From the grass of a cross country course to the pools of the Lilly Center, senior Lindsey Bauman has spent her four years at DePauw impressively navigating through the difficulties and benefits of being a tri-season athlete.
Bauman, from Gilford, Ind., has been a member of the DePauw cross country, swimming and track teams since she stepped on campus her freshman year. She originally came to DePauw with the intentions to major in biochemistry, but realized - like many students do - that her academic interests resided elsewhere and turned to kinesiology after partaking in a research project with Professor Patrick Babington.
But even with the time constraints of being in season more or less year-round, Bauman also shines off the field - in the classroom.
"I actually find that I work better when I'm doing a sport because my management abilities are so much better when I know I'm crunched for time," Bauman explained.
Before arriving at DePauw, Bauman's athletic career at DePauw was largely shaped by an injury she received in high school cross country.
"I came to DePauw, actually, just to be a runner (cross country)," Bauman said. "During my senior year of high school, I ended up needing to have foot surgery and I couldn't run for eight or nine months... I had talked with cross country coaches and thought, 'Well since I can't run for the season, I can at least do swimming this year.'"
Since then, Bauman continued her swimming career at DePauw and also picked up track - required by the cross country team. Of the three teams she's been on, Bauman said it's hard to pick a favorite simply because each sport and team are so different and have their own unique dynamics.
But although Bauman still loves both the swimming and track events because of their unique dynamics, she said her love lies in running cross country.
"Cross country would have to be my favorite," she said. "That's the one I came here for, and it's something that I just find really relaxing...I personally like that you can go out and do it on your own if you need a bit of stress relief, or for a group of people to just talk about anything on their minds. It's not confined to laps around a track when you race - it's through woods or open areas and is far less structured. You sometimes even have to jump over things."
It is well known that student-athletes have to actively participate in a balancing act for academics. One would infer that being involved in three sports would only increase the burden of keeping up with studies but Bauman, quite humbly, would be the last one to say that.
"I honestly don't think it's a big deal," Bauman said. "I don't have breaks between seasons, but I really feel like that is the only difference between me and other athletes...My main thing is that I feel like everyone at DePauw gives a lot to everything, it's just where you want to give it. And I've chosen to give it in athletics. I don't feel like I'm really going above and beyond anyone on campus, [being an athlete] is just how I choose to use my time."
With graduation commencement ceremonies quickly approaching on May 20, Bauman reflected on her four years at DePauw and whether or not she had any regrets in being a full-time athlete.
"Sometimes I think about if I would have done better [in a sport] if I had just stuck to one," she said. "And there are definitely things that I will look back on and think, 'Wow it may have been cool to have held a position there or participated in some other activity,' but at the same time, athletics and being on three awesome teams have given me so many opportunities and moments that I really would never trade in."
Bauman will continue her studies at Washington University in St. Louis for physical therapy school. She hopes to keep up with her running and has even been referred to USA Triathlon by fellow peers.
"I've been told I should try a triathlon out and have been in contact with USAT (USA Triathlon) and I'm hoping do maybe do something in the future but I'm not making any promises."
And after four years of full-time athletics, it seems clear that a post-graduate break is far out of the question.