During the winter break, Division I student-athletes don’t have the chance to go home, possibly having to spend their holidays with their teammates, practicing or trying to maintain their goals for the season. 

With the holidays coming around the corner, student-athletes here at TAMU-CC spoke on what they do during the winter break and how they spend the holidays. 

Leo Markotic is a senior baseball player from Canada. 

As a student-athlete, are you able to spend the holidays with your family?

“Unfortunately I’m not, since I’m an international student. So I’m unable to go home for the holidays, so I stay down here. I got a couple of buddies that usually invite me up to their place over the holidays. Kind of like mixing trips to Houston, maybe the Dallas area.”

What would you say is your favorite thing about winter break?

“I’m a big Christmas guy. I love Christmas time. I look forward to Christmas every year. The holidays in general, the cheer behind it, everything that it’s about.” 

How do you structure your winter break time off?

“When it comes to time off, I kind of try to keep the same schedule as the fall with intensity. It’s really important for us athletes to, you know, enjoy the break as much as you can. It’s important to stay on task, not get too lazy.”

How do you maintain your goals as a student-athlete during the winter break? 

“My family does a good job of keeping me in check and making sure my head is on the right side of the street. Especially the coaches, they’re always checking in on us and making sure everything’s okay. We just have to do our best to maintain that focus.”

Kiley Lewis is a graduate transfer who is a beach volleyball player from Washington State. 

As a student-athlete, are you able to spend the holidays with your family?

“During the holidays, I’m thankful I am able to visit home to spend time with family and friends. I am from Washington state, so I am far from home so being able to spend time with them during break is very much needed. I love going hiking or skiing in the mountains. I love being outdoors and Washington offers so many fun outdoor activities that are not offered in Corpus.”

What would you say is your favorite thing about winter break?

“I love winter break and I would say my favorite thing is enjoying the cold weather and snow that Washington offers, as well as spending time with family and friends from home.”

How do you structure your winter break time off?

“I am not home too long during winter break, so I structure my time off by spending time with family and friends. “

How do you maintain your goals as a student-athlete during the winter break? 

“I am not home too long during winter break, so I structure my time off by spending time with family and friends.”  

Cambria Clark is a senior on the women’s cross country team from Keller, Texas.

As a student-athlete, are you able to spend the holidays with your family?

“Yes I am able to spend the holidays with my family, friends and teammates. We do all the holiday festivities, decorate the tree, look at the lights, and cook a lot of food.” 

What would you say is your favorite thing about winter break?

“I enjoy winter break a lot. My favorite thing about break is getting time to relax and not worry about school.”

How do you structure your winter break time off?

“I like getting my workout done before anything else so I don’t push it off.”

How do you maintain your goals as a student-athlete during the winter break? 

“It can be hard to stay motivated at times so I workout with my boyfriend or run with my brothers.” 

Kimane Rogron is a junior on the women’s softball team from France.  

As a student-athlete, are you able to spend the holidays with your family?

“Yes, usually I am able to spend the holidays with my family. I take a 17 hour group of flights from the United States to Bordeaux. My family picks me up there and we drive an hour to my hometown.”

What would you say is your favorite thing about winter break?

“My favorite thing about winter break is that I get to go home and eat good food, especially Christmas pastries.”

How do you structure your winter break time off?

“I do CrossFit and go practice everyday. My family and I usually take a week off for New Years in the Pyrenees.”

How do you maintain your goals as a student-athlete during the winter break? 

“I maintain my goal by being consistent in my training and the way that I eat, so when I come back from break I’m still in shape to attack the season.”

Happy holidays and safe travels to those going back home for the winter break.