Pensacola, San Marcos, Las Vegas… Oh My!

College students look forward to Spring Break as a relief from the stress of schoolwork; however, student athletes are still required to work hard on their week of freedom.

Heather Fortenberry, a junior pitcher for the University of Texas at Arlington’s softball team finds spring break as just another week, minus the 8 a.m. classes. Fortenberry, a criminal justice major, has played softball since she was four.

“I cannot remember a Spring Break where I wasn’t playing. Even in high school, I was traveling to a tournament out of state,” Fortenberry said.

Where most students returned home or to vacation spots, Fortenberry spent her week 45 minutes away from home to attend practices and games. Fortenberry loves her sport, but wishes for the normal college student life.

“Sometimes I just want a break, to do things with friends, and I hate having to be home by 10:30 every night,” Fortenberry said. “It’s hard to balance studying and playing, especially when season starts. I basically live out of a suitcase.”

Like Fortenberry, Sarah Lankford, a junior studying business at Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has never had a spring break without softball. However, this college athlete, originally from Dallas, did get to travel. Lankford rode for over 32 hours round-trip on a bus with her team to Pensacola, Florida. Lankford spent the week in the sun playing six games in three days, and spent her last day enjoying the beach.

“I enjoyed playing, but my favorite part was the beach day. I saw dolphins, jellyfish, went shopping, and made a sandcastle,” Lankford said. “It was nice to have a day off to spend time with my teammates off the field.”

Not all students endured practices and games during the week. Most non-athlete students were able to shrug off responsibility and enjoy the five days of not seeing the inside of a classroom.

Texas State University junior Justin Thompson had no problem doing this. Thompson, an exercise and sports science major spent his week in San Marcos sleeping in, playing video games, and enjoying the river.

“I just went down to the river, got really drunk and played sand volleyball or football with friends,” Thompson said. “I love Spring Break. I look forward to it.”

Other students chose to travel on their week off. Sarah McDonald, a Texas State University sophomore studying digital photography has spent most of her Spring Breaks traveling with friends and family. Some places she has been include the Dominican Republic, Colorado and Galveston. This Spring Break, she drove with her cousins to Las Vegas. McDonald enjoyed seeing the Hoover Dam, the Continental Divide, and the Las Vegas strip on her trip.

“I love when Spring Break comes because I know I’m going to get away from teachers and tests,” McDonald said. “I love to travel and take pictures, and Spring Break is a great week to do it.”

University of Texas at Arlington softball

Mid-America Christian University softball
Photobucket slideshow

Sunset picture taken by Sarah Lankford
Las Vegas sign picture taken by Sarah McDonald