by By Brian Dafron
Many high school sophomore student-athletes have at least six academic classes and one or two hours of practice on any given day. But Wichita, Kansas resident Austin Williams is not the average high school sophomore. Williams, 15, Cherokee, has a goal to play on the NCAA Division I level and, eventually, on the professional tennis circuit. In order to do this, Williams has to train at least four hours per day in either Wichita or Kansas City and then cross-train up to two hours for four days a week. To make time for his education, Williams is home-schooled through Connections Academy, where he maintains a B+ average.
“It’s tough,” Williams said about balancing his academics and athletic training. “It takes a lot of discipline. You don’t have a whole lot of time. Some kids have entire days that they can throw away a little bit. I don’t have that. If I don’t work one day–that puts me behind for the next three days.”
