LOVE OF THE GAME

Rigorous practice schedules cause fatigue, athletes compare journeys in sports

With two hours of lacrosse practice after school and up to three games throughout the week combined with a rigorous academic course load, Caroline Ramsey, lacrosse player and senior, said she feels overworked 100% of the time.

“(You know you’ve reached your limit when) your body starts to break down. You start getting injured; little things will just make you exhausted,” she said. “I probably get to that point too often. I tend to work myself right up to that edge all the time, and it’s not exactly healthy.”

Even off-season, Ramsey said she trains around two and one-half hours a day, working on speed, agility, conditioning and weight training.

According to new research, this could affect her off the field. In a recent study of triathletes published in the Current Biology journal, researchers evaluated overtraining syndrome, a form of burnout defined as an unexplained performance drop associated with intense fatigue.

In the study, athletes increased their weekly training by 40%. After three weeks, they were more likely than the control group to choose immediate gratification over long-term rewards. Brain scans of these athletes also revealed decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain responsible for decision-making.

“You get to a point where you’re having to do so many things that you get so exhausted that making decisions is hard,” Ramsey said. “You will take the easiest way out just to get it over with, just because you’re too tired to think about the consequences, too tired to ANGELA QIAN STORY

MAKING MOVES: Lacrosse Head Coach Brandon Burke gives orders to senior Caroline Ramsey as she navigates her way through her teammate during practice on Saturday morning. “You get to a point where you’re having to do so many things that you get so exhausted that making decisions is hard,” Ramsey said. RAY MO PHOTOS

SPEAK UP! Despite all of the hard practices and the long hours, what keeps you playing your sport?

“My love for the game keeps me playing. I’ve always grown up with sports, it’s always been in my house. That love has been instilled in me from a young age and that’s what keeps me going.” Senior Christian Williams

“I think definitely my teammates and coaches keep me going because we’re like a giant family and it’s good to have that support system behind me.” Junior Riley Pennington

ASHWIN PRASAD, JACKIE HUR SPEAK-UPS, PHOTOS

think about how you’re going to struggle to the long term.”

Swimmer and sophomore Lizzie Maurer said she has had a similar experience. Her practice schedule consists of eight practices each week—a combination of before and after school—for a total of about 16 hours.

“When I have a lot of tests the next day, I don’t really like going to practice because I have no motivation to study at home after I’m super tired,” Maurer said. “I normally stay up until 1:30 a.m. every day and then wake up at 4:30 a.m.”

However, Maurer said her coaches do modify practice to give athletes a break after a rough week of practice, although she said, “not often.” Besides fitness benefits, participation in high school sports is shown to lead to higher grades, better attendance, and a higher likelihood of college admission. did you know?

ATYOUROWNRISK SOURCE

According to head swimming coach Chris Plumb, swimmers are allowed three unexcused absences throughout the year along with any excused absences for commitments such as college visits and doctors appointments.

“We are a varsity sport at Carmel High School, so I feel, to be on the team, it requires (the) level of commitment in a varsity sport,” Plumb said. “(We) try to make sure that there’s a balance between commitment to the program and being on a team, and that means showing up and making sure you have a balanced lifestyle, doing your schoolwork and those things.”

But Ramsey said this balance can be hard to achieve. A quick Google search of “academics, athletics and social life” garners hundreds of thousands of hits, but none of them are able to provide a direct solution.

Still, Maurer and Ramsey said their coaches are aware of their physical limitations and may provide recovery days. “Rest and relaxation time gets pushed to the wayside until the end of season, (but) coaches do realize that you’re human and that you have your limits,” Ramsey said. “Some-

by the numbers 8% fewer high school seniors compete in sports than freshmen of athletes reported feelings of burnout 35% visits to emergency hospitals per year for athletes 2.6 MILLION

OHIO UNIVERSITY SOURCE

times they also get blinded by the winning aspect of it, and they don’t always see it, but in general, they’re very receptive of seeing when we’re struggling and having a bad day.”

In the end, Ramsey and Maurer said their love for their sports helps them overcome the time commitment and fatigue. This aligns with research surrounding student-athlete happiness. In a study of student-athletes in Division 1 schools, researchers found that although athletes regret that their participation in sports led them to miss out on some aspects of college, it instilled unique values and enhanced their overall college experience.

“For a long time, sports was just something that I did because my parents forced me to,” Ramsey said. “I finally settled on lacrosse because of the atmosphere of camaraderie and teamwork that it fosters because it is a sport that you can’t win by yourself. Having those good relationships with teammates (and) feeling supported by them is really important. Also, I love a good competition. (Lacrosse) gave me a great outlet that I hadn’t found anywhere else in my life.” h

SISTERHOOD: Caroline Ramsey, varsity lacrosse player and senior, walks off the field with her teammates. Ramsey, as well as swimming Head Coach Chris Plumb, said positive and uplifting team atmosphere motivates athletes to keep playing their sport.

A Sub-Par Stigma CHS golfers challenge perception that golf is easy through workouts in pre-season

ALIVIA ROMANIUK STORY NICK BECKMAN PHOTOS

ot everyone considers golf to be a physically demanding sport. However, athletes have proven that golf requires a substantial amount of strength, stamina and flexibility. As the mens’ golf season approaches, members will have winter conditioning to prepare and get stronger in hopes for a successful season.

Clay Stirsman, member of the mens’ golf team and senior, said he agreed that golf is not only mentally but also physically demanding. “Golf has changed a lot from what it used to be, and with the game now being more distance-driven, power and athleticism is required to achieve most skills,” he said. “In the offseason, we work two times a week in the weight room on core strength, leg strength and overall conditioning.”

In 2004, ESPN conducted a study to find the 60 most physically demanding sports, of which golf was N

ranked 51st. This aroused opposition from many golfers, including former Green Bay Packers player Sterling Sharp, who believed it should have been in the top four.

According to the article, Gigi Fernandez, former tennis player and ametur golfer, said golf is a brutal sport because it takes a lifetime to master all the shots and situations. Additionally, there’s almost no margin for error.

“Sure, anybody can go out there and play, but to do it at the highest level, it’s the hardest thing I know,’’ Fernandez said.

According to Joshua Shelton, head coach of the mens’ golf team, golf requires a large amount of focus and tolerance, as it is a very technical sport.

“A lot of our practices are very flexible, because we look at the areas that each individual golfer needs to improve, and then we work out a perHEAVY LIFTING: Clay Stirsman, member of the men’s golf team and senior, lifts weights during preseason practice. Stirsman said golf has evolved from being distance-driven to having more emphasis on power and athletics to be more successful at certain skills. sonalized practice plan for each of our golfers,” Shelton said.

Team members explained the growing competitiveness of golf has also contributed to making the sport more difficult.

“These days you have to hit (the golf ball) a long way to be competitive in golf. Getting in the gym and getting stronger and more flexible will give you so much more distance, as will working on a swing that makes you as efficient as you can be,” Gabe Perrin, member of the mens’ golf team and sophomore, said.

According to Shelton, the most important thing a golfer can do to improve their results is to work on the speed of their swing.

“Nowadays the best golf players in the world swing the golf club over 120 miles per hour. If you want to play competitively at a high level, whether it’s high school or at the college level,

you have to swing the golf club at 110 miles per hour or more,” he said.

Luke Prall, member of the mens’ varsity golf team and senior, said he practices golf almost every day, whether it is working out or practicing shots. “The CHS golf team started afterschool workouts before winter break and will continue those workouts until our season starts,” he said.

In 2015, GolfMonthly published an article titled “7 reasons why golfers are athletes” arguing that golf required

The type of workouts and conditioning that our golfers complete is very similar to what you’re going to see in your main sport athletes.

JOSHUA SHELTON, HEAD COACH OF THE MEN’S GOLF TEAM

power, strength, speed, flexibility and stamina. According to the article, due to tough shots, long games and tense situations, golf is a very challenging, physically-demanding sport.

Shelton said he agreed.“The type of workouts and conditioning that our golfers complete is very similar to what you’re going to see in your main sport athletes, particularly any athlete that needs speed for their sport,” Shelton said, “Anyone that has to incorporate speed, that’s the kind of exercise that we’re doing.”

Shelton said the golf team works on endurance to handle the matches. “We do a lot of endurance running because the average length of a golf course that we have to walk is about five miles,” he said.

Overall, the golf team hopes for a successsful season this spring.

“My goal is to have my game as sharp as it can be so that I can be in a position to help the team as much as possible. Lots of practice, lots of reps, and lots of hours in the gym. It’s important we stay humble and take nothing for granted,” he said. h

whole body workout Learn more about some unique workouts for every body part to add to your routine

Importance of Muscle symmetry Distributing muscle mass evenly reduces the risk of injury

Helps combat inflexibility caused by sedentary life. Arm workouts

Deltoids Lateral raise Quads, glutes Training legs helps with running and reducing back pain.

Front squat Leg workouts

A strong core is needed to maximize strength, balance, and stability in the arms and legs. Pectoral, deltoids Cable fly Core workouts

Triceps Diamond pushups Hamstrings Dumbbell stepup

Hammer curl Biceps, brachialis Soleus, gastrocnemius Calf raise

Lower back Superman pull

Abdominal V-sit

EDWARD DONG GRAPHIC MENS JOURNAL, MEN’S HEALTH, BODYBUILDING, ADIDAS SOURCES

WEIGHTED WORK: Luke Prall, varsity men’s golfer and senior, works on his core and arm strength at weight training for pre-season golf practices. Prall said the team started after school workouts in the pre-season in order to help them be more successful at certain techniques. He added that these workouts use similar muscles to those that are seen in the actual sport.