Matt Weir / Collegian File Photo
With much more on his plate than school and baseball, Trent Garrison embraces his role as a father and fiance.
Sophomore Trent Garrison not only juggles his time as a full-time student and a Division I athlete; he also saves time to be a father.
Garrison is the starting catcher for the Fresno State baseball team. His life as a student-athlete differs from many. Not only does Garrison have to meet the demands of a student-athlete, he also has to take care of his 1-year-old son, Bryce.
“It’s definitely hard,” Garrison said. “I got to get up in the morning, go to school for three or four hours and come to practice or play a whole game. Then take care of my son and my fiancee.”
With such a grueling schedule, Garrison said he gets tired sometimes. Ideally, he would prefer to wake up at 7:30 a.m. or later, but every so often, he has to wake up much earlier than that because of Bryce. It’s something that Garrison has become accustomed to in the past year or so.
“He’ll wake up occasionally in the middle of the night,” Garrison said. “I’ve kind of gotten used to it. It’s fun though.”
The preseason first-team All-WAC selection said it’s tough doing all three on a daily basis, but he said managing his time efficiently has helped him throughout the process.
“You got to be organized,” Garrison said. “You have to put your priorities in the right position.”
Time management has helped Garrison to be successful both on and off the field.
Garrison has started 29 games for the diamond ‘Dogs this year. He is batting .319 with four home runs and 22 RBIs through 31 games. As a catcher, Garrison has caught 10 players stealing base, which ties him for third in the WAC.
Garrison credits his fiancee, Amanda, for his achievements behind the plate and in the classroom. He knows that he wouldn’t be able to play baseball, be a father and go to school simultaneously without the Amanda’s help. Garrison said that he is grateful to have such an amazing woman by his side.
“She’s awesome. She does so much for me,” Garrison said of his fiancee. “She is a full-time mom and a full-time student.”
Garrison might be the triple threat, but he believes that Amanda has the tougher job of the two.
“She’s got just as hard of a schedule,” he said. “[It’s] probably harder for her, because she’s always taking care of him.”
While Amanda, Bryce and baseball takes a lot of time away from his schedule, Garrison still manages to find time for his schoolwork. The kinesiology major usually sneaks it in when baby Bryce is in bed.
“Late at night I do it, right after he goes to bed,” Garrison said. “It cuts time away for me.”
Concentrating on schoolwork and playing baseball are activities that Garrison enjoys doing, but he said nothing beats being a father.
“It’s awesome. It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Garrison said. “It’s indescribable.”