Living up to the academic rigors of the No. 2 ranked public school in the nation isn't easy for anyone. Playing on the No. 1 ranked men's lacrosse team in the nation isn't a piece of cake either. But athletes on the Virginia men's lacrosse team manage to do both.
Combining hours of work on the field with hours of work in the classroom, the team (12-0) has successfully pulled off an undefeated season while almost completing another semester -- the last for a senior class that knows the rigors and day in, day out challenge of being a student-athlete.
"It's very hard," senior J.J. Morrissey said. "In season you're spending about four to five hours a day at the practice field. Then you have to go home and do the homework everyone else does. It makes things difficult, but the reward, especially with seasons like this, is amazing to see what you've gone through."
The reward is close both in the classroom and on the field for this year's seniors. Virginia has been No. 1 in the national rankings for the majority of the season and is the favorite going into the NCAA Tournament. Finishing off their season with a 21-10 win over Bellarmine Saturday, the Cavaliers are not only undefeated but are the only undefeated team in the nation.
Winning the national championship would be icing on the cake for the class of 2006 -- which boasts a lofty academic schedule as well. The team will lose 11 seniors in May, among them, captains Matt Ward, Morrissey and Michael Culver. Ward will graduate with a degree from the McIntire School of Commerce, while Morrissey will walk the lawn with a B.A. in History and Culver will take away a degree in English.
"To be a student athlete is tough," Ward said. "You get to class and people don't realize that you have practice all week. It's very time consuming, but you build something special. You have over thirty kids on your team and you build a special bond with them that I don't think most kids in college get. It's certainly taxing."
Chasing players into conducting themselves as representatives of their school is a job many coaches lament. But for coach Dom Starsia, the job takes care of itself.
"This [senior class] is a group that makes my life easy every single day," Starsia said. "It's hard for the freshmen not to go at full speed when they see J.J. Morrissey and Culver going all out with everything that they do.Not just on Saturdays. They set the proper example on and off the field. It's really an inspiring group."
This group will kick off the ACC Tournament next weekend just as most students are preparing to kick off finals. Only for them, it's not an either or thing. Regardless of the outcome of the tournament, exams will be waiting when the team returns.
"Keeping up with your schoolwork is difficult, but coach does a good job of keeping us on task and all the kids here are well-rounded," Ward said. "Good students, good athletes stand up to the challenge."
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