Student Athlete's Responsibilities

Student Athletes have it easy. They get to miss class, get extensions on homework, and do nothing but glorify themselves on campus, right? Wrong. That isn’t the case on Edgewood’s campus.

Alex Berta, a second baseman from Normal, Illinois, has started every season since he arrived in Madison. While he spends close to 20 hours a week on baseball during the spring semester, give or take game days, he still manages to spend more then that on homework. His motivation? "Being able to play baseball. If you can't get it done in the classroom, you can't play."

While the "lengthy" Athletic Code stresses good grades, it's easy to comply with knowing that the professors at Edgewood College are very understanding of his baseball obligations "if you tell them up front." The Athletic Code also stresses regulations about what student athletes can and can't do when it comes to alcohol, drugs, and substance abuse.

When it comes to Alex getting preferential treatment on campus because he’s an athlete, he was quick to shoot the idea down. “I don’t feel that athletes get treated differently from other students at Edgewood, or from peers or faculty around campus either.” Alex also stressed that student athletes don’t get to pick and choose their school schedule around games. He also pointed out that “missing class because of baseball games does not count towards an absence, it’s excused.”

If an overload of homework comes around, or a player is ill, Alex says Coach Al Brisack is “very flexible, especially when a guy is sick because he doesn’t want it to affect the team. Academically, you should get your homework done before practice. If you don’t have your homework done, it’s kind of your own fault.” When it comes to big projects and things, Alex reiterates the fact that Coach Brisack, “will work with you.”

Alex has a bit more responsibility on his plate this upcoming season as he is a team captain. His freshman year he was voted Conference Rookie of the Year and All-Conference second baseman. Last season he started every game and had had 33 RBI’s.