The definition of student-athlete is typically used to describe the balance between full time student and full time athlete. One student-athlete here on the campus of SUNY Cortland that truly embodies this description is Jordan Miller of the women’s soccer and lacrosse team.
The junior, physical education major, who hails from Liverpool, New York, spends her time here at SUNY Cortland playing defense for the women’s soccer team as well as midfield for the lacrosse team. One varsity sport here on campus can dominate a student’s life, but Miller takes on the unyielding challenge of playing two varsity sports.
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| (Via cortlandreddragons.com) |
“At first I thought it would be too much, when I got here I said hey lets give it a try and my dad was pretty much behind me on the whole thing as long as my whole family was. As I’ve played both sports they pretty much don’t miss a game of mine,” says Miller.
At Liverpool high school Miller received the Liverpool Lacrosse Youth Association Scholarship as well as the Dan Spillet Award as a first team all-league senior. Miller lettered in soccer, basketball and lacrosse in her high school career. She claims that her passion for sports comes from a mindset her family installed in her from a young age.
“I really liked staying active. Sports were more meant to keep me disciplined and organized in school, but I love playing sports and I love being active. It kind of came from my family getting me active in sports.”
Miller originally set out to play soccer here at SUNY Cortland, picking up the skills to play lacrosse later in her high school career claiming, “I was attracted by the soccer program first. As I became a senior in my school I looked more into it and I talked to Coach Heidi Woodcock. We set something up to come here. When I got to Cortland my high school lacrosse coach really wanted me to try out for lacrosse at least and I actually made the team. Once I started playing lacrosse here I really enjoyed that too and decided to stick with it for the 4 years.”
In Miller’s freshmen year as a member of the soccer team, she helped lead a defense that allowed one or fewer goals in 13 games. Miller started in all 18 games helping the squad go 8-6-5 overall that took the Red Dragons to the SUNYAC semifinals, where they suffered a crushing defeat to Brockport in penalty kicks in overtime, 4-2.
Millers categorized her freshmen year of soccer, as “It was unreal actually. It was one of my goals to start one game and to start in all the game was surreal. I couldn’t even imagine it being serious. I love it and it was crazy. It’s hard to explain the feeling, but a big accomplishment for me.”
In her sophomore season of 2009, Miller started in all 20 games as part of a defense that allowed no more than two goals in a game all season for the first time since 1999. The 2009 season featured the Red Dragons going 12-5-3 and losing in the SUNYAC Championship game to Geneseo, 2-1.
Miller believes the Red Dragons are hitting their stride in 2010 going into the heart of their SUNYAC schedule saying, “Playing 4 games in 7 games is tough, but we’ve managed to so far and I don’t think the next two will be any different. Our practices have been great, a little lighter with the running, but we’ve been pushing through it. I’m excited for this weekend.”
In Miller’s two years as a member of the SUNY Cortland lacrosse team she has played and started in all 39 games helping lead the Red Dragons to the Division III playoffs in 2009 as well as 2010, losing in the second round in both years. She attributes much of her success as a walk-on to the lacrosse team due to her close relationship with her fellow teammates, sophomore goalie, Ally Levy and senior defensive captain, Melissa Kane.
“Allie is a big part of our team, she came on strong last year. I’m actually real close friend with her, so that’s kind of cool. I’m a good friend with Melissa Kane as well. When I came in freshmen year Melissa took me under her wing and I have been close with her ever since. Our success has to due with how close we are. I’m looking forward to seeing our new squad this season.”
Even after all the accolades as well as the stress behind playing two varsity sports, trying to keep up with her with schoolwork as a physical education major, Miller claims that she has somehow found a balance.
“Now it seems easier than it did before. As I move up in my program there is more schoolwork and my coaches are really understanding about it, so if I miss a practice once it’s not too big of a deal, but I try not to.”
Some famous two sport athletes include the likes of Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders. Miller had one big role model that she always looked up too.
“When I was younger Mia Hamm was definitely my biggest role model, she was so popular, my friends looked up to her too. “
Miller claims in the future that she loves sports so much that she looks to inspire other athletes claiming, “I’d love to become a physical education teacher and be a coach in the future.”
If there is anyone who can teacher young student-athletes how to balance schoolwork while taking on multiple sports at a varsity level look no further than the immensely talent student-athlete Jordan Miller.
For more student athlete interviews tune into Around the Dragon every Friday from 2-4 p.m. with Michael Millstein and Steve Cuce for everything Cortland sports on WSUC 90.5 FM and www.cortland.edu/wsuc.
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