SAIT Trojans Annual Athletics Awards Banquet - Darcee Froese (men’s volleyball) and Rachel Caputo (women’s basketball) were named SAIT Trojans of the Year at the SAIT Trojans Annual Athletics Awards Banquet on Friday, Mar. 30 at the Red & White Club. JESSICA BURTNICK PHOTO

Balancing school, work, and life is hard enough for any student, but when one adds team all-star to the list, it seems down-right impossible.

For SAIT Trojans men’s volleyball player Darcee Froese and women’s basketball player Rachel Caputo it is simply a matter of determination and time management.

Along with maintaining a stellar G.P.A., these two students have also been named Canadian Colleges Athletic Association academic all-Canadians for the 2011-12 season.

To receive the award, players must be named to an all-star team their conference and maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Caputo, a fourth-year shooting guard for the team, is no stranger to winning the award. In her 2008-09 season, she was also awarded CCAA academic all-Canadian.

“I am pretty excited. It’s nice to get recognized for both my athletics and my academics,” said Caputo, who is in her first semester in SAIT’s new media production and design program.

According to SAIT Trojans manager of athletics Mark Prezlaff, the CCAA academic all-Canadian award is one of the hardest to obtain.

“This demonstrates how our Trojan student-athletes strive for success in the classroom and on the court,” said Prezlaff in a press release.

Being a student-athlete sounds stressful, and according to Froese, who is a first-year left-side with his team, it certainly can be.

“There’s definitely times during the year when doing both is challenging,” said Froese. “It’s just a matter of making sure you study ahead of time so you can focus on volleyball when you need to and still be prepared when you get back.”

It doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone that these two Trojans have been picked for this prestigious award.

“Without Darcee, we probably don’t make playoffs this season. He was such a huge factor every single match,” said Trojan men’s volleyball coach

Ryan Marsden, in a press release on March 30th, 2012. “Darcee was always so clutch, and that brought confidence to the group.”

When asked how she managed to keep her grades up throughout the year, Caputo said it was a matter of learning to juggle everything.

“When I am on the court I focus on basketball and when I am in the classroom I focus on my education. You just have to schedule your time wisely,” said Caputo.

Already training hard for next season, these two athletes aren’t going to let up anytime soon.

“I’ve always been fairly successful in school and volleyball-wise, I’m just going to keep doing what I did this year that gave me success.  In fact, next year, I think I’ll have less pressure on the court with the amount of talent coming in,” said Froese, when asked if he thinks there will be any added pressure next season.

In addition to the CCAA academic all-Canadian award, Caputo was named the SAIT Trojans female athlete of the year and Froese was awarded SAIT Trojans’ male athlete of the year at the annual athletics awards banquet held at McMahon Stadium’s Red and White Club.

Caputo was chosen from a group of five finalists that included volleyball setter/outside hitter Robyn Froese, second year business administration, hockey forward Melanie Vincent, fifth year medical laboratory technology, cross-country runner Rebecca Britton, second year medical radiologic technology, and club fastball infielder Kelsi McLachlan,emergency medical technician).

Other finalists in the men’s category included volleyball libero Nic Davies, fourth year nutrition for healthy lifestyles, soccer midfielder Seamus Smyth, first year administrative information management, cross-country runner Tony Kiprop, first year travel and tourism, and hockey forward Clinton Pettapiece, fourth year power and process operations.