A college student’s life is never easy. Besides balancing a class load, college students have to balance homework, a social life and maybe participation in a club or organization. Now imagine being a student athlete. Besides all of the normal college student activities, a student athlete adds practice time and games. Senior Pioneer football player Mike Genslinger shares his experience being a student and an athlete here at UW-Platteville.

Photograph by Kate Olsen
The UW-Platteville Pioneer defense lays out the UW-Stout offense at the Homecoming game Oct. 4 at the Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Statium.

Genslinger, a running back on the football team, says he spends six hours a day at class, three hours devoted to football and at least two hours on homework.

“Being a student athlete is tough at times but I try to get my schoolwork out of the way and not to procrastinate,” Genslinger said. “I don’t want to put any more stress on myself.”

Besides running practices the coaches help out with the student part as well.

“The coaches are always looking out for the player’s best interests and are always there if we need help with homework or advice in anything,” Genslinger said. “We even have a study session for athletes for whoever wants to go.”

Genslinger, despite being a student and an athlete, has a career total of 2, 299 yards rushing, earned All-Region honors, was named to the All-Confernece team twice, was team MVP and offensive MVP while attending UW-P for a Physical Education with a Health minor.

“It isn’t easy being a student athlete, but its worth it,” Genslinger said.

The students of the Pioneer football team put their athleticism to the test at the Homecoming game Oct. 4 at the Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium but were unable to pull out a victory against the UW-Stout Blue Devils, losing 31-46.

This game, according to the Pioneer Football Web site, is the highest scoring game in Pioneer history. The combined points were the most in 80 Homecoming games, out weighing the 74 points in the Pioneers’ 56-18 win over UW-Whitewater in 1976.

The Blue Devils lead the first half 19-17 due to two punting errors made by the Pioneers.

UW-Stout dominated the second half bringing the game to a final score of 46-31.

The Pioneers totaled 33 yards while the Blue Devils racked up 449 yards.

Junior quarterback Mitch Shadley threw for 88 yards, senior John Akim threw for 87 yards and sophomore Joe Burkeland threw for a total of 12 yards and rushed for 94 yards for UW-P. The Pioneers were intercepted three times by the Blue Devil’s defense.

The Pioneer defeat moved their record to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. UW-P will travel to UW-Stevens Point to take on the Pointersat 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11.