It's no secret that Olympians represent the top athletes in each country. Olympic athletes spend hours training, focusing on proper nutrition, and mentally training to improve in their respective sports. These 22 athletes are currently competing in Beijing while having homework. From the classroom to the training room, these Olympians are giving it their all.
Cayla Barnes – Senior
Cayla Barnes is currently competing in her second Olympics with the US Hockey Team. In the 2018 Winter Olympics, she won gold in Women's Hockey and played in all 5 games! She is currently also on the women's hockey team at Boston College, where she has served as captain for two years. She is projected to graduate in 2022 and hopes to work in Public Relations.
Photo source: The Orange County Register
Nick Abruzzese – Junior
Nick is a Men's Ice Hockey player who is playing in his first Olympics this year. He also is the team captain for Harvard's Men's Hockey team as a Junior. He is studying Psychology and is committed to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs after graduation.
Photo source: National Hockey League
Related: Daily Grind of a Wisconsin Women's Hockey Player, Jesse Devito
Matty Beniers – Sophomore
Matty is currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan. He plays on their Men's Hockey team and has been drafted by the Seattle Kraken. He earned a spot on the 2021 Big Ten All-Rookie Team and is the current alternate captain for Michigan. This is his first Olympics.
Photo source: Sports Net
Brendan Brisson – Sophomore
Brendan is a sophomore at the University of Michigan. He is majoring in Sports Management and plays Hockey for the university. He's won several awards within the US Hockey League including Rookie of the Year, First-Team All-USHL, and the USHL All-Rookie Team. He has been drafted to the Vegas Golden Knights and is competing in his first Olympics.
Photo source: The Game Haus
Noah Cates – Senior
Noah is the team captain for the University of Minnesota, Duluth Men's Hockey team. He is a senior Business major who was a National Champion his freshman year. He's been on both the NCHC All-Rookie Team and the All-NCHC First Team. This is his first Olympics.
Photo source: National Hockey League
Drew Commesso – Sophomore
Drew is a sophomore at Boston University. He has been drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks and is currently enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences. He is a goaltender and is competing in his first Olympic games.
Photo source: Boston University
Brock Faber – Sophomore
Brock plays defense for the University of Minnesota, Duluth Hockey team. He was placed on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and is a Big Ten Champion. He has been drafted to the Los Angeles Kings and is competing in his first Olympics.
Photo source: LA Kings Insider
Sean Farrell – Sophomore
As a sophomore, Sean is tied for second on the Harvard Hockey team for most points scored this season. He was the 2021 USHL Player of the Year, Clark Cup Champion, and the USA Hockey Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens and is playing in his first Olympic games.
Photo source: National Hockey League
Related: LMU's Spencer Engstrom on the American Hockey Association Recruiting Process
Drew Helleson – Junior
Drew is a junior at Boston College, majoring in Management, and is on the Men's Hockey team. He was recognized as a 2nd Team All-American and as the HEA Best Defensive Defenseman and Regular-Season Champion his sophomore year. He has been drafted to the Colorado Avalanche and is competing in his first Olympics.
Photo source: National Hockey League
Katie Hensien – Senior
Katie has been skiing in both international competitions and for Denver University's team for 5 years. She is a senior and is studying Computer Science and Business. While this is her first Olympics, she has been successful in the Junior World Championships and was the 2020 national slalom champion.
Photo source: KSL Sports
Sam Hentges – Senior
Sam is a senior at St. Cloud State University where he plays on the Men's Hockey Team. He has been successful in his four years of college hockey while becoming a NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and a 3-time NCHC All-Academic team selection. He has been drafted to the Minnesota Wild and is competing in his first Olympics.
Photo source: Hockey Wilderness
Related: Alabama Football: Hale Hentges Talks College, Career, and his Opinion on UCF
Luke Jager – Junior
Luke is competing in his first Olympics as a skier. He is competing in the 4x10k Team Relay and in the Freestyle Sprint. He was a 3-time Junior World Championship medalist and is currently a Economics major in his junior year at the University of Utah.
Photo source: US Ski Team
Matthew Knies – Freshman
Matthew is a Freshman at the University of Minnesota. He is currently the second on his team in points scored in the 2021-2022 season. He was drafted in 2021 to the Toronto Maple Leafs. This is his first Olympics.
Photo source: DobberProspects
Sophia Laukli – Junior
Sophia is a Junior Nordic skier for the University of Utah. She has been named an All-American, First-Team All-East, Rookie of the Year, Freestyle Bib Leader, and has been on the All-Academic team. She was on the relay team in the 2020 World Championships that won silver. This is her first Olympics.
Photo source: News Center Maine
Related: U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey & Wisconsin Coach, Tony Granato, Gives Advice to Athletes
Novie McCabe – Sophomore
Novie is on the Olympics Cross Country skiing team. She currently skis for the University of Utah as a sophomore. During her Freshman season with Utah, she won 5 races and placed 3rd at the NCAA Championship. This is her first Olympic appearance.
Photo source: US Ski Team
Ben Ogden – Senior
Ben is on the 2022 Olympics Cross Country skiing team. He is also a senior on the ski team for the University of Vermont, where he is studying Mechanical Engineering. During the 2020 season, he won the USCCSA Men's Nordic Skier of the Year. This is his first Olympics.
Photo source: NBC
Nick Perbix – Senior
Nick is a Senior Hockey player for St. Cloud State. He was the runner-up for NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year in 2021, and has been on the NCHC All-Academic Team. He was drafted to the Tampa Bay Lightning and is majoring in Finance. This is his first Olympics.
Photo source: NHL
Related: UC Berkeley & Olympic Swim Coach, David Durden, Dives into Advice
Jake Sanderson – Sophomore
Jake is a sophomore Kinesiology major at the University of North Dakota. He is the assistant captain and was named to the NCHC Rookie Team his freshman season. He also earned a spot on the All-NCHC Academic Team and was named a NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. This is his first Olympics.
Photo source: NBC Sports
JC Schoonmaker – Senior
JC is appearing in his first Olympics this year as a Cross Country skier. He attends the University of Alaska, Anchorage and is an NCAA All-American. He was the 2022 US Freestyle Sprint Champion. He is a senior and is majoring in Health Sciences.
Photo source: Alaska, Anchorage Roster
Nathan Smith – Senior
Nathan is a senior at Minnesota State University. He plays as a Right-hand Forward, who was selected for the 2021 NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team and was the WCHA Regular Season Champion. This is his first Olympic appearance.
Photo source: Fansided
Anna Hoffman – Freshman
Anna is a freshman at the University of Utah. The 2022 Olympics are her first, and she competed in the Normal Hill Individual Ski. She was a late addition to the USA team and placed 37th.
Photo source: Team USA
AJ Hurt – Junior
AJ is competing as an Alpine skier cometing in her first Olympics. In the 2018 National Championships, she placed 1st in Giant Slalom and the Alpine Combined, and in the 2020 National Championships, she placed 1st in Slalom. She is a student at Dartmouth and studies Engineering. She is projected to graduate in 2023.
Photo source: Snow Brains
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* Originally published on February 25, 2022, by Daley Craft