Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/series/sports-next-level-2017/)
An in-depth reporting project of the Spartan Newsroom
The challenge of leaving home to pursue a career in collegiate cross country has been difficult for Robert “Bobby” Crowley. Crowley, 18, was born in Carlow, Ireland. The freshman ran cross country at Knochbeg College before coming to the U.S. and enrolling at Michigan State University. For Crowley, he has witnessed significant culture change.
The Michigan State University women’s basketball team holds annual tryouts for their male scout team. What exactly is the scout team and some of the perks? Spartan Newsroom talked with Jack Dales, a sophomore student at MSU, who is a member of the team.
They may be designed in part as recreational activities, but that doesn’t stop some athletes from being too aggressive on during intramural sports events.
About 10 to 15 Michigan State University students are suspended each semester due to misconduct, said Ross Winter, assistant director for Intramural Sports at Michigan State University.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional athlete, a movie star or your average Joe, for most people, dieting is a challenge. The dieting struggle is all too familiar for true freshmen Drew Rubick and Turner Ruby, who play football at Hillsdale College.
Acting as an alternate form of club sports, IM sports are meant to bridge the gap for students who want competition but at a more relaxed level. MSU offers 25 to 30 IM sports during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
After graduating high school, student-athletes are left with a decision: keep trying to participate in an organized sport or give it up. That decision can lead to many different ramifications physically, but also mentally. For Giorgi Ballis, 19, and his brother Yanni Ballis, 20, the plan had been to come to Michigan State University and play rugby together — just like they had in middle school and high school. But when Giorgi got to campus this year, after two rugby practices, he was out. “People can say it was planned,” Giorgi said of playing with his brother.
“I’ve had two ankles sprains, two fractures, a wrist injury on my left hand, severe nerve damage on my right wrist/hand, left knee sprain, left shoulder labrum repair, ACL reconstruction right knee, and ACL reconstruction/osteotomy,” Monroe said.
Refueling the body while active plays a big role in an athlete’s performance. To get a better understanding of what is preferred by athletes to drink on t
he sidelines and during recovery to restore their bodies, Branndais Agee and Rhashad Hicks Jr. shared what they consume to stay hydrated.
Connor Fannon, 22, stepped away from competitive baseball in May. Fannon has played since he was 6, and made it to Division I college baseball with Oakland University. But after graduation, his career ended. “It’s weird,” Fannon said. “I have so much more time now.
According to the NCAA, there are 73,660 participants in NCAA football. Of those, only 16,369 players of them are eligible to be drafted and about 1.5 percent are drafted to the NFL.
Keenan Smith and Jared Mosley are just two of the many football players who had their hearts set on playing in the NFL. Spartan Newsroom talked with them about dreams — and the realities they faced.