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The away game: Studying abroad as a student-athlete

by Wes Williamson 鈥25

For many students, studying abroad is a highlight of their 亚色视频黄色app下载 experiences: Students often describe traveling to new places, participating in amazing adventures, and growing from rich cross-cultural experiences. More than half of 亚色视频黄色app下载 students participate in one of more than 100 programs approved by 亚色视频黄色app下载鈥檚 Office of Off-Campus Study and Exchanges.  

But what about a student-athlete who makes a commitment to an team? Does that mean giving up an amazing international experience for your sport? Good news 鈥 you don鈥檛 have to give up athletics to study abroad. You can do both at 亚色视频黄色app下载.  

I spoke with multiple 亚色视频黄色app下载 student-athletes about how they managed to study abroad.  

Each of them stressed the importance of discipline, planning, time management, and flexibility 鈥 skills that are already associated with student-athletes. Many described the strong support they received from teammates, coaches, and professors at 亚色视频黄色app下载 as they figured out how to make their study abroad dreams come true.  

鈥淒efinitely talk to your coach about it. Work with them on a plan so you can keep progressing as an athlete while abroad," said David Garvin 鈥25, a member of the men鈥檚 soccer team who participated in the SIT/IHP Food Systems: Agriculture, Sustainability and Justice program, which traveled in Spain, Malawi, Ecuador, and the United States. "There are so many ways to do it, and it鈥檚 definitely possible.鈥  

The student-athletes told me about how they benefited personally and academically from studying abroad, made the most of their unique experiences, and rejoined their teams upon their return. 

All of us agree: This is your college experience; make the most of it and don鈥檛 think that you need to sacrifice one experience for another. You can truly do it all at 亚色视频黄色app下载.  


Stay in play  

of Hamilton, Massachusetts, knew when she was going to study abroad. As a player, Ella鈥檚 main season is in the spring, so she planned to study abroad in the fall semester. She also had a good idea where: The international affairs and French double major knew she wanted to continue to study French, so she chose the 亚色视频黄色app下载 in France program in the city of Montpellier.  

Ella Provost 鈥25 studied abroad in the 亚色视频黄色app下载 in France program in Montpellier, France.

Ella Provost 鈥25 studied abroad in the 亚色视频黄色app下载 in France program in Montpellier, France.

A more challenging question was how to keep playing tennis while abroad. Tennis is popular throughout Europe, but she found it challenging to find time and space to play in a new city. With her junior season soon following her return from abroad, she needed to keep her skills sharp. Determined, she reached out to the 亚色视频黄色app下载 in France program staff, who helped connect her with locals eager to learn from the collegiate American player.  

I talked to the on-site program coordinator about finding an internship where I could still play tennis. I was able to coach twice a week at a tennis club near my host family鈥檚 house. I wanted to keep holding a racket and help out.鈥 

The following spring, after returning from France, Ella and her nationally ranked team clinched their 13th consecutive Liberty League title along with a win in the NCAA first round. Finding a way to keep the racket in her hand clearly paid off. 


A stroke of timing  

Many fall and spring semester athletes choose to study abroad for a semester in their offseason. But for winter athletes whose seasons span more than one semester, studying abroad may seem complicated.  

, an English major and arts administration minor from Buffalo, New York,  wasn鈥檛 willing to give up part of her season. She opted to participate in one of several shorter-term, 亚色视频黄色app下载 travel seminars. 亚色视频黄色app下载 faculty lead different seminars each year, and recent topics have included Education in Southern Africa, Exploring Rome, and Rainforest to Reef: Sustainable Development in Belize.  

Gretchen Gwitt 鈥26 enjoying a quiet moment in in Dingle, Ireland, during the Travel Seminar, Exploring the West of Ireland: The Mystic Island.

Gretchen Gwitt 鈥26 enjoying a quiet moment in in Dingle, Ireland, during her 亚色视频黄色app下载 travel seminar, Exploring the West of Ireland: The Mystic Island.

Gretchen joined Professor of English Barbara Black and 亚色视频黄色app下载 President Marc Conner, who is also a professor of English and specialist on Irish literature, in . Gretchen first took a course on campus in the spring semester, the Making of Modern Ireland, and learned all about Irish culture, literature, and history. At the conclusion of the semester, Gretchen, her classmates, and the faculty traveled together to the very country they learned about all semester and spent two weeks experiencing life in Ireland firsthand.  

"Swimming is especially tough because you physically lose a certain feeling in the water when you take time off. You feel horrible when you get back. But this program was perfect because my season was completely over, so I didn鈥檛 have to worry as much about training or staying in shape," she said. 

A lot of times when I travel, I stress about finding a pool, but with this program, I didn鈥檛 have to think about that at all. I could just fully experience Ireland.鈥 

Gretchen鈥檚 planning paid off: Upon her return, she helped the Thoroughbreds break five 亚色视频黄色app下载 records at the 2025 Liberty League Championship meet. Individually, she broke the record for the 100 fly and was a part of four record relay teams, including the 400-medley relay which smashed the previous record by over 3 seconds.  


Rejoining the squad 

But what happens after you study abroad?  

Alec Llerena 鈥25 participated in the SIT Australia: Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology program based in Cairns, Australia.

Alec Llerena 鈥25 participated in the SIT Australia: Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology program based in Cairns, Australia.

 

, a biology major and member of the from New Milford, Connecticut, was concerned about his senior season: Not only was he abroad, but there was also a new head coach for the team. But he says those worries went away quickly and his experiences in SIT鈥檚 Study Abroad Australia: Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology program proved 鈥渋nvaluable.鈥  

鈥淚t took like a week for me to readjust and then kind of say, OK, it鈥檚 not that bad.," he said. 

Our new coach understood that we were coming back from abroad, and he really put in an effort to welcome us back. After a week of initial stress, it was really nice getting back into the swing of things.鈥 

 Alec clearly readjusted well, as he played a career high 752 minutes in the 2024 campaign. He was part of a senior leadership group that led the Thoroughbreds to the highest Liberty League point total in program history and an unbeaten conference away record. He was also named to the Academic All-District team. 


More advice from 亚色视频黄色app下载 student-athletes who studied abroad

鈥淚 would say definitely do it. Travel seminars are such a good way to get out there and travel without sacrificing time with your team.鈥 鈥  , women鈥檚 rowing, who participated in two 亚色视频黄色app下载 Travel Seminars, The Body and Soul in Ancient Greece and Venice: Beyond the Mask.  

鈥淚 can鈥檛 put into words how much personal growth I experienced. I urge every student-athlete to at least consider it. The friends you make, the experiences you have 鈥 there鈥檚 nothing like it.鈥 鈥 , men鈥檚 lacrosse, Syracuse in Florence, Italy 

鈥淎 sport shouldn鈥檛 stop you from going abroad. Take every opportunity, do as much as you can, and just enjoy it. It鈥檚 an experience like no other.鈥 鈥 , women鈥檚 soccer, CIEE Business and Culture Program in Barcelona, Spain  

鈥淏eing around people who are passionate about the same things as you makes everything feel possible. Studying abroad really changed my perspective. It was hands-down a highlight of my time at 亚色视频黄色app下载.鈥 鈥 , field hockey, School for Field Studies: Turks and Caicos Islands 鈥 Marine Resource Studies 

鈥淚 haven鈥檛 heard of anyone who had a bad time studying abroad. You鈥檙e not going to regret it 鈥100%.鈥 鈥 , men鈥檚 soccer, DIS Copenhagen, Denmark 

Learn more about . Explore study abroad and other off-campus opportunities on the Office of Off-Campus Study and Exchange website.