Student-Athlete
Ever since I was 5 years old
sports have been the biggest part of my life. Whether it was Basketball,
Volleyball, Soccer, Softball, or Track I was always busy with athletics. The amount of people I have met throughout my
life, and the friends that I have made has made my experience amazing. What makes being an athlete more rewarding is
the student aspect. Having to acquire
the time management skills, the hard work, and the dedication that all student
athletes put in is the most rewarding aspect.
Being on the Volleyball team at Siena has made me grow as a person, and
I wouldn’t take that back for the world.
Having to manage 4 hours of practice or workouts a day on top of
3 classes, and homework has made me so blessed with the opportunities I have been given.
Since Volleyball is played in the Fall, I was not able to show what any of my own team member’s routines on game day
are. Therefore, I decided to do one of
my good friends Larry Balkwill. He is a
member of the Siena Baseball team, and he played NYIT on Tuesday, April 9th. He is a first basemen and a catcher. Although, what he is most well known for is his ability
to hit. I had the opportunity to follow
him around on game day to understand his routines and superstitions that he
has.
Baseball has been a part of
Larry’s life for 17 years. He was born
and raised in Canada and although it is known as the “American Sport” he has
made it his life. Larry also takes his
academics very seriously. He maintains a 3.5 GPA, and takes pride in his
studies. Larry is the perfect example of how a student athlete should be
represented, and his character is well known throughout the community.
When documenting Larry throughout
the day I got a better understanding of how his team and personal routines are
different from my team, and it was interesting to understand from a different
view point.
At 7 am the team has to make their way to the field for tarp lift. This is where they uncover the dirt in
prepartion for the lines on the field to be drawn.
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After tarp lift Larry made his way to the cafeteria where he eats a good
breakfast as well as hydrating in order to get his body ready.
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After breakfast I was able to stop into Larry’s class. As much as athletes want to get their mind
right for the game they have to attend classes to make sure they are eligible.
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| I was unable to go into the locker room at this time, but Larry was able to snap a photo of some of his team members in the locker room before warmups. At this time they are taping their wrists, stretching, or just getting their mind focused on the game ahead. |
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| I asked Larry if their was a specific reason that he chose the number 19. He said, "I wear it for Joey Votto, who was a first basemen for the Cincinatti Reds. He was also Canadian born 2 hours from my house. He won 2010 and 2011 NL MVP." Larry ended his answer with "he is a stud like me." |
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| While I was at Larry's game, I photographed some of his at bats. This particular picture happened to be the home run that he hit into far left field. |
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| At the end of the game, Siena won 10-3. Larry and his team congratulate each other on their teamwork and the effort that everyone put in to get the W. |
Amanda, great post. You got some excellent pictures. Two really stand out to me:
ReplyDeleteThe unrolling of the tarp and handshake line. The unrolling of the tarp has awesome lighting with the sun coming up. The way the light makes the left side of the picture almost surreal is really cool. Also, the angle that you took the picture from shows the depth of the field.
The second picture, the handshake line, is a great candid shot, and it is a very warm shot. It makes you feel warm and happy inside, which is exactly how the players probably feel after getting a W.
Great post. Like Pat, a few pictures stood out to me. I like the first picture that is looking down through the fence at the ball. It introduces what is about to come and I like how the ball is in focus through the fence. I also liked the picture of the locker room because I feel like that best captures the game day like atmosphere of a team. Finally, I liked the picture of the roster. Not only does it add content to the project but it is a very artistic shot.
ReplyDeleteNice idea and storyline. The first picture really caught my eye and the way you shot the fence was excellent. The concept seems well-thought-out and the eclectic images show each aspect of the game and of Larry's life.
ReplyDeleteGame day is obviously a very important time and you were pretty lucky that he let you take pictures throughout his day. Great shots!
Being another student athlete and playing a similar sport, I think you did a good job capturing what it is like on game day. You captured some great moments and the quality aspects of the game day preparations. I thought the first picture set the tone pretty well and then the candid photos that came after, followed up with more emotion. The exhausting tarp lift, hydrating and filling up for the day, studying/working hard in the classroom and then finally game time. The pregame in the locker room is exactly as it is portrayed and the picture of Larry hitting was a good catch! Ending it with the hand shakes and scoreboard was a good touch.
ReplyDeleteGreat job! Good pictures and great story.