An athlete's invisible opponent

It's that time of year again. \nIt's that time of year when IU's athletic teams have to compete with a tough opponent that even the best scout can't diffuse. And no, this opponent can't serve a tennis ball, hit a three-pointer or even pin an opponent because this opponent has no athletic talent. This opponent is illness.\nAny person who lives a life of little sleep and lots of studying is going to have a weakened immune system, but athletes have it worse, said Andy Hipskind, head team physician for the Office of Intercollegiate Athletics.\n"In some ways (athletes) are more (susceptible to illness), and that can be because they are in close contact with teammates in the locker room and on court," Hipskind said. "Immune systems are also going to be down when competing at high levels."\nJunior Sarah Batty, one of the top four athletes on IU's women's tennis team, lives the life of an athlete and agrees with Hipskind's diagnosis.\n"It is pretty hard (to stay healthy during the season)," Batty said. "Your body gets so tired -- you kind of have to just play through it."\nAlthough many teams have fallen victim to the invisible adversary, the wrestling team was, hit the hardest by far. The team has been manhandled this season by sickness. Last Friday's match against Penn State was the first time in more than two weeks the team competed with a full, healthy roster.\n"The flu bug kind of moved its way through our team," IU wrestling coach Duane Goldman said. "If they're able to compete, then they do."\nGoldman even admitted to feeling a little sick himself during his team's bout with the flu, which forced him to sit a handful of his wrestlers. He said his grapplers are easy prey for illness because a wrestler is more susceptible not only from being highly active but also because of the added element of staying inside a specific weight range.\n"In our practice situation, if our guys are sick and our trainer sees them, then we try to go ahead and pull them out of practice," Goldman said.\nThat life of little sleep, lots of work and sometimes even partying isn't a stranger on a college campus. Everyone has to deal with it. But athletes do have one advantage: free assistance.\n"Any athlete that has made a roster, if they are sick, they get all of their medical care taken care of for them," Hipskind said. "If it is something totally outside of athletics, it is not taken care of."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Andy Romey at aromey@indiana.edu