With spring sports getting underway at Saint Xavier University, I thought it would be an appropriate time to move on to spring season athletes.
These athletes basically wait all year to play outside. Simply put: Chicago weather is very unpredictable and most games get postponed due to this weather.
But one sport that usually never cancels because of the weather is track and field. These athletes brace all the elements in one season: cold, rain, snow, heat. You name it, they have been in it.
Track and field does have an indoor season, but that only lasts until the middle of February. The rest of the season is outdoors.
One of the athletes on the team is Anthony Kowalczyk.
Kowalczyk is a Business major from Chicago, Illinois. Before he came to Saint Xavier, Anthony attended Steinmetz College Prep School.
Not only is Anthony a track and field athlete, he is also a defensive lineman on the football team. Yes, he is a two-sport athlete!
Some of his accomplishments on the Saint Xavier football team is making the MSFA All-Academic Team and winning the SXU Silver Medal.
Recently, during the CCAC Indoor Track and Field Championship, Kowalczyk threw 14.59m in shot put earning him third place and All-Academic CCAC Honors. He also placed third in the weight throw with a mark of 14.74m.
When I sat down with Anthony, I asked him about balancing two sports at Saint Xavier and how one sport prepares him for the next.
When did you start participating in track and field?
I started during my sophomore year of high school after I stopped playing baseball.
What are the events that you compete in at Saint Xavier?
During the indoor season I compete in shot put and weight throw. Outdoor season I do shot put, hammer throw and discus.
Go through your practice schedule with me. How do you prepare for a meet throughout the week?
I usually have football conditioning early in the morning and football lifting during the day. I find a time between that and my class schedule to go throw. I throw a minimum of 3 times a week during a meet week. I usually stay off my feet and recover the day before a meet.
How do you get motivated for your event? Do you ever psych out the competition?
I start to get motivated during my warm up, which is about 20 minutes before I throw. I try to stay confident and just go through my usual routine while listening to music. I sometimes get very talkative to the other competitors, which will psych them out. However, the best way to psych them out is to throw farther than them.
Who was your role model(s) growing up?
I grew up a huge football fan so I looked up to guys like Brian Urlacher, Randy Moss and Chad Johnson. Also gotta give the shout out to my coaches at Steinmetz College Prep and my Uncle Anthony Tribuzio.
You are also a football player at Saint Xavier, what is it like being a two-sport athlete?
Being a two-sport athlete is not as difficult as many may believe. I do have plenty of time for my assignments and a social life.
In your opinion, it is easy to balance being a student and two-sport athlete? What is the hard part about balancing the two?
If you focus on one sport a semester, then it shouldn’t be too hard. The only problem that I face is that I do the football offseason workouts and conditioning even though I am currently an in season track athlete. I find myself extremely tired during class and my own personal time because of that.
Do you think that football prepares you for the track and field season? Do you think track and field prepares you for next football season? Why or why not?
I think that both sports have huge benefits from each other. Football develops the speed and strength I need to throw, while track helps me with my footwork and the competitive mentality that I seek for football. As a coach, I highly recommend that football athletes participate in track.
If you had to choose, which sport is the one you most look forward to the most and why?
This is hard to choose from. I have to admit that I look forward to football season the most since I do enjoy playing with my team and the atmosphere of winning big games is indescribable.
Xbox or Wii?
While I would dominate Josh Wallack on both of those systems, I prefer to do it on a PS4.
What is your life motto?
RUN SLOW, THROW FAR!
Thanks Anthony for taking the time to sit down with me. Find out which Cougar I sat down with next time on Athlete Profile!
Christine Manika
Sports Columnist