Level Lives - Cannon School

True Student-AthletesTwo Cannon seniors balance the pressures that come with being student-athletes –and see their hard work pay off.By: David L. LongWhat makes a teenager spend hours taking extra shots afterbasketball practice or swimming laps in the pool before theytackle the day’s homework? It takes a passion for excellenceand a commitment to achieve – just ask Cannon School seniorsKrista Gross and Payne “Mack” Montgomery. Their dedicationhas paid off for Cannon School’s successful basketball and swimteams. More importantly, it’s paying off for Krista and Mack,who both signed letters of intent last fall to continue theiracademic and athletic pursuits at top-notch colleges.Krista will play basketball at the University of North Carolinaat Chapel Hill after choosing the Tar Heels over Connecticut,Florida, and Stanford. She is the first female athlete inCannon School history to sign with a Division I basketballprogram and is ranked number 23 nationally in the seniorclass by ESPN.Mack will attend Stanford University, which won its 27 thconsecutive Pac-10 Conference swim championship lastspring and finished third at the NCAA championships. He isa Swimming World magazine five-star recruit, a USA NationalJunior Team qualifier in the 400 freestyle, and the 2007 USASwimming Junior National Champion.Cannon Magazine recently asked Krista and Mack aboutwhat it takes to succeed as a student-athlete and their plansfor the future.How do you balance the demands of school with beingan athlete?Krista: Time management is essential. Making sure I getassignments done on time and not procrastinating is veryimportant.Mack: It takes a lot of time management and some sacrificesfrom being a “normal” high-schooler. Generally, I do myhomework before or right after swim practice, and once bothof those are done, and then, presuming I have time, I socializeor just relax.How many hours a week do you train?Krista: We have scheduled practice for 20 hours a week,plus the time I work out on my own. I want to be great so mychallenge is staying in the gym making sure I’m getting betterevery day.Mack: It’s hard to tell exactly how much time I spend training.My coaches just gave our team a talk on how swimmingshould be a “lifestyle” for those who would like to get better,so the time tends to blur. However, I am spending at least 18hours of scheduled time a week training. At Stanford, I willbe spending at least 20 hours a week in the pool.What do you plan to study in college?Krista: I plan on majoring in biology because I am interestedin going into the medical field.Mack: I am planning on majoring in civil engineering. Thathas two focuses at Stanford, structural or environmental, and Iplan on following the structural path.What kind of career would you like to have after college?Krista: I would like to become a doctor. Right now I amthinking about something in orthopedics.Mack: I’d like to work in architectural engineering. I thinkthat it is a steady career; people will always need buildings.Also, it encompasses math and science, which are probably myfavorite subjects, and provides an outlet for creativity. In theend, I’d really like to join an international architecture firmand work all over the world.Who inspires you the most and why?Krista: My family inspires me in all aspects of my life.Mack: I would say that [mountaineer] Ed Viesturs, [roadracing cyclist] Lance Armstrong, and [runner] Charlie Engleare the most motivational people for me. They’re incrediblydetermined and perseverant men who have put in incredibleamounts of work to reach the pinnacle of their profession.The keys to their success can be applied to anyone who wantsto be extraordinary, particularly an athlete.CANNON MAGAZINE15> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Athletics