ASU Women’s Hockey: The balance of being more than a student-athlete

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

Students find their fit in college through academics, athletics, or extracurriculars. It is hardly common to see one balance all three platforms of college life. For sophomores Abby Steinman and Avery Chmelovsky, the seesaw stays steady.

The two student-athletes, who both play for Arizona State Women’s Hockey, are also on the roster for another team – a sorority.

Steinman is part of Sigma Kappa at ASU, while Chmelovsky is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta.

Though sororities are all relatively similar, they share a different purpose.

Theta has its own foundation where it provides all members an equal opportunity to make a difference. The sorority also includes the Court Appointed Special Advocates, where they provide a voice to the neglected and abused children in foster care.

Sigma Kappa focuses on Alzheimer’s disease research. It also attends to Inherit the Earth, as well as the Main Sea Coast Mission.

In Chmelovsky’s second year with Kappa Alpha Theta, she has confidently found her footing.

“I think Theta was the best fit for me,” Chmelovsky said. “When they say ‘trust the process,’ I trusted it. I found where I belong.”

Finding comfort and finding balance are two separate things; however, for Chmelovsky and Steinman, they found both.

“You just have to have really good time management,” Steinman said. “I have a job too…You just have to have a planner and schedule everything out…You have to stick by the planner.”

Though both Sun Devils made equal commitments to hockey and Greek life – their priorities start on the ice.

“Hockey is first for me and [Theta] is really good at understanding that,” Chmelovsky said. “Whatever I could go to, I would go to. Whatever I couldn’t, I didn’t go to and they were okay with it and cooperative.”

Last season, both Chmelovsky and Steinman came into ASU as freshmen and lived in the typical dorm rooms in Tempe. Although Chmelovsky rushed her freshman year, this time she is now living in the Greek Leadership Village.

The Village contains each sorority and fraternity house with dozens of members living in each residence. It is an experience that is not for everyone, but Chmelovsky has enjoyed every moment.

“I absolutely love it,” Chmelovsky said. “There are so many distractions [compared] to what I thought it would be. Sometimes when I need to do my homework, I’ll go to the library…Other than that, I think it’s so much fun.”

It is a different narrative for Steinman, however. The sophomore decided to rush this year but is not fully on board with living in a household constantly surrounded by others.

“I am just scared to live there because you don’t get your own room,” Steinman said. “Right now, I live four minutes from the rink, so it’s easy to just go back and forth. Living in the GLV would be fun but probably next year.”

It is fair to say that many spectators view student-athletes solely as an athlete. For some, it is difficult to picture them living outside of their respected sport. To some disbelief, student-athletes also dedicate their time to other interests – not just to the label they are given.

“I just needed something new,” Steinman said. “I have just been playing hockey forever and going to school forever…I just decided to do it and get out of my comfort zone.”

Coming into ASU, Chmelovsky and Steinman knew they were coming for academics and hockey. As a college student, they wanted to be a part of something they would never forget.

“When I think of college, obviously I think of Greek life,” Chmelovsky said. “I knew I was playing hockey and knew that if hockey doesn’t work out, I want to also be a part of something else… It keeps me busy. I’m far from home and it keeps me occupied.”

Being part of two different types of teams provide different perspectives of each person surrounding them. Constantly interacting and being around the hockey squad and sorority, it creates a family connection – both in uniquely different ways.

“The hockey girls are like my family and the sorority girls are like my family but a different way almost,” Chmelovsky said. “Both close but in different ways.”

Contrasting yet similar families provide an equal amount of trust.

“I could go to anyone in my hockey team for anything, but I could [for sorority as well],” Steinman said. “Being in the locker room, you just get closer in a different way. But I could also go to my sorority and be the exact same way but approach it in a different way.”

Not only does their sorority and hockey team provide a family atmosphere, but it also provides memories to look back on following their college experiences.

“Hockey wise…Everything is my favorite,” Chmelovsky said. “I love airports and away trips. Those are probably my favorite things on the planet. My best experience [for sorority] so far has been living in the GLV. That has been the best decision for me in my sophomore year.”

Steinman and Chmelovsky begin their season with women’s hockey doing what they enjoy the most – going on an away trip. They travel to Colorado to kick-off the 2019-2020 campaign beginning Sept. 27 through Sept. 29.

Student-athletes are not subjected to the title they are given. Though it may seem wary, it is more than plausible to live out a fulfilled college career.

“If you’re an athlete and you want to rush – it is possible,” Chmelovsky said.