When the time came for STA spring sports tryouts, freshman Mary Gibson believed she would be able to play both track and soccer. Eventually, she had to choose running varsity track over JV soccer. She had been playing soccer since kindergarten and running track since fourth grade. Gibson said athletic director Mark Hough told her they would work out a schedule that would allow her to play both sports. However, Gibson said that although JV coach [getting name] was willing to work out a practice schedule, head track and field coach Amanda James didn’t believe it was fair for Gibson to run varsity over other girls who would attended every practice. Hough had a meeting with the two coaches and told Gibson she had to choose. Although Gibson ended up choosing track, she called the decision hard to make.
‘My opinion is that you should focus on one sport at once,’Â James said. ‘It’s really hard to play two sports at once and be good at both. I think you’re spreading yourself too thin.’Â
According to Hough, the school does not have a specific policy on athletes wanting to play two sports at once.
James said that although STA does not advocate dual sport athletes, she was willing to work with Gibson so that she could make the best decision for her.
