Triple time

Butler senior Brady competing in 3 sports in the same season for Golden Tornado

September 21, 2017 High School Track & Field

Butler senior Brett Brady, center, is competing in three varsity sports for the Golden Tornado this fall season. Besides running cross country, he is a member of the Butler varsity golf and hockey teams.

JUSTIN GUIDO/ BUTLER EAGLE

BUTLER TWP — Time is always available.

It just needs to be shifted around every now and again.

Such is the athletic and academic world of Butler senior Brett Brady these days.

When he's not at golf practice, he's running cross country. When he's not practicing cross country, he's playing golf.

When he's doing neither, he's on the ice as Brady is a defenseman on the Golden Tornado hockey team.

“We just played three games in three nights at the St. Margaret's (hockey tournament),” Brady said. “That was a little rough.”

Besides that, a typical fall semester day for Brady is ... well, however it turns out. That's how it is when you're playing three varsity sports during the same season.

“I can't describe a typical week because there is no typical day,” Brady said. “I just make sure I get all of my work in for all of the sports.

“On heavy workout days for cross country, I'll meet up with the coach and get it in after the other kids are done, if that's what it takes. The same goes with golf and I haven't missed much with hockey. That's usually at night.”

Brady's classwork certain isn't suffering. He's carrying a 4.41 grade point average and is ranked 10th in his class.

Butler cross country coach Rick Davanzati marvels at his runner's dedication.

“Brett doesn't short-change any of the sports he does,” Davanzati said. “Last year, he'd meet me at the school at 6 a.m. to get his heavy cross country work in. This year, it's been more late after school.

“He's just a good all-around kid with a full schedule. I can't be more positive about the kid. If our practice is just a distance run, I'll let him do that on his own. He's so dedicated. He's able to juggle everything.”

Brady came out for cross country last fall as a means to improve his track and field performances. He's already shaved 30 seconds off his cross country time at this time a year ago, from 16 minutes, 57 seconds to 16:27.

“Running cross country has definitely helped me perform better at track,” Brady said. “I wish I had started it earlier than I did.”

Brady generally shoots between 42 and 44 per nine-hole golf match.

“He shows up and gets his work in,” Butler golf coach Travis Shingleton said. “I work with the cross country coach and we coordinate schedules. He does both sports — practice or competition — on the same day most of the time.

“Brett has gained a lot of respect from everybody because he cares deeply for all three sports.”

Brady said he was destined to become a golfer “because my dad sent a set of plastic clubs to the hospital when I was born. He did that for my brothers, too.

“My older brother Beau played hockey and I knew I'd eventually want to do it. My other older brother (Colin) played, too. It was going to happen.”

Despite cross country having Brady running 60 miles a week — many of those on his own — he has not shown fatigue.

“I don't know how he does it,” Shingleton said. “I'd be surprised if that kid is getting more than six hours of sleep a night.

Yet Brady keeps running ... swinging a club ... skating ... and studying.

“I have seventh-period study hall right now and that's helping a lot,” Brady said.

Butler hockey coach Cory Sakolsky said that if Brady is tired, “he's not showing it and he's not complaining about it.

“He gives us full effort all of the time,” the coach said.

Sakolsky said most athletes get tired doing one sport — and they do that one sport throughout the whole calendar year.

“I keep going back to what Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer once said. that 85 percent of his scholarship players were multiple-sport athletes in high school.

“This is going to benefit Brett down the road. He's learned how to juggle time, how to handle and live up to multiple responsibilities. Those will be valuable assets for him later in life.

“I'm sure he's physically and mentally exhausted by the end of the week. Then he regroups and gets back at it again,” Sakolsky added.