The moment the passing period starts at 8:10 a.m. at Grayslake Central High School, you may notice students wearing their backpacks on the front, sports bags on their back, and cleats tied in a loop around their wrists.

At the end of the school day, you’ll spot students frantically rushing to the athletic locker room so they can change in time for practice, and some who even leave early from school to make it to the bus in time for their games, matches or meets.

We all recognize these students, especially ones like the multi-sport athletes, the star quarterback on the football team and the captain of the varsity soccer team. What most people neglect to realize is the struggling mental health of some of these athletes.

GCHS athletic trainer Glen Gerdes said that sometimes this strain is internal. “Kids put a lot of pressure on themselves,” Gerdes said. “Parents put a significant amount of pressure, and coaches do too. Coaches are putting more pressure on these kids now than they ever have.”

Whether it’s family issues at home, challenging classes that cause a lot of stress or problems with friendships and relationships, a lot of student-athletes are faced with balancing these things with their demanding sports schedules. Gerdes also said that struggling with mental health while in a sport can have massive consequences. “If you’re not in a good space with your head and you’re not mentally ready for something, that’s when you’re physically going to get hurt,” Gerdes said.

To one Grayslake Central wrestler, this anxiety fluctuates depending on the time of year. “There’s regionals and sectionals and state, so that’s when it’s ramping up,” he said, “and getting ready for that is really stressful.”

So who is responsible for helping student athletes’ mental health?

Athletic Director David Shafron said a great coach can make all the difference, and it’s important to focus on how students are improving to foster a supportive environment. “Look at our stats,” Shafron said. “Look how much we grew as a team. Look how much we came together. No matter whether we won or lost, we were one as a team.”