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. Nov. 11, 2024 — Woongchan Oh ’25 grew up in the Korean countryside. He said there wasn’t much to do, but with a ball and a field, the possibilities were endless.  

“With a soccer ball, you can start playing without any other equipment,” he said.  

He’s been playing since he was a child and had dreams of going professional.  

"I joined the local soccer team when I was in fourth grade. Since then, I’ve been in a very competitive environment,” he said. 

He was in a soccer pro-academy for most of his time in Korea. Then once he was in the United States during high school, he was in a soccer development academy, which is the highest youth level. He spent his high school years in Maryland and his family now lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia. 

When looking for the next step after high school, Oh wasn’t initially considering military school or even joining the military. His father had been part of the Korean military, so he was familiar. When he was approached by the Virginia Military Institute soccer coach for an offer to play for the team, he talked it over with his parents.  

“My father thought it would be great to start a career as a commissioning officer,” he said. "I did some research, and I grew with this opinion, so I decided to join VMI.”

Oh says playing soccer at VMI is a different atmosphere due to the smaller nature of the school. 

“It’s different because you're playing with your classmates and roommates and we're going through everything that’s going on here together. It’s more special,” he said. 

The civil engineering major has a full plate. He plans on commissioning into the U.S. Army and has kept a full load of classes for much of his cadetship.  

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. 

Oh says he’s not one to play video games or get involved in similar distractions. Instead, he comes up with a game plan of how he’ll be able to finish all his work in a timely manner. 

“I had to make a base plan. Like, get food from Crozet and come to my room and study and eat at the same time,” he said. 

He’s up at 6:30 a.m. daily, with classes and practice until 7 p.m., then he’s doing homework until at least 11 p.m. He says there’s not a lot of breaks in between.

“If you don’t spend time on your phone and other stuff ...” he said it’s easy to stay on task. 

Playing soccer serves as a way for him to let loose and cope with stress. 

“I don't think about academics on the field, I just focus on soccer,” he said. “It's not just an individual sport. It's just playing with my friends and building relationships with other people.” 

His time at VMI has taught him how to manage his time, which will be useful for his future career.  

“I think as a lieutenant in the military, you have to work ahead, and you have to know what your role is. I think even in the classroom or on the field, you have to know what to do next, just being proactive,” he said.  

Laura Peters Shapiro
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE