Gilbert, Ariz. — School, practice, eat, sleep, repeat. From the outside looking in the lives of high school athletes may just look like the sport they play, but it’s much more than that.

They are student-athletes, and for the Mesquite football team, the student comes before the athlete.

All fans notice are the touchdowns they score and the shots they make, but they don’t realize their life outside of sports.

The life of homework, studying and big tests.

“It’s definitely hard because not only do you have to manage your grades, but you also have to work hard at practice,” senior Billy Seitz said. “You always have to be on top of your game because you’re held at a higher standard than most students.”

The alarm clock rings at 5:30 a.m. every morning for junior Holden Owen, and his day begins. Owen gets ready, eats breakfast, then is off to A hour which begins at 6:30 a.m. His first three classes pass, then it is time for weights. An hour lift with the team, then it is lunch time. Two more short classes and it is now 2:30 p.m.

The final school bell rings.

For most students the day is over, but not for athletes like Owen. Owen is only halfway through his day.  

Practice begins at 3:30 p.m. and lasts between 2 ½ to 3 hours. At last, Owen and the rest of the team can go home around 6:00 p.m.

“When I get home I usually do homework then play some xbox,” Owen said. “Then I eat, sleep and repeat.”

Often times, many athletes put in extra work outside of practice. Billy Seitz goes to the gym every night after finishing his school work.

This type of schedule makes for over 12-hour days, Monday through Friday. Their free time is limited, but these athletes continue the grind for the love of their sport.

On Wednesdays Mesquite students are released an hour earlier than usual. For the football team, Wednesdays mean study hall. If a player does not have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, study hall is mandatory to help the athletes bring their grades up.

This serves as an incentive for the guys to stay on top of their studies.

For the few that choose to take their athletic careers to the next level, they understand their grades are a huge part in earning a scholarship.

“Your grades are what scouts look at first, so if you maintain good grades throughout all four years it makes you look better than any other athlete out there,” Seitz said. “It shows you’re committed and disciplined.”

For the others, many of their sports careers end in high school. These players understand that the student comes before the athlete because they won’t be able to play their sport forever.

“You get to a point where you can’t play because of an injury or you’re too old so you need something to fall back on,” senior Gabriel Campos said. “That’s what your education is for.”

The life of a student athlete is no joke. It is a full-time job, but at the end of the day it’s the love for the team and the passion for the sport that keeps these athletes grinding everyday.

“I don’t have a lot of free time, but it doesn’t bother me,” Owen said. “Football is worth it.”