Student-Athletes Gear Up for Summer Training
- May 4
- 4 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
An inside look into what summer looks like for Cleveland State student-athletes as they gear up to be in top shape for their upcoming season.
Written by Aubrey Evans
For most college students, summer break means going home, traveling and catching a break after the school year – but for student-athletes, it means summer training is in full swing.
Summer training is off-season conditioning that is designed for student-athletes to stay in shape, build strength and tune up their skills before the competition season begins.
Sophie Ngetich
Sophie Ngetich is a freshman on the cross country and track and field team who spends her summer break in her hometown of Canton, which is just an hour south of Cleveland.
Ngetich says that, as a distance runner, she competes in all three seasons, cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, during the school year. The summertime is her only off season, so her main focus is rest.
“I’m someone who gets burnt out easily, and if I don’t completely rest and focus on something other than running, then I’ll just crash and burn in the long run,” Ngetich said.
The outdoor track season ends in May, and Ngetich has two weeks of rest. After her break, it’s time to start training for cross country in the fall, which means she is back to running six days a week.
For Ngetich, staying motivated means getting up and getting her workouts done in a timely manner.
“I just try and get everything done in the morning so I have the rest of my day to enjoy the summertime,” she said.
Her day begins around 8 a.m. as she rolls out of bed and grabs something quick to eat before heading out to run with some of her high school teammates. Directly after her run, she heads over to her local gym to lift weights, where she focuses on building strength.
“My routine is pretty much the same,” she said. “Wake up and get to work and the rest of the day is fun.”
Some workouts are harder than others, and running most of them without the presence of her college teammates can get challenging. For Ngetich, sometimes finding little things to reward herself with after her workouts gets her through the toughest training days.
“Usually I’ll swing through 7Brew for something refreshing,” she said. “My go to is an ocean breeze with extra sweet cold foam and light ice.”
Ngetich soaks in every moment of the summer as a time of recovery before getting right back into the sport she loves most.
Magaly Lemus
Magaly Lemus is a freshman middle blocker for the Vikings Volleyball team. After her team endured a below-par season in 2025, Lemus was excited to get back to work in the offseason. But that was before Lemus tore her ACL and meniscus during a routine practice drill in February.
A month later, on March 27, Lemus underwent surgery to repair the tear and now faces the long road of recovery. Unable to play in the upcoming 2026 fall season, Lemus is set to redshirt to allow her another year of eligibility. Athletes who redshirt are required to sit out for an entire season of competition and are granted another year of eligibility. As for summer training, Lemus says that this year will look completely different.
“I have to focus on building strength, mobility and balance. Just the normal things that normal people need to move their body,” Lemus said.
In preparation for the long term goal of getting back on the court, Lemus says she’s careful not to rush back into playing, as there is a risk of reinjury if not fully healed.
“Currently in the gym, I’m only able to help out with the small things,” she said.
During practice, Lemus pitches in where she can, whether it’s standing still and serving a ball over the net or standing on a box to put her hands up to block, she aims to still help out her team anyway she can.
“My coaches want me to stay engaged as much as possible, so right now my focus is on giving feedback to my teammates, especially in my position,” Lemus said.
While being injured is the last thing that any athlete wants, Lemus says it’s allowed her to focus on other aspects of her game.
“It’s sad, but my injury gives me more time to develop that presence of leadership on the court,” she said.
Lemus will miss being on the court with her team physically, but she plans to be their biggest supporter on the sideline and in the locker room.
As for the summer, Lemus plans to head back to her hometown of Holland, Michigan to begin her intense recovery process. Although this is not what she intended to be doing before her sophomore season, Lemus says she can’t wait for the day she returns on the court to represent the Green and White.
“I have this eagerness of, I can’t do something, I took it for granted and now it's gone. So I'm more motivated than ever to play the game I love.”
While the season ahead will look different than normal, Lemus knows that her injury is only temporary. Soon enough she will be back on the court and ready to prove that this setback is only a small chapter to a much bigger story.
