CLARKSVILLE, TN – Balancing academics and athletics can be a struggle for any student-athlete but try pursuing one of the most demanding majors on campus while helping launch a brand-new athletic program.
That will give you an idea of what Erin-Kate Roeder’s life is like right now.
Last year, the Maryland native transferred to Austin Peay State University to join the inaugural women’s lacrosse team while continuing her engineering physics studies — a combination that challenges even the most organized student-athlete.
Engineering physics alone requires extensive lab work, complex software, and equipment that can’t be accessed remotely. Add in a Division I athlete’s travel schedule, and the logistics become daunting.
“It’s very difficult,” Roeder said. “Just the other night, I was in [the Sundquist Science Complex] until about 12:30 [a.m.], studying for tests with some of my peers. But as long as I stay on top of things, it’s been okay.”
The sophomore goalie brings an uncommon academic pedigree to Austin Peay. Unlike many students who discover engineering in college, Roeder has been immersed in the field since sixth grade through her school’s Project Lead the Way program. She also took CAD (Computer-Aided Design), physics, and digital electronics classes in high school.
That foundation has proven invaluable as she navigates the competing demands of her studies and sport. While traveling to away games, Roeder completes coursework on buses and in hotel rooms — though the technical requirements of her major create unique challenges.
“I need a lot of different software, and some of the programs I can’t use when I’m not in the lab,” she said. “Sometimes I’ll have to come in outside of class. In my experimental methods class, I’m in lab a lot outside of our three class hours just because I miss so much time. My professors have been great; their support has helped me a lot.”
Her academic trajectory points toward a career in biomedical engineering, specifically 3D printing and prosthetics. She recently interviewed for an internship with XO Armor, a company partnered with Austin Peay’s athletic department to create 3D-printed braces for athletes.
“I want to get into something like that,” Roeder said. “I’m hoping to get my master’s in biomedical engineering or go straight into 3D printing and prosthetics.”
Roeder’s path to Austin Peay illustrates the difficult decisions student-athletes face when prioritizing playing time versus academics. She transferred from UMass Lowell, where she studied biomedical engineering but sat behind an established goalie.
“I decided to transfer because I wanted a better opportunity,” she said. “There was one goalie who’s a year older than me, and she was a great goalie, top of our conference. I knew I wasn’t going to get the opportunity to play.”
Many schools recruited Roeder, but wanted her to change majors. Austin Peay offered both the academic program and the playing time she sought.
“A lot of schools were like, ‘Yeah, we’ll take you, but you can’t major in that,'” she said. “Coming to Austin Peay allowed me to do both, which is a big reason I was drawn here.”