Being a Student Athlete at Bloomsburg University

Are you a student athlete considering Bloomsburg? Do you wonder what life is like as an athlete here? If so, read on and learn about the experience that BU has to offer. In this blog post, Morgan Merrifield, a member of the Bloomsburg Girl’s Swim Team, answers some questions about her own expierience as a student athlete at BU.

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Morgan Merrifield. I’m 20 years old, a sophomore at Bloomsburg University and I am majoring in health science. I am also a swimmer on the Bloom Girl’s swim team. I live in York, Pennsylvania with my mom, dad, and brother. I have been swimming since I was 7 years old and I’m also a professional lifeguard. In my free time, I like to hang out with my friends and spend time doing fun things around Bloomsburg. 

Why do you consider yourself a student athlete? 

I consider myself a student athlete because I swim on the swim team. I am balancing my school work with sports and my major is pretty hard so it can be difficult. I have to wake up for practice each morning and do doubles which can also be rough with classes. I also need to travel to other schools which makes staying on top of work a challenge sometimes.

What is your major like? 

My major is health sciences. It can be hard and there is a lot of studying and school work involved. I am currently taking anatomy which is a difficult course. My first year at Bloomsburg I was majoring in pre-med but I’ve since changed to health sciences and I am looking into nursing as a future career. Health sciences allows me to take a pre-accelerated route.

Is balancing sports and academics difficult? 

Yes. Not having much free time other than school and sports can be hard. My motivation to do work isn’t always high because there is limited free time. The first thing I want to do when I get home is nap but I have to do work instead so time management is tricky but it is important. Going away for meets and having to miss class is also hard and can be even harder with the health sciences major. 

How does Bloomsburg make being a Student Athlete better or worse?

I would say, at least especially on the swimming side of things, the coaches are very understanding that school comes first. They’ve made up multiple practice times. That’s something that Bloomsburg does that other schools don’t. We have practices at 1, 3 and 5 so that you can practice around your school schedule rather than swimming late at night after classes when you’re already exhausted. We also have a sports advisor who is specialized for helping athletes which is nice because it is a more personal expierience and we are on a first name basis. They understand the struggles of being a student athlete. 

How does living with B&L make your life as a student athlete better?

I get to live with my whole team in a house that provides us with plenty of space and is affordable. It is also located close to campus and we get access to a private gym that helps us train if we are unable to make one of our scheduled lifts or practices. B&L is very accommodating to helping us and fulfilling our needs. They are also really good about helping teams keep their houses if your whole team is living with them in a team house.

Text Us