ARGYLE - Jessica Geissbuhler has always played softball. This spring she can be spotted running sprints on country roads in Argyle for the first time as a two-sport athlete.
Geissbuhler is the starting left fielder for the Argyle softball team and a sprinter on the Pecatonica-Argyle track team. Two-sport spring athletes are not uncommon at smaller schools that battle low enrollments. Some years the small schools need two-sport athletes to fill a team.
For Geissbuhler, it's the best of both worlds.
"It's a great opportunity to play two sports," Geissbuhler said. "I think it's cool and unique for this area to be able to do that. I just thought I would try track to see what it's like. I found out I'm not too bad. It's neat to see if you are better at one sport."
The athletes at small schools are required to sign a contract to play two spring sports. Geissbuhler had to sign a contract this spring and designate which sport would be her primary sport. She designated softball as her primary sport and track as her secondary sport. She was required to sign the contract and the coaches also signed the contract.
Geissbuhler said the biggest challenge is having time for both softball and track while juggling homework and other duties at home. If there is a softball game she is required to play. On days where there isn't a softball game and there is a track meet she can compete in the track meet. She practices softball and completes track workouts every day.
"It's all about time management," Geissbuhler said. "You just have to try to get it all in."
She has seen other advantages of being a two-sport athlete this spring.
"I think it's definitely created a better work ethic in me," Geissbuhler said.
She has noticed a difference on the softball field, too.
"It's helped me with getting a lead off of first base," Geissbuhler said. "I treat it like getting a start from the blocks in track. It's made me a lot more quicker for running the bases. I get to spots a lot quicker fielding the ball."
Pecatonica freshman A.J. Hendrickson is a centerfielder and pitcher for the Vikings' baseball team. He is running sprints and high jumping in track.
"I really didn't plan on going out for track," Hendrickson said. "I will try it this year and see how it goes. I enjoy playing two spring sports I know I'm good at. I feel like I can be successful in both spring sports."
Hendrickson played basketball and baseball growing up. Last year in middle school he ran track. Although his primary sport is baseball, Hendrickson wanted to see if he could also make an impact in track.
"I just knew last year I enjoyed track," Hendrickson said. "I wanted to go out for track to see if I liked it and see if it's something I wanted to do for the next couple of years."
Pecatonica's Jim Strommen has served as a baseball coach for 34 years. Strommen said many schools allow students to play two sports in the spring to give them opportunities.
"It puts a lot on the athletes to do that," Strommen said. "It's a hard thing to do. If you want to do justice to both sports you have to put in the time to get the success out of both."
Geissbuhler is the starting left fielder for the Argyle softball team and a sprinter on the Pecatonica-Argyle track team. Two-sport spring athletes are not uncommon at smaller schools that battle low enrollments. Some years the small schools need two-sport athletes to fill a team.
For Geissbuhler, it's the best of both worlds.
"It's a great opportunity to play two sports," Geissbuhler said. "I think it's cool and unique for this area to be able to do that. I just thought I would try track to see what it's like. I found out I'm not too bad. It's neat to see if you are better at one sport."
The athletes at small schools are required to sign a contract to play two spring sports. Geissbuhler had to sign a contract this spring and designate which sport would be her primary sport. She designated softball as her primary sport and track as her secondary sport. She was required to sign the contract and the coaches also signed the contract.
Geissbuhler said the biggest challenge is having time for both softball and track while juggling homework and other duties at home. If there is a softball game she is required to play. On days where there isn't a softball game and there is a track meet she can compete in the track meet. She practices softball and completes track workouts every day.
"It's all about time management," Geissbuhler said. "You just have to try to get it all in."
She has seen other advantages of being a two-sport athlete this spring.
"I think it's definitely created a better work ethic in me," Geissbuhler said.
She has noticed a difference on the softball field, too.
"It's helped me with getting a lead off of first base," Geissbuhler said. "I treat it like getting a start from the blocks in track. It's made me a lot more quicker for running the bases. I get to spots a lot quicker fielding the ball."
Pecatonica freshman A.J. Hendrickson is a centerfielder and pitcher for the Vikings' baseball team. He is running sprints and high jumping in track.
"I really didn't plan on going out for track," Hendrickson said. "I will try it this year and see how it goes. I enjoy playing two spring sports I know I'm good at. I feel like I can be successful in both spring sports."
Hendrickson played basketball and baseball growing up. Last year in middle school he ran track. Although his primary sport is baseball, Hendrickson wanted to see if he could also make an impact in track.
"I just knew last year I enjoyed track," Hendrickson said. "I wanted to go out for track to see if I liked it and see if it's something I wanted to do for the next couple of years."
Pecatonica's Jim Strommen has served as a baseball coach for 34 years. Strommen said many schools allow students to play two sports in the spring to give them opportunities.
"It puts a lot on the athletes to do that," Strommen said. "It's a hard thing to do. If you want to do justice to both sports you have to put in the time to get the success out of both."
