While many college athletes dedicate themselves to one sport, there are some that choose to challenge themselves even more and compete in two. Leilani Harworth is one of the few dual-sport athletes at C-SC. Harworth’s dedication and passion has molded the balance between a sports medicine (pre-athletic training) major, women’s soccer and women’s basketball.

Harworth has been playing soccer since she was six years old, she emphasizes it as a sport that has always come naturally to her. Her basketball career started a bit later, when she was in middle school. Her drive to play came from sibling rivalry. “My little sister played, and I always had to be better than her at everything.” It all started as competition, but quickly turned into a second passion.

It’s not only competition that drives Harworth to play. She gets her motivation from her environment that is created by her teammates and coaches. “I wouldn’t play these sports just because,” she said. “I play because I love the environment.”

Balancing two collegiate sports is challenging, however, Harworth says that it can be difficult to manage injuries and recovery while keeping up with classes and practices. “Practice is pretty close to class time, so sometimes it’s hard to find a good time in the day to get treatment.” Despite the tight schedule, she has learned that it’s important to prioritize recovery and to take responsibility for her own care.

It’s the difference between soccer and basketball that push Harworth. According to her, soccer feels more natural and less stressful than basketball that requires extra work and confidence building. Although, the energy of the basketball team keeps her excited. “The team and atmosphere are so different and fun that it makes me excited to play every day.” Playing two sports help Harworth develop various skills and strengths. She uses the skills from one sport to improve in the other. She credits soccer for her vision on the basketball court, and her soccer experience helps quick decision making and awareness. Basketball helped improve her defensive skills on the soccer field, especially her footwork and positioning.

The support that she receives from her teammates from both environments makes being a dual-sport athlete even more worth it. Harworth explained how they support her.  “The soccer team made signs for my first basketball game and streamed a lot of the games. Basketball this year did the same thing.” says Harworth.

Harworth has important roles in both programs, contributing as a starter on the soccer team and often plays the full 90 minutes. On the basketball team she contributes consistently off the bench, playing in every game. “I’m proud of playing varsity for both sports at this level,” she said.

Being a dual-sport athlete influenced Harworth on and off the field. She says adapting within two different programs developed her ability to adjust to change, and prioritizing her time management skills. As Harworth continues to balance two sports and her academics, she proves that with the right mindset and support it is possible to succeed in multiple environments.