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. 4, 2025 — Ryan Peterson ’25 has learned how to compartmentalize and focus. He said it’s something that his time at Virginia Military Institute has helped frame for him. The international studies major explained that the rigors of academics and playing a Division I sport makes it so he must focus on one task at a time. 

“First and foremost, I won an opportunity to compete at the Division I level, and that really sold me,” Peterson explained. “The school also intrigued me a lot, just because it just seemed like a different way of learning, as compared to other colleges around. I think here gives you a different perspective on how to compartmentalize things.”

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. 

“If you're thinking about the stuff up on the hill, then it's going to affect your performance down at practice,” Peterson admitted. "If you're thinking about your performance at practice, it's going to bleed into your study hours and turn a couple hours of homework into three maybe four, and some long nights.” 

In his final semester, Peterson is taking 14 credits. The lighter load is due to previous semesters at 17.5 credits. While he’s in season with baseball, he’s getting up at 5:30 a.m. for morning weightlifting. Then it’s breakfast and on to class. He’s found that any spare time he has during his days, he fits in as much school assignments, studying, and work in between other obligations. 

“I try to be really on it and get my work done when I can,” he said.  

Individual practice begins at 2 p.m. for Peterson, then later in the afternoon is the full team practice, which wraps up around 6 or 7 p.m. Then he’s studying until about 10 p.m. Each hour of the day is accounted for, he said. 

The strict schedule that he and others at VMI follow has also helped with preparing him for the future. 

“I think coming here out of high school I was really glued to my phone or things that can distract you, and over the years and learning how to balance everything and do well in my classes, I really had to transition between being present at practice to being present in my homework,” he explained. 

Baseball serves as an outlet for him. 

"It's normally the most fun part of my day. I'm lucky that it's still fun to me,” Peterson said. "I know some people, as they get older, it gets more of a burden. Luckily it hasn't gotten to that point. It definitely helps me when I'm stressed. Having that outlet together every day, because I see myself as lucky because I know some people come here and they don't have something like that. They don't have an NCAA sport to go down to and play or take in.” 

Peterson, a catcher, has always been intrigued by the team atmosphere of baseball. He’s been playing since the age of 6. 

“I think everybody, whether you're the star player or the last guy on the bench, can have a shared part in the team's success or failure,” he stated. "I think a lot of baseball feeds off energy, and if you have everybody bought into playing for each other and the team's goals, that it can be pretty powerful.” 

Now in his last season, he’s looking toward the future. 

“It is bittersweet, but I'm really at peace with things. I think coming here really made me take in what I'm doing every day and understand where I'm at in the world," he admitted. “I feel that this place in particular and the program we have down at the field has made me kind of take in every day. So, I have no regret of looking back and saying, I wish I put a little bit more effort here and there. I'm at peace with knowing that I've given a lot of effort.” 

He plans on going to law school and has aspirations of becoming a judge advocate. 

“I've always been interested in structure. I've always been interested in law and as well as the military, so that's why I would like to be a judge advocate,” he said. "I’ll take the lessons I've learned here, translate them into both my interests and into the real world and try to help people who serve and help us.” 

Laura Peters Shapiro
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE