Academics, athletics a juggling act of time
Playing a Division-I sport is hard enough, let alone trying to excel at a sport and in the classroom.
CMU softball and wrestling teams will be adding to their rosters in the upcoming seasons a few people who achieve on the field as well as with the books in high school.
“I think time management is a very key aspect as far as balancing school work with sports,” said softball Head Coach Margo Jonker. “The athlete part of the student and the student part of the athlete is where the balance has to be.”
Two females are coming in for Jonker who excel in the classroom as well as on the field are Brittany Faulks of Brighton High School and Lindsay Calme of Waterford Our Lady of Lakes High School.
“I’m excited about what they bring to the program in all aspects of life, both in the classroom and on the field,” Jonker said. “I believe that you should give it your all or don’t give anything, and I think these girls give their all.”
Faulks is an outfielder who is coming to CMU on scholarship. She earned a 3.69 grade-point average in high school. On the field Faulks was voted all-state, all-region, all-county and all-conference.
“Brittany is bringing in excellent skills for next season, and she definitely has the leadership,” Jonker said.
Calme is a catcher who also earned a scholarship to play for the Chippewas. She had a 4.013 GPA in high school and was vice president of National Honor Society and student council president. Calme was all-state, all-Catholic, all-metro, all-region, all-district and all-county dream team in softball.
“Lindsay has to be a thinker because the catcher has to know everything about everything as far as what is going on out there, and I’d say she’s a pretty good thinker,” Jonker said.
Wrestling Head Coach Tom Borrelli has two wrestlers coming in who also excel in the classroom as well as on the mat.
Wynn Michalak of Caro High School and Andy Pulling of Portland High School will be part of the CMU squad for next season.
Michalak graduated with a 3.99 GPA while having vice president duties of NHS. Michalak also was a finalist for the Wendy’s High School Heisman award. He was a two-time state champion and voted all-America.
Pulling graduated from Portland with a 3.16 GPA. He was all-state, all-county and all-league, as well as a four-year letter winner and team captain. Pulling holds the school record for career wins.
