Struggles of the Pin Seekers

When one is passionate about something, they make it their goal to make sure they accomplish all they want with that aspiration. For Janelle Garcia and Taylor Wetzel, they both have a striking passion for golf. But with the passion of golf, as a high schooler, balancing academics, a social life, and their golfing life is the real challenge. Janelee Garcia, a senior on the girls’ golf team, is the number one player on the team and an important asset to the team’s success. Taylor Wetzel is a prominent player in the lineup who has been known to lead the Royals with low scores.

 

I conducted interviews with both Garcia and Wetzel and they both had a lot to say about how they manage their golfing lives and academic and social lives. When asked about the challenge of playing high school golf and managing their academics, Garcia responded, “Managing both academics and playing on a high school team has been challenging, but I enjoy it.” Garcia continued “It teaches me discipline and time management, which will help me for my college years!”  Wetzel added, “I’m finding it very difficult, especially during my junior year.” Wetzel continued, “I take a very rigorous courseload, and playing golf practically every day for hours on end means I don’t have adequate time to study and do homework.” When managing academics and a high school sport, many would agree that it is a challenge. But some would argue that it’s more beneficial than it is stressful.

 

When asked about what keeps them motivated to work hard in both school and golf, Garcia said, “I stay motivated to work hard in both of these areas because I truly do believe in ‘hard work pays off’ and I know my day will come.” Wetzel responded, “I want to see this team perform well, so I always try my best to make that happen.” Wetzel continued, “In school, my friends are in the same classes I am in, so we all motivate and help each other.” Both Garcia and Wetzel have found ways to make sure that their mentality doesn’t slip so that their academics and golf game live up to their expectations.

 

When asked about if they ever feel they miss out on social events because of their golfing life, Garcia responded, “I definitely do miss out on social events, it’s a trade off, but I try my best to balance both sports, academics and my social life. And with whatever time I have with friends, I always make the most of it.” Wetzel echoed this sentiment, saying, “Of course, I’ve had to miss countless of my friends’ parties for golf, and especially during when state nears.” Wetzel also stated, “I don’t necessarily miss out due to schoolwork, because I would rather stay up late or use up a study hall then not go to social events.” Both girls have had their struggles when it comes to managing a social life with their golfing goals, but they both find ways to make it work.

 

When asked about if they ever feel like they must choose between golf and academics, Garcia stated, “Yes, I often feel I must choose between golf or academics and that I need to prioritize one over the other. In my mind though, I am aware both are equally important.” Wetzel responded similarly, “Yes, especially when the beginning of state preparations happen. I spend a majority of my time playing golf and trying to improve, so I can’t spend a lot of time on academics or clubs. This year, I’ve already had to miss countless classes and tests for golf.” The two have had their shares of hard decisions, but that’s the challenge that comes with being a high school athlete.

 

In the end many would agree that playing a high school sport is difficult. The stress and overload of work from both golf and academics causes several problems and decisions for the athlete, but Garcia and Wetzel have done a fantastic job at managing these dilemmas. For the other rising high school athletes, Garcia offers this advice, “Advice I have for younger girls trying to balance sports and academics is that time management is key.” Garcia continued, “not only just for high school but also for real world scenarios in the future”