Virginia Military Institute’s cadet-athletes have to juggle cadet life, heavy academic course loads, and their NCAA Division I sport. Committed to both academic and athletic pursuits, balancing their rigorous schedule in both sports and school requires a certain level of commitment and discipline. Behind the Balance is a series that focuses on those cadet-athletes and how they handle the hurdles of the day-to-day. 

LEXINGTON, Va. Feb. 11, 2025 — At 5 years old, Patrick Jordon’s ’27 parents were urged to take him to wrestling practice. It started out as an appeasement to his parents’ friends, but in turn, he ended up loving it. 

“We went to practice just to tell them that we went and that we wouldn't do it again. I really liked it, so I stuck with it,” he said. It's an individual sport. You get out of it what you put in. I really like that part, because it's up to me to get the results.”

The civil engineering major initially wanted to commission but has devoted more time to wrestling and his major. He was drawn to Virginia Military Institute primarily for wrestling but was also interested in the engineering program. 

“I had heard that professors were super helpful. Civil engineering is hands on. You can see the work that you put in. I like solving problems,” Jordon explained. “Also, coming out of here, I would have a good setup.” 

As a wrestler, he has to think about his weight class, so it’s either gaining or losing weight. It can put some stress on Jordon, which can make him procrastinate.  

“Honestly, I just have to start, because the hardest part is starting,” he stated. “Whether it's cutting weight or homework, I'd like to put it off, but once I start, it's not that bad. You take it one step at a time, and it's manageable.” 

Cadet-athletes at VMI not only have their responsibilities with their selected sport but cadet duties on top of that. Cadets are also required to take physical fitness classes twice a week, participate in ROTC all four years, prepare for room and uniform inspections, practice for parade, guard duty, and more.

“Wrestling has taught me a lot of the same lessons that VMI has taught me, like time management and pushing through the hard times,” he said. “With wrestling, there's a lot of weight management. Sometimes school was hard, even in high school, just because I was worrying about my weight.” 

In times of struggle, he reaches out to those he’s close with at VMI, either on the wrestling team or his roommates, who are in the same major as him.  

“I talk to my friends a lot. We all go through the same stuff, whether that's in the wrestling room or up on the hill," he admitted. 

Jordon said last year he struggled both on and off the mat. He found his love for wrestling diminishing. This year, it took figuring out how to manage his time. When it’s school time, he focuses on that. At practice, wrestling is all that’s on his mind.  

"I really have a blast. And the people that I do it with are probably some of my best friends ever. Wrestling practice is the best part of my day,” he commented. “I fell in love with it again." 

The mental and physical struggle is something Jordon is moving past or learning how to cope with. 

“As a rat, I really struggled with my weight and wrestling,” he admitted. “I didn't really struggle in school too much, but learning how to balance my time, because between going to wrestling and coming back, you don't have much to play around with. It's like one thing after the other. Because I procrastinate a lot, and I know that once I start something, I pretty much finish it in one sitting.” 

Laura Peters Shapiro
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE