MIDLAND, Texas — Multi-sport athletes are, in many ways, the backbone of a number of athletic programs here in the Permian Basin, especially in communities that are smaller and the need for student athletes is greater.
"Just at Greenwood alone between our boy's and girl's program, we have approximately 200 athletes that play more than one sport," Head Girls' Basketball Coach and Girl's Athletic Coordinator Aimee Kilgore said.
It's a little rarer to see an athlete play multiple sports at the same time, in the same season.
Sometimes even on the same day.
"It's crazy. It's very hectic," multi-sport athlete Emily Jones said. "I just think the communication between Coach Kilgore and Coach Bailey [White] letting me know that there is a certain amount of time I have left for soccer, that I have to hurry over and get my stuff for basketball."
Jones is a freshman at Greenwood High School, currently one of a couple of student-athletes playing both soccer and basketball, concurrently.
"I think the biggest part is the coaches getting on the same page to make sure they know what they need, what Emily needs and what I need," Kilgore said.
Time management skills play a large part in balancing so many titles: student, a forward on the soccer team and a point guard on the basketball court. This is something Jones knows all too well.
"I go from having practice until 6 for soccer and basketball and then having a lot of homework for all my classes and having to juggle that," Jones said.
Winter high school athletics are only the beginning for Jones. The freshman also plays club volleyball and suits up for the Rangerettes in a handful of other sports during other times during the school year.
The question that comes to mind is: how long does the multi-sport athlete hope to juggle all of these balls?
"I want to continue, but if it becomes too much then maybe I'll drop one, but so far, I really like doing both," Jones said.
Still in her first year of high school athletics, there is still plenty of time to work out what her future in sports looks like. That's where the role of a good coach can come in and help as well.
"I think that it's important that we give her a voice and let her have a say so in that," Kilgore said. "Hopefully, she doesn't ever feel pressured to be at one versus the other. Knowing that it's okay and that we support her no matter where she's at and we want her to have success regardless."
This is just one example of how local talent is raising the bar. Jones plays in a bi-district championship on the basketball court this week along with lacing up the cleats on the state-ranked Greenwood girls' soccer team.