The Harmony In Between: Balancing Academics and Athletics at Immaculate High School
Introduction
Nestled in the rolling hills of Fairfield County and just over the New York border is Immaculate High School, a private, Catholic, co-ed institution with roughly 400 enrolling students annually.
As an independent school with students hailing from over 30 unique towns and cities, Mustangs are diverse in their interests and backgrounds.
According to Niche.com, Immaculate currently is ranked #8 out of 249 high schools as “Best High Schools for Athletes in Connecticut.” Also recognized as an A+ rated school, representing the top 2.5% of schools in the country, Immaculate offers the perfect balance between college-prep academics and athletics.
At Immaculate, students are encouraged to seek out their passions, try new things and never be afraid to take the first step. With 27 Varsity sports, athletes of all skill levels can find their home on the court or field, at IHS.
Whether that is continuing their favorite sport, working towards playing collegiately or trying something new, the athletic opportunities at Immaculate are both plentiful and available for all.
As our students weave their way through the rigors of high school life, we believe that athletics are a key component to staying healthy in mind, body and spirit.
Finding the balance between athletics and academics is entirely possible here at Immaculate, creating well-rounded student-athletes with highly-developed personal responsibility skills. Your student will be best prepared to tackle whatever is ahead of them post-high school.
Understanding the Student Athlete's Journey at Immaculate High School
As a school focused on developing the whole student, at IHS you are supported in your ability to successfully juggle the demands of high school athletics with college prep academics. In our mind, both go hand in hand, creating a seamless blend of experiences that directly benefit future success.
This dual focus provides our student-athletes with the ability to excel in their coursework, as well as their athletic careers. For many of our students, the goal at the end of their four years is to land themselves on a college campus where they can continue to work towards their educational goals, while still competing in the sport they love.
Pictured Above: Girls Golf with the SWC Championship Banner in Spring 2023.
A student’s athletic journey at Immaculate can begin at any point. For most of our students, this journey begins fall of freshman year as they begin to acclimate themselves to new peers and a new environment.
Freshmen at Immaculate are invited, along with current students, to preseason athletic meetings where they have the opportunity to hear from our athletic director and meet the coaches to better understand each program, tryout dates, conditioning sessions and more.
Trying a new sport can introduce you early on to new friends and teammates, while developing transferable skills that can be applied to other sports, as well as overall effective time management skills.
Admissions Tip: Playing a sport in the fall of freshman year can help acclimate your student faster by meeting new peers prior to the start of school.
The Dual Focus: Athletics and Academics
Viewing athletics and academics as two competing parties restricts our students from seeking out authentic passions, while developing their ability to manage time effectively.
By seeing academics and athletics as complementary, our students’ interests are actively curated, with room to implement new strategies to minimize stress and a feeling of overwhelmingness.
Pictured Above: Stefan Weber ‘26 competes in Cross Country.
As a school committed to preparing our students for the rigors of college academics, it is equally as important to have our student-athletes prepared for the juggling act that is balancing collegiate athletics and an extensive course load.
The dual-focus on athletics and academics in turn produces well-rounded individuals that have experience putting both time management and personal responsibility skills into practice.
A Day in the Life of an IHS Student-Athlete
A day in the life of an Immaculate High School student-athlete varies sport to sport, and of course, student to student. Depending on the sports you play and the season they compete in, the timeline for each athlete varies.
A college-prep education requires a substantial amount of preparation, material comprehension, and ability to stay on top of assignments. When bringing athletics into the fold, it is imperative students are able to manage their time effectively. Immaculate students are able to put these methods into practice every day.
In order to assist our student-athletes, practices cannot be held prior to 2:45PM. Athletes at Immaculate are able to utilize the full extent of 2:05PM - 2:30PM to their academic advantage. This block of time is dedicated for students to seek out their teachers for extra help and to make up any previously missing assignments.
Many student-athletes utilize this time to get a leg up on an assignment or to better comprehend the material. Sophomore lacrosse and golf athlete Chris Beja states, “If I have to make up a test or quiz, or I have to talk to a teacher for extra help, this block of time guarantees I can do just that.”
The level of care in every faculty member is recognized by our student-athletes. Chris adds, “The teachers are extremely helpful. They always want to help you. They're always there to help you.” This relationship model between student and faculty is embodied by all of our teachers.
Pictured Above: Girls Basketball Coach Mrs. Gallo with Maris Chirayil ‘25.
As soon as Chris wraps up his exam, he heads down to the weight room and gets a preseason lift in with his team. The team has the ability to utilize the many machines in the Fitness Center, while still performing compound movements in the varsity weight room under the supervision of Immaculate’s strength and conditioning coach.
At the conclusion of the lift, many athletes return home to eat a healthy meal, get started on homework, or prepare for the next day. For Chris, he changes back into his school uniform, and heads to the Learning Commons for his Mock Trial Competition.
Even while balancing a college-prep course load and athletic responsibilities, our student-athletes have the ability to involve themselves in extracurricular activities. With an effective time management system in place, your students can push themselves to achieve more.
A day in the life of a student-athlete typically involves…
- Planning the day ahead, or week ahead
- Attending classes
- Utilizing 2:05-2:30 for school work extra help
- Practice / Lift / Film / Competition
- Recovery
- Homework
- A Good Night’s Rest
Body & Mind: Academic Support for Athletes
Immaculate student-athletes deal with the same academic challenges as their fellow classmates. There are no resources in place to support solely athletes, but many resources that are available for the entire student body.
Now after reading that you may ask… Why? The answer is simple - to assimilate our student-athletes into altering their habits to succeed on both sides of the fence. If time management and personal responsibility is established through trial and error, it will greatly benefit students as they transition to the college landscape where there is an even greater demand on time.
Faculty and Staff Involvement
Mustang Athletics is directed by Nelson Mingachos, an IHS alumnus and head coach of the boys basketball and girls soccer programs. Coach Mingachos has instilled Mustang pride in every sports team, developing student-athletes that compete fiercely, while still having the utmost commitment to sportsmanship.
This year, Coach Mingachos and Immaculate Athletics were recognized by the CIAC, receiving the Fred Balsamo Sportsmanship Award.
Coach Mingachos states, “We are humbled by this award and greatly appreciative, but much of this credit goes to an amazing team of coaches, to our faculty and staff who support athletics and, of course, to our Mustangs who make my job fun!”
Immaculate student-athletes embody respect, responsibility, and reverence by being exposed to an outstanding staff and faculty team that deeply cares about their success, and overall well-being as individuals.
Teachers’ Support
As a Class S sized school only enrolling 400 students annually, the personal connections made within our community come out in full force when specifically looking at athletics.
Many of our faculty and staff can be seen on the sidelines cheering for our student-athletes. When asked why she loves attending games, English teacher Alexa Wild shares, “It is fun to support our family members. It is just what we do!”
The support of Mustang Athletics by our faculty and staff is second to none. Whether it is Senior Night in Mustang Valley, or Youth Night in the Bobby Plumb Gymnasium, our faculty and staff enjoy seeing our students compete in the sports they love.
Pictured Above: Bobby Plumb & students utilize the stationary bicycles in the Fitness Center.
Mrs. Wild adds, “I love to see teams pulling together, supporting each other through both triumph and loss, and we are lucky enough to witness them learning these life lessons that stay with them forever.” This philosophy has been adopted by all of our faculty and staff members.
Regardless if it is a freshman, JV or Varsity team competing, supporting our students in their passions is a prerequisite for working at Immaculate. Not to mention, in many instances our staff have competed on these teams themselves in the past.
The faculty and staff at Immaculate are always aware of changing student schedules, recognizing that student-athletes often have a laundry list of commitments to tackle on a day to day basis.
We are here to support your students on their journey, and wish for them to see nothing but success throughout. At times the journey may not be easy, and we are willing and available to assist your student however needed.
Coaches in the Academic Community
Many of our coaches are full-time members of our school community. You may see history teacher Mr. Houser and math teacher Mr. Quesnell running alongside their track athletes, or see Mr. Bielizna with the Golf Team down at the Indoor Golf Simulator.
Immaculate faculty and staff members actively seek ways they can get involved in coaching, creating a unique two-fold relationship with students who also serve as their players.
In turn, the standard at Immaculate is that our student-athletes take care of business in the classroom first, which translates to exceptional performance on the playing field. Not to mention, coaches are easily accessible during the school day and can be a resource for academics as well.
On-Staff Certified Personal Trainer
Our on-staff strength and conditioning coach monitors the Fitness Center after school, offering advice for those just getting into working out, while assisting students to ensure their form is both safe and effective to see results.
During the off-season, many athletics programs can continue to lift together as a team due to the assistance and knowledge of our personal trainer. Student-athletes can receive personalized workout plans, ensuring the performed movements are relevant to each specific sport.
The Fitness Center may see upwards of 15 non student-athletes utilizing the facility on any given Monday or Wednesday. The environment breaks down the barrier of your typical gym, offering an inviting space where all fitness levels are celebrated.
Pictured Above: Abiel Morales ‘25 and students utilize the ellipticals.
The Student’s Role in Balancing Athletics and Academics
At Immaculate, your student’s peers, teachers and coaches will always support them in their endeavors towards success. With these support systems in place, it is the responsibility of the student to utilize available resources.
In order to see success, sacrifice is required in the form of time and energy. The goal, however, is that after four years of hard work, your student will transition to college with the skills needed to independently succeed at the collegiate level.
Essential Tips for Thriving as a Student Athlete at Immaculate High School
Across our campus students are packing their schedule with every opportunity and passion they can find. Thriving as a student at Immaculate requires the development of a few key skills that will pay dividends as your student transitions to college.
These skills often take time as students work through trial and error with study habits, become acclimated to their tendencies as a learner and ultimately begin to discover what approaches work best for them.
Time Management and Personal Responsibility
Time management and personal responsibility are among two of the most important qualities our student-athletes will develop through their time at Immaculate. IHS student-athletes are challenged to stretch their capabilities while always putting their best effort forward.
Balancing athletics and academics requires significant planning and proactiveness to counteract the declining amount of free time available. As teams move further into their seasons, more time is required in the form of recovery, traveling and preparation to compete at the highest level.
Seeking Academic Help Proactively
Student-athletes do not have the luxury of having an uncapped free time, which requires being able to assess difficulty with material, before it is too late. With minimum GPAss in place to keep athletes prioritizing their grades, there is no room to allow grades to slip too low to recover.
In turn, student-athletes reap the full benefits of their free time after school, while teachers are still available in their classrooms for extra help or to go over material. As students begin to become familiar with their best study-habits, it can help them identify areas they may be struggling in, before they are tested on the topics.
Utilizing School Resources Efficiently
Immaculate offers many different resources in which students always have access to. Using these resources efficiently, however, can help to put time management strategies to real world application.
For example, if you play lacrosse, there may be a team lift directly at 2:45PM, with practice following shortly after. Student-athletes complete their lift with intent, and immediately transition to using the turf after.
Using the Writing Center, Math Center and mandatory teacher help time after school can help keep the workload manageable, while using proactiveness to get a head start on assignments or material comprehension when needed.
Building a Support Network
It is pivotal for student-athletes to build a support network of trusted individuals to share their journey alongside. A good support system however should venture further outside of just student-to-student relationships.
Instead, establishing a support network of teachers, staff members, coaches and parents can provide a collection of valuable experiences and advice at the student’s disposal.
Building a support network of fellow peers must be done with careful consideration. It is in the best interest of your student to build a network featuring like-minded students, who also place high value on the values that Immaculate represents.
This creates a collective effort to push individual boundaries to exceed expectations. Similarly on the playing field, when an entire roster is on the same page and cognizant of their God-given talent, it creates a spark that positions every player to want to give their best effort.
Self-Advocacy in Sports and Academics
Immaculate student-athletes continue to develop their ability to self-advocate both on the field and in the classroom. Balancing both a challenging college preparatory course load, as well as athletic practices and competitions may take adjusting.
By advocating for themselves, our student-athletes will learn that opportunities are only seized when you go out and get them. Growing this self-advocacy can assist our student-athletes in their confidence and relationship with their coaches.
Ways To Get Involved
Visit IHS:
Come and experience a day in the life of a student-athlete at Immaculate! Use the link below to access the Mustang For a Day Calendar, where you can come to IHS and shadow a student through their class schedule, eat lunch in our Mustang Cafe and meet future teammates.
immaculatehs.org/mfad
Come Watch a Game:
Interested in watching your future team compete? See the Athletic Calendar below for upcoming competitions on campus, and away.
https://www.immaculatehs.org/athletics/athletic-calender
Conclusion
A staple of an Immaculate education is the development of the whole student, ultimately growing in mind, body, and spirit. The dual-focus on athletics and academics ensures our students can pursue authentic athletic passions, while still taking care of business in the classroom.
Our facilities nurtures a culture where students know they have access to resources that are in place to garner their success.. At Immaculate, physical health is still valued without the presumption you need to play a sport.
As a Mustang you know that the skills you develop through your four years are the byproduct of hard work and a commitment to academic excellence. The adversity of balancing a college prep education, athletics and extracurriculars will pay dividends as your student transitions to college.
With the support of staff, faculty, alumni and of course fellow Mustangs, IHS student-athletes can set themselves apart from their competition. If you are interested in learning more, we invite you to contact our Admissions Office at 203-744-1510 ext. 164 or 148.
