Multiple sports, job can make students’ days very full

By BEN KLEINE

Staff writer

Matt Sprowls’ schedule last week is a good example of what summer can be like for a Marion athlete.

Sprowls would wake up to lift weights at 6 a.m. with the rest of the football team. The team would then hit the practice field east of the stadium about 7:30 for football camp.

Players worked on position and team drills for three hours. While some drills were specialized, most required the whole team. Early July 14, the team did a punt return drill. After a water break, most of the players attacked blocking dummies.

Although the team had plenty of water breaks and worked clad only in helmets, temperatures already were sweltering.

“Two years ago we had camp at 5 or 6 at night,” Sprowls said. “I’d much rather have this than that.”

After football camp concluded about 10:30, Sprowls and several teammates went to baseball practice at 11 to prepare for the Senior Babe Ruth state tournament in Liberal. The team worked mainly on hitting for an hour because it was so late in the season.

Still, Sprowls participated in more than a half-day filled with athletic activity with minimal breaks.

“I was pretty tired,” he said.

Evening did not allow Sprowls much rest because his work schedule at Wendy’s in Hillsboro typically had him working from 4 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. most nights.

“Once you get used to it,” Sprowls said. “It’s not so bad.”