As if exam week does not put enough stress on students already, winter athletes take time management and studying to the next level while participating in their sports.

Coaches in Montgomery County are permitted to have one 90-minute practice a day for their sports during exam week.

Pete Kenah, head coach of the girls basketball team, feels that practicing 90 minutes a day is a great way to free one’s mind from the stress involved in exam week.

“It’s a stress reliever and helps with the whole mind, body, soul thing,” Kenah said.  “The work will be there when you come back.”

Marie Hatch, a forward on the girls basketball team, has to devote all of her time to studying when she’s not playing basketball during exam week.

“I set out specific times that I dedicate to basketball and the rest of the time I will set aside completely for studying,” Hatch said.

Chris Lun, the head coach of boys basketball,  and Kenah agree on flexibility when it comes to exam week.

“We know it is a tough week, so we do what we can to accommodate them,” Lun said.  “Academics always come first.”

Lun structures his practices during exam week with an hour block of playing and then 30 minutes of studying film.

“Exam week usually falls pretty much in the middle of our season, so it’s a good break for our guys,” Lun said.  “We try to get them rested and keep the legs fresh.”

Point guard Justin Kay finds the way Lun structures his practices beneficial.

“They give the team a chance to stay conditioned and make defensive and offensive adjustments while at the same time it doesn’t tire us out for our exams and gives us plenty of time to study,” Kay said.

In contrast, the wrestling and track teams both continue to practice as normal, while staying under the 90-minute guideline.

Senior Kevin Baker, who wrestles at 160 lbs., feels that practice during the season is extremely important, especially in as tough of a sport as wrestling.

“The effects that the practices have on my study routine really aren’t that drastic and might even allow me to get some energy out so I’m focused while studying,” Baker said.  “The conditioning I would lose by not practicing would really be a detriment to my season.”

Erin McClanahan, a member of the indoor track team, feels similarly about the importance of continuing track. However, she knows that missing a practice to study would not hurt.

“I know that some people were very stressed about studying and their grades could have been affected,” McClanahan said.

Kenah and Lun stress flexibility and the importance of academics.

Kenah added that if a student went A-B in a class, “every coach in the building would be very flexible.”