Being a varsity athlete means learning how to balance long practices, heavy schoolwork, and the pressure to perform in competition. For many students, that balance is as tough as the sport itself. Four varsity athletes shared how they make it work, and their answers show that balance comes from discipline, small routines, and learning from teammates. 

For junior Ava Burke, a swimmer, balance is about knowing when to push and when to rest. After tough meets, she takes recovery seriously, giving herself time to reset with a hot shower and quiet relaxation. She admits nerves used to overwhelm her, but now she either zones out distractions or hypes herself up by talking with teammates. Her team’s signature pre-meet chant, “L E, L E D, L E D Y A R D,” creates the energy they need to dive in with confidence. For Burke, even the offseason is about staying sharp, swimming with her club team year-round.  

Volleyball player, senior Faith Dalton, finds balance through faith and routine. She begins every day by reading her Bible, which she says gives her peace before heading into a busy schedule, filled with classes and practice. On game days, her team connects through a prayer circle after their coach’s pep talk; a tradition that helps them support each other beyond the sport itself. Dalton also pushes back against the pressure of perfection, reminding herself that athletes don’t need to be flawless to succeed. She pairs that mindset with consistent fueling, eating three full meals and multiple snacks to make sure her body has the energy to perform.  

For senior soccer player Ben Crowe, his secret balance starts with both physical and mental habits. His go-to pregame meal is pasta, and he never forgets to hydrate. But when it comes to pressure, Crowe relies on breathing techniques and grounding exercises to stay calm and focused. He and his teammates warm up with a rondo drill, which is a possession-based soccer drill where a group of players attempts to maintain possession by completing passes. In contrast, a smaller, opposing group tries to win the ball back, which not only sharpens their skills but also sets the right team mindset before kickoff. Crowe believes leadership is the secret to guiding teammates toward success while keeping morale high.  

Senior Kylie Witherhill, a runner, has learned that organization is the secret to balancing school and sports. Right after practice, she heads home, grabs a snack, and gets straight to homework, all while juggling a job on top of her workload. Her pre-race snack is unconventional bread, a quirky tradition borrowed from a former teammate, Ledyard graduate Adelaide Culligan, but her results come from more than diet. Witherill says the transition from junior varsity to varsity required discipline and consistency above all else. On meet days, she blasts Fleetwood Mac’s song Silver Springs to get hyped and makes sure to be the loudest voice cheering for her teammates, a proven hack she believes defines her role on the team.  

Together, these athletes reveal that balance isn’t about perfection or flashy routines. Instead, it’s about small habits, whether it’s a chant, a prayer, a pasta dinner, or even a slice of bread that help them stay grounded and connected, both in the classroom.  

Senior Natalie Burdick is a staff writer for the 2025-2026 Colonel News site. She likes playing sports, including soccer, lacrosse, skiing, and sailing. She also enjoys being at the beach or in the woods.