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Field Hockey player can balance school and fun MATIHEW BODNAR why the Green Terror cannot be a srrong force in the- Stoff Reporter Centennial Conference. Barrisea has experienced rwo extremes in the collegiate sporting world these past two years. She Practice IOA.M to I P.M. everyday of the week. has experienced the bloodthirsty environment of Film sessions and work outs in the gym. Division Iathletics, and the more relaxed pace of Leave school on Thursday morning and return on Division II[ competition. The differences between Sunday. these two really illustrate how me phrase "seudenr- , Completely miss me college experience that so athlete" can rake on rwc very different connotations. many of us enjoy. Like Barrisra, thousands of srudenr athletes are for- Such is the llfe of a Division I arhlere in rodays runare enough (0 be highly recruited to play in the ultra-competitive, winner rake all environment. No upper echelon of coUegiate sports. Unfornmately, one understands this life more than sophomore in Division I it ar.pears me student especr of aeh- Hope Bnrrisra. Last year Battista was 11 member of leres is often rorgonen and certainly not promoted the Georgetown women's field hockey team. Bar- by many. The glory of championships and perhaps dsra described her time at Georgetown as a fuU- most importantly, sponsorships and prize money time cornmirment to the team; ''I would leave on outweigh the glories of receiving an A in the class- a Thursday morning and miss all my Thursday and room. After discovering the frenzied lifestyle Banis- Friday classes. drive or Aya couple hours, play Sar- ra endured at Georgetown, one has to wonder what urday and Sunday and gel back late Sunday night." we are preparing our college athletes for in me long During these hectic times Battista felr like she was run. A microscopic percentage of college athletes missing our on so much back on campus. have me oppornmiry to pursue professional careers, Flash forward 11 year and Battista finds her- so one would think me focus of as tude nt-athlete self stepping out OntO the field as a member of should truly be on his or her studies. the Green Terror field hockey team. When asked Once Banista transferred to McDaniel, she why she transferred to McDaniel College, Barris- surely discovered mat on ehe H ill, the primary focus ra responds, ~I liked the small school atmosphere is obtaining a great education. Barrist:l.s practice and and how everyone seemed to be so friendly.~ Add- game schedule is certainly more managea.bl"" her ing (0 Battista's comfon wi(h (ransferring were coaches are moreacce:ssible and her teammau:s share her family ties McDaniel. Her s(epfa[her is in ,he her desire for preparing for a future in ,he real world. McDaniel Hall of Fame for fomball, and her step- Division Ill athletics have round a delicate balance brorhcr; Aaron Bcnacccrsy is a junior here on between sporrs and academics. Division Ill's philo- the Hill. sophical Statement begim with the following: l1lUsrnr,Battistahasenjoyedeveryminu[eout "Colleges and universities in Division [[[ place on [he field with her new teammates. "Everyone highestptioriryon the overall qualtry of the educa- gets along so well, and there's not really any divi- donal experience and on the successful completion sion between classes. 1 fed like I can talk [Q the se- of all seudenrs' academic programs" (NOIA.org). niors the same as the freshman, and I didn't really McDaniel has embraced and lived-up to this experience that at Georgetown." The camaraderie fimdamenral beliefof Dtvtsion !Il schools. Battista, the team shares while playing even carries off the a!ongwith the rhousands of Divison III athletes, field, as Battista explains the whole team hangs OUt are benditdng from this idealistic approach to the away from me field. student-athlete persona. Those of us who are form- As one of many new members on me field nare enough 10 rake pan in sports here at McDan- ho:x::key team, Bartism sees the potential this team iel can be confident in our abilities as we prepare possesses. "I mink rhefurure looks really promising. to set forth into [he working world. McDaniel has We're still C