by Zach Richardson
Sat, March 18th 2023 at 10:43 PM
Updated Sun, March 19th 2023 at 4:39 PM
"It can get really bad because if I have a game on a Friday but then I have a test that day, it stresses me out completely," Wilhoit said. "But mentally, you signed up to do a sport. You signed up to do anything else, so you have to make the decision is this what I am going to do or should I just not do the sport and just focus on school." (KHQA)
(KHQA) — "I always try to keep a good attitude within the school because I am one of the people that people look at like he is a Hannibal Pirate," said senior Austin Wilhoit. "We have to look at him if he is doing anything wrong. He's got to set an example in the classroom."
Student-athletes are often put under a lot of pressure.
Not only do they have the commitment of their sport, but also the expectation to be successful in the classroom.
"It can get really bad because if I have a game on a Friday but then I have a test that day, it stresses me out completely," Wilhoit said. "But mentally, you signed up to do a sport. You signed up to do anything else, so you have to make the decision is this what I am going to do or should I just not do the sport and just focus on school."
Austin Wilhoit is a senior at Hannibal High School and he says balancing everything between academics and athletics can take a toll on mental health.
But when he is able to find success in both, it is a gratifying feeling.
"You could be so stressed throughout the week with everything, but it's like when you get your competitiveness out on the field or on the track during your meet and you do good within that, it just releases all the stress you had in the beginning of the week," Wilhoit said.
But it's not just during the season student-athletes face stress.
Bowling Green High School football coach Joe Chinn says for most high school seniors don't play at the collegiate level.
Knowing they may never play the sport again can have a major impact on one's mental health.
"The seniors. That's what is really hard. It's a very small amount of kids that will ever play college sports," said Chinn. "Football especially, from that aspect, that's a game that you just can't ever play again."
But it is important to let those athletes know they are not alone.
Having the support from coaches and peers can help them get through their battles.
"Our student athletes, we have such a bond. Like yes, on the field we may look like we hate each other," Wilhoit said. "We can argue and everything else, but we know each and every time if we need to talk to someone or go up to each other that we can trust each other and have someone who has our back no matter what."
