Although Trinity sports fans often see the Tigers working together in a competition setting, there is a unique side to this dynamic that goes unnoticed: their relationship as roommates. Certain sports, such as football or soccer, require first-years to move in early to accommodate the team’s early-season practice schedule. These sports assign roommate pairings to each player, allowing them to get to know each other long before classes have begun.
First-year football players Connor Macias and Michael Jewett currently live together in Albert-Herff Beze Hall. Although their living arrangement was selected for them, they have found success in their experience as roommates.
“The coaches don’t really explain much of the roommate selection process to us, but I think they make the roommate assignments pretty far ahead of time. I got an email saying that Michael would be my roommate, so I contacted him and met him on move-in day,” Macias said.
After getting settled at Trinity, Macias and Jewett quickly became comfortable with each other due to their similar routines.
“Since there weren’t many people on campus when football arrived, we spent a lot of time together for the first few days. I was with Connor for most meals and practices, which gave us a good chance to get to know each other,” Jewett said.
Even with the addition of a strenuous academic workload, Macias and Jewett have nearly parallel schedules.
“We have the same football schedule, so we ended up registering for similar class times. We both get up for 6 a.m. practice, then go to our 11:30 classes together on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays or 9:55 classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s great to have someone there to hold you accountable for waking up and getting to practice or class,” Macias said.
Jewett also believes that there are many advantages to rooming with your teammate.
“If you get along, rooming with your teammate as a first-year is a great way to make a quick friend. There’s quite a few upperclassmen on the football team that are still rooming together. I’m glad I’ve had a positive experience with Connor,” Jewett said.
For sports teams that don’t require first-years to live together, the student-athletes are subject to Trinity’s roommate matching criteria. After living with a random roommate for their first year at Trinity, Tiger athletes are free to choose their roommates for the rest of their time on campus.
Sophomore softball players Gina Monaco and Allie Holbrook are rooming together for the first time in Dick and Peggy Prassel residence hall.
“Allie and I met through softball. Since both of us were freshmen, we were always hanging out or grouped together. Rooming with your teammate is great because you’re typically both on the same schedule. Right now we have weights early in the morning, so it’s easier to have us both getting up at the same time rather than having to be quiet and courteous if our roommate wasn’t a softball player,” Monaco said.
Monaco explains that the experience of rooming with your teammate is completely unique.
“I’d definitely recommend rooming with your teammate. If you get along well, you’ll be able to work hard together, have someone to walk to workouts or practices with and know that there’s always someone going through the same experiences as you,” Monaco said.
Sophomores Annie Wise and Paulina Garcia, who are members of Trinity’s women’s tennis team, also live together in Prassel.
Wise explains that she met Garcia long before their time as teammates.
“You might think that Pau and I met on the tennis court during a preseason practice, but we actually met at the Playfair activity during New Student Orientation week when we were put in the same group. My coach had already told me that there was another tennis freshman, so when I actually met her, our Playfair group thought we were crazy because of how excited we were,” Wise said.
After enjoying a full year of team activities, Wise recalls that rooming together as sophomores was an obvious decision for the pair.
“Honestly, I can’t even remember who asked who to room together, so I guess it was just meant to be. The best thing about living with your best friend and teammate is that your schedules are the same. We can come back to the dorm after a practice and have so many inside jokes about what happened that day on the court. It’s also way easier to wake up for early morning lifts if you have someone waking up with you, and it’s great to know that I’ll always have someone to help me get through life at Trinity,” Wise said.
Garcia believes that the pair has found success as roommates because they genuinely care for each other’s well-being.
“Rooming with Annie is obviously one of the best decisions I have ever made. Annie and I are in the same boat when dealing with school, coaches, teammates and classmates. We understand each other very well, and know exactly how to cheer each other up. We consistently motivate each other to be better, whether on the court or in the classroom. Most importantly though, we both value our relationship. It’s important to live with someone who always wants what best for you, and simply has your back in both the good times and the bad. I know for a fact that Annie always has mine, and I will always have hers,” Garcia said.
