Being More Than a Student-Athlete - Cristo Rocha

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Men's soccer player Cristo Rocha is more than a student-athlete. During his four years at Huntingdon, he has maintained a full-time job building homes.

The senior accounting major from Montgomery, Alabama has done the unthinkable when it comes to managing life. At the age of 21 he has already built his own home, and almost graduated college while holding a full-time job.

Rocha began at a young age with his dad, Rocha said, "I was about 12 or 13 when I started working weekends to help my dad out and learn the ropes of the family business. I began on little and tedious things before I started doing the hard labor."

When he was a freshman at Stanhope Elmore High School, he began to get more into the family business. He said, "Our company and myself specialize in framing, masonry/stone, and brick; so, when the thought of college came around, I really did not need a degree, because I knew where I was going to work for the rest of his life. But my mom began to heckle me and telling me I should still get a meaningful degree."

Late in his senior year the Huntingdon coaches reached out about being able to play soccer and this sparked an interest in him.

But how would he do it? Wouldn't it be too hard to manage being a full-time student, playing an NCAA DIII sport, and still working for his dad?

Cristo figured out a way, he planned to bunch his classes. He explained his plan as, "I wanted to get all of my classes back-to-back either in the morning or in the evening so that way I can plan out my work schedule. If I don't have classes until 12:00 PM I can wake up at 5:00 AM and go work on homes with my Dad until 10:30 AM and shower and head to school for the rest of the day." His mastermind plan has given him the ability to make money, be a good student with above a 3.0 GPA and still be a great teammate throughout four years.

After figuring out how he would do it, he began wondering what he wanted to major in and what would be most beneficial for his construction life. That is when Dr. Christopher Clark told him about the opportunities in accounting. Cristo says, "Dr. Clark has been a great mentor for my road to success here at Huntingdon as I chose accounting in hopes of helping the family business from a physical and financial standpoint."

Preparation in the summers from freshman to senior year consisted of a 40+ hour work week while still training late at night to continually work on the game he loved and the true reason he came to Huntingdon.

Athletically, Rocha has played in 52 games for the Hawks and started 45 since his freshman year. He has scored three goals and earned his way to be named a team captain.

His hard work does not go unnoticed by coaches and teammates. Reflecting on his time at Huntingdon Cristo says, "I will remember the relationships I built with my team because with my busy work, class, and practice schedule, they are the only people I truly got to know on campus."

Cristo Rocha has faced many challenges throughout his four years juggling all of his priorities but being a Division III Student Athlete allowed him the opportunity to pursue a degree, play the sport he loved and oh yeah, build homes.

Head Coach Matt Cooper on Cristo :

"Cristo's work ethic and determination is incredible. For his entire 4 year career here he has balanced his work, class and soccer schedule flawlessly. Maintaining a full time job at his family construction business, a full accounting major class schedule and everything we have for soccer is nothing short of extraordinary. Also earning his home builders license while still in school. Playing and starting every game available and being a captain his senior year, all while balancing his job and classes is a true testament to the determined and organized person Cristo is. "

The student-athletes competing at Huntingdon are among over 196,000 students who play varsity sports I the NCAA's largest division, and all are joining in the nationwide celebration of Division 3 week. Division 3 student-athletes play for the love of the game, while excelling in the classroom and demonstrating leadership, community service and campus involvement. Learn more about Division 3 at www.ncaa.org, on the Division 3 Facebook page, or at NCAADIII on Twitter