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Balancing Act

Sophomore Alex Chitwood plays on both varsity cross-country and varsity soccer teams while maintaining a 4.0 GPA

By Tommy Sneider

<[email protected]>

Why did you decide to do two sports at the same time?
Last year I was just going to do soccer, but the coaches talked and said that I could do both. I really enjoy both of them a lot.

How long have you participated in soccer and cross-country?
I started cross-country in eighth grade, and I started soccer in second grade. Then in fifth grade, I started playing travel soccer for Carmel United.

What’s the hardest part about playing both sports during the same season?
The conflicts between games and meets and I miss a little bit of each practice each day.

What is your favorite part about playing soccer?
Probably my teammates. They’re really fun, and they’re really good friends outside of school too.

And what about cross-country?
My teammates too and I just really like to run, so it’s just really fun overall.

If you had to pick between soccer and cross-country, which would you choose?
Probably cross-country, since running has become my favorite thing to do. And my teammates are great too, and I like being around them a lot.

Do you think you will do this again for your junior and senior year?
I think I will try to do this again next year, but for senior year I will end up just choosing one and playing that.

How late do you stay up on a usual night, with homework and sports practices?
Usually around 10:30 p.m. After practice I get home and have dinner right away and then do homework until I go to sleep.

How do you manage to keep a 4.0 GPA while being so busy?
I just make sure I get all of my homework done and study a lot. I budget my time really well and use my SRT as well as I can.

Do you have much time to hang out with friends?
No, I don’t really have time to hang out with people that much.

What advice do you have for other students?
Make sure you have a specific time to do everything and also see that you get all of your homework done.

What’s your after-school schedule usually like?
I go to cross-country after school and then leave there around 5 p.m. Then I go to River Road Park for soccer, which lasts until 7 p.m. Then I go home and do homework and sleep.

How does running cross-country help with soccer, and vice versa?
Cross-country helps me get the conditioning in for soccer, and soccer helps me see what it feels like to be a real team since cross-country is more individual.

What are your plans after high school for soccer and/or cross-country?
I really want to run after high school, but I don’t really know where. Maybe at Butler (University), but I’m really not sure.

What goals have you set for yourself for this fall season?
I would like to win State with both teams. For cross-country, I want to be all-state, which is in the top 25 runners. For soccer, I just really want to improve my foot skills.

What do you do in the spring to keep in shape?
I play club soccer and run the 1600 meters for track, so that really keeps me in shape.

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