court. We look for young men that have an interest in education as being at the forefront of their university goals,” Cabrera said.
For several of NSU’s athletes, the most challenging part of being a college athlete is achieving academic goals and good grades while also participating in their respective sports.
Emily Mougia is a senior health and exercise major who plays soccer at NSU and believes that student-athletes can benefit from focusing on one thing at a time. “It is challenging to find a balance, especially at the beginning, because you are living on your own for the first time,” Mougia said. “Finding a routine and setting out time for my studies, training and social life was an important aspect in finding balance. Focusing on one thing at a time has made me more productive and makes the entire process a lot easier.”
Bryan Lay is a freshman accounting major who participates in track and field. He believes that any student participating in a college sport should consider their academics to be a top priority. “Take any chance that you get to make sure you are on top of your schoolwork and give it your all in the classroom,” Lay said. “That should be the number one priority. When you do that, you have plenty of time for practice and even the chance to be a little more involved on campus.”
Athletes at NSU are dedicated, focused and resilient, managing to succeed both in class and on the field. They are constantly striving to improve themselves through training and competing at the highest levels, representing NSU to the best of their abilities.
