After scoring 20 points in his final high school basketball game – an 82-60 loss to Montini – IMSA guard Vince Rossi trudged slowly out of the locker room with his gym bag slung over his shoulder.

He had changed into his dress pants and shoes, but was still wearing the sweat-soaked blue shirt he had worn under his jersey. I don’t know if he just didn’t have the energy or was just too darn hot to put his regular shirt on, but that and his rumpled-out-of-place hair made him look like a guy in desperate need of a break.

And for good reason – in the last four months he had played a total of 27 games and endured who knows how many practices, not to mention a full load of classes at one of the most demanding high schools in the state.

Rossi will get his break, all right…for about 24 hours or so. As a multi-sport athlete, he jumps right back into workouts today with the Titan baseball team where he plays center field and pitches.

All over the state kids are starting to change their shoes and swap out uniforms to start the spring sports season. They spend the entire school year practicing, playing games, participating in other school activities, maybe working a part-time job and studying, of course.

It’s not an easy life, but it’s one that they love doing. So a tip of the hat goes to all of those multi-sport athletes out there who somehow find a way to cram so much into one day and still have more energy than the rest of us.

Oh to be young again!