Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Nick Monaghan
Sloot can Balance It All
10/21/2019 9:33:00 AM | Women's Golf
Senior golfer, Jessica Sloot excels on the links and in the classroom
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The challenge of balancing academics with athletics can be a problem for student-athletes, but senior Jessica Sloot demonstrates how it's possible to excel in both categories.
Since showing up on campus as a freshman, Sloot has only improved as a performer for the Rams. She's achieved a 3.67 GPA last semester and earned multiple Mountain West Scholar-Athlete awards, all while balancing a demanding psychology major.
After appearing in every round last season and putting up a career-best 76.23 stroke average, Sloot has had to take a specific approach her senior year in order to balance between golf and her academics.
"It's difficult to find that balance with school but I've found that setting aside at least two-three hours outside of practice works for me, especially with this being my senior year," Sloot said. "Coach Laura Cilek has been working really well with me in making sure that my academics come first. If I have to miss a practice or if I'm late to a round she'll coach the last few holes with me, and that support has meant a lot."
The bond between Cilek and Sloot is special. The biggest emphasis the coach puts on her team is to take care of your schoolwork before stepping on the course.
"It is great to have student-athletes like Jess who are ambitious and believe in what they want to study," Cilek said. "Her ability to give 100 percent to her academics and golf is something that is very admirable. She has a heavy academic schedule and still shows up to practice with a smile on her face every day, so she's constantly impressing me."
A player like Sloot doesn't come around often. Throughout her career for the Rams, she's been able to accomplish almost everything academically and is still breaking more goals on the course. Last season at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, Sloot marked a career-low, 3-over 219 with a score of 70-76-73.
Sloot puts academics first at all times, and that's helping her success on the course, as well as preparing her for graduation. One of her biggest mentors while maintaining a position in the psychology honor roll program is her academic advisor Tracy Richards.
"Dr. Richards has been my go-to for any questions I've had towards planning out my future," Sloot said. "She has been great about sitting down and talking to me about any stresses I've had, as well as coaching me on how to balance being in the honors program as a student-athlete."
Upon graduating, Sloot plans to return home so she can finish up a few classes before possibly applying for medical school and taking her degree to the military.
"I need to finish some pre-med classes, so I'll be returning home to finish that so I can begin applying for medical school," Sloot said. "I am highly considering joining the U.S. Air Force to become a doctor. I want to become a trauma surgeon or an ER doctor, but I'm not sure on a specialty yet; I think they'll provide me with the best experience possible if I get accepted."
In both endeavors, Sloot is setting the example and proving what it means to be a stalwart Ram. Her relentless effort on and off the course have set her up for success in the future, and Cilek couldn't be more proud of the woman she has become.
"Having to juggle the demands of academics and athletics is one of the best learning experiences student-athletes have while in college, and she is definitely making the most of it," Cilek said. "We will miss having Jess around the program next year, but I can't wait to see where her professional career takes her down the line."
Since showing up on campus as a freshman, Sloot has only improved as a performer for the Rams. She's achieved a 3.67 GPA last semester and earned multiple Mountain West Scholar-Athlete awards, all while balancing a demanding psychology major.
After appearing in every round last season and putting up a career-best 76.23 stroke average, Sloot has had to take a specific approach her senior year in order to balance between golf and her academics.
"It's difficult to find that balance with school but I've found that setting aside at least two-three hours outside of practice works for me, especially with this being my senior year," Sloot said. "Coach Laura Cilek has been working really well with me in making sure that my academics come first. If I have to miss a practice or if I'm late to a round she'll coach the last few holes with me, and that support has meant a lot."
The bond between Cilek and Sloot is special. The biggest emphasis the coach puts on her team is to take care of your schoolwork before stepping on the course.
"It is great to have student-athletes like Jess who are ambitious and believe in what they want to study," Cilek said. "Her ability to give 100 percent to her academics and golf is something that is very admirable. She has a heavy academic schedule and still shows up to practice with a smile on her face every day, so she's constantly impressing me."
A player like Sloot doesn't come around often. Throughout her career for the Rams, she's been able to accomplish almost everything academically and is still breaking more goals on the course. Last season at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown, Sloot marked a career-low, 3-over 219 with a score of 70-76-73.
Sloot puts academics first at all times, and that's helping her success on the course, as well as preparing her for graduation. One of her biggest mentors while maintaining a position in the psychology honor roll program is her academic advisor Tracy Richards.
"Dr. Richards has been my go-to for any questions I've had towards planning out my future," Sloot said. "She has been great about sitting down and talking to me about any stresses I've had, as well as coaching me on how to balance being in the honors program as a student-athlete."
Upon graduating, Sloot plans to return home so she can finish up a few classes before possibly applying for medical school and taking her degree to the military.
"I need to finish some pre-med classes, so I'll be returning home to finish that so I can begin applying for medical school," Sloot said. "I am highly considering joining the U.S. Air Force to become a doctor. I want to become a trauma surgeon or an ER doctor, but I'm not sure on a specialty yet; I think they'll provide me with the best experience possible if I get accepted."
In both endeavors, Sloot is setting the example and proving what it means to be a stalwart Ram. Her relentless effort on and off the course have set her up for success in the future, and Cilek couldn't be more proud of the woman she has become.
"Having to juggle the demands of academics and athletics is one of the best learning experiences student-athletes have while in college, and she is definitely making the most of it," Cilek said. "We will miss having Jess around the program next year, but I can't wait to see where her professional career takes her down the line."
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Players Mentioned
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