Life as a Mountaineer - Carly Ledbetter
April 05, 2019 10:02 AM | Rowing
Carly Ledbetter's day usually begins before the sun comes up, and it typically ends long after the sun goes down.
That's because the West Virginia University senior is a member of the Mountaineer rowing team, which is a day-long proposition in itself.
Then, throw in the schoolwork that is required for her major, graphic design, plus her student internship as a graphic designer for the Athletic Communications Department, and you're talking about one extremely focused and driven student-athlete!
"My typical day usually consists of waking up around 5:30, or earlier, depending upon where we're at, and then after practice ends usually around 9 a.m.," she said. "I go home and make breakfast and then I go to my internship, which starts at 11 a.m.
"After my internship, on Mondays and Wednesdays, I usually have studio class. I have two studio classes this semester and they usually end around six o'clock."
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Carly usually shows up for work in sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
"That's because I have to sprint downstairs and lift and then I come back upstairs to complete my internship," she laughed.
Ledbetter made the cross-country trek from Seattle, Washington, four years ago to become a member of Jimmy King's WVU rowing program.
It's a decision she's not regretted for a second.
"I'm just really happy I came here because not only have I pushed my limits physically, I've also been able to grow," she said. "I came here maybe not as confident and my friends and my coaches have been able to help me grow my confidence and help me be myself a little bit better."
But why West Virginia University so far away?
"I chose West Virginia because it's a completely different state from where I'm from," Ledbetter explained. "I was originally only looking at schools on the West Coast and I figured, 'Why not? Let's go somewhere completely different.'
"I remember putting my pin on the board at my school and everyone was like, 'Who is going to West Virginia?' I'm like, 'I am. I'm going to row!' West Virginia offered my major, which is graphic design, and I figured it would be a good place for me grow and learn and by myself," she said.
And grow she has.
"It's been a great experience being a Mountaineer and being on the All-Big 12 team last year was cool. My coaches told me that was because of all of the outside work I was doing," she said.
Life as a Mountaineer is presented by WVU Medicine
Produced by Sarah Ramundt
That's because the West Virginia University senior is a member of the Mountaineer rowing team, which is a day-long proposition in itself.
Then, throw in the schoolwork that is required for her major, graphic design, plus her student internship as a graphic designer for the Athletic Communications Department, and you're talking about one extremely focused and driven student-athlete!
"My typical day usually consists of waking up around 5:30, or earlier, depending upon where we're at, and then after practice ends usually around 9 a.m.," she said. "I go home and make breakfast and then I go to my internship, which starts at 11 a.m.
"After my internship, on Mondays and Wednesdays, I usually have studio class. I have two studio classes this semester and they usually end around six o'clock."
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Carly usually shows up for work in sweatpants and a sweatshirt.
"That's because I have to sprint downstairs and lift and then I come back upstairs to complete my internship," she laughed.
Ledbetter made the cross-country trek from Seattle, Washington, four years ago to become a member of Jimmy King's WVU rowing program.
It's a decision she's not regretted for a second.
"I'm just really happy I came here because not only have I pushed my limits physically, I've also been able to grow," she said. "I came here maybe not as confident and my friends and my coaches have been able to help me grow my confidence and help me be myself a little bit better."
But why West Virginia University so far away?
"I chose West Virginia because it's a completely different state from where I'm from," Ledbetter explained. "I was originally only looking at schools on the West Coast and I figured, 'Why not? Let's go somewhere completely different.'
"I remember putting my pin on the board at my school and everyone was like, 'Who is going to West Virginia?' I'm like, 'I am. I'm going to row!' West Virginia offered my major, which is graphic design, and I figured it would be a good place for me grow and learn and by myself," she said.
And grow she has.
"It's been a great experience being a Mountaineer and being on the All-Big 12 team last year was cool. My coaches told me that was because of all of the outside work I was doing," she said.
Life as a Mountaineer is presented by WVU Medicine
Produced by Sarah Ramundt
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