DOUBLE DUTY
BUTLER TWP — Unable to choose between two sports, Tori Sawhney discovered something.
She didn't have to.
For the past two years, the Butler senior has competed for the Golden Tornado's girls soccer and cross country teams.
Sawhney also competes in indoor and outdoor track at Butler, but the concept of one athlete competing in two sports during the same season at Butler has been rare.
“I had somebody do it when I was coaching junior high cross country in 1995,” Butler cross country coach Rick Davanzati said. “I can't think of anyone who's done it at Butler since.
“This isn't like a soccer player moving over to kick for the football team. This is much more involved. There are conditioning issues.”
Dane Milich plays junior varsity soccer at Butler and kicks for the JV football team this year as well. Last spring, Colin Williamson and Mick Fennell ran track and played baseball for the Tornado.
Caitlin Baxter played softball and ran track.
“I run distance events in track and my parents have been runners,” Sawhney said. “I've been playing soccer since I was a little girl.
“I wasn't sure what sport I wanted to do in college, so I wanted to keep my options open.”
First-year Butler soccer coach Steve Perri admitted to some skepticism when Sawhney approached him with the idea of playing both sports this year, even though she ran a few cross country meets as a junior.
“I wondered how committed she would be.” Perri said. “I agreed to let her try it, but if she missed any important matches, we would have to re-evaluate the situation.”
That re-evaluation never took place.
Sawhney consistently finishes amng the top three Butler runners in cross country dual meets and has three assists as a midfielder-defender for the soccer team.
Butler soccer games were played Monday and Wednesday nights, cross country meets are held Tuesdays. Both teams had occasional events on Saturdays.
“Coach Perri let me miss soccer practice on Tuesday to run cross country,” Sawhney said. “On days neither sport competed, I'd go to soccer practice from 3 to 4:45 in the afternoon, then go get my cross country work in.
“Cross country practice runs from 3 to 5:30 p.m., but I'd stay late to make sure I got my full workout in.”Sawhney also maintains a 4.0 grade point average while taking advanced courses. She has decided to play soccer in college and is looking at St. Vincent, Allegheny and Washington & Jefferson.“She's been very loyal to both programs,” Perri said. “Tori likes to try different things and she's willing to put in the time. I give her credit.”Davanzati said the coaches stay in steady communication with Sawhney to “make sure we don't over-work her.”“I coach to win, but the athlete comes first. The athlete's well-being is priority No. 1,” he said. “She came out and ran a cross country meet the day after playing in a double-overtime soccer game. I could tell she was dragging, but she was giving all she had.“Before I put her through any kind of cross country workout at practice, I find out from her what she went through physically at soccer practice.”Sawhney routinely stays up doing homework and studying until 1 or 2 a.m. on nights after a cross country meet or soccer game. She wakes up at 6 a.m. for school.On nights she has neither, she makes up for it.“I do my homework and get to bed early,” she said.She has no regrets competing in both sports.“It's been worth it,” Sawhney said. “I love competing. I chose to do soccer in college because I know I can't play soccer forever. I can always run for the rest of my life.”“Tori can play in college, once she finds the right school and the right fit,” Perri said. “Once that girl finds her niche, she'll do fine. The effort will certainly be there. She's proven that.”
