Canton’s Lardin is an athlete for all seasons (and then some)

It’s a good thing Canton junior Alyssa Lardin works out a lot because her varsity letter jacket is getting heavier by the year.

Lardin is a rare four-sport athlete for the Cobras — and a good one.

In the fall, volleyball is her sport; basketball takes center stage in the winter and — check this out! — she plays soccer and flag football in the spring.

How in the world does she do it all and maintain a 3.8 grade-point average?

Self discipline important

“First of all, I really enjoy all of the sports I play,” she said last month following a volleyball practice. “I like to think I have a lot of self discipline, too, because even if I’m tired, I love going to practice or playing in games.

“Academically, I try to get all my homework done in class. If I can’t for some reason, I’ll try to do it after school and before practice. It helps, too, that my teachers are understanding if something is a little late because they know what my schedule looks like.”

The person who know best about Lardin’s time-management expertise is her mom, Bev, a physical education teacher at Canton and the Cobras’ varsity volleyball coach.

Bev Lardin almost matched her daughter’s year-round sports endeavor, but she only played three sports at Dearborn Edsel Ford High School before playing soccer at Eastern Michigan University.

Mom is impressed

“I think her dedication to playing four sports is amazing,” Bev Lardin said. “She’s very dedicated to each of her sports and she tries to get better every day. When she’s not playing or practicing, she’s working out on her own.

“I coached her soccer team when she was young, but I gave that up once she started playing club soccer. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever get to coach her again, but it’s been fun being her volleyball coach.”

Alyssa said her favorite sport is usually the one she’s playing at the moment.

“But if I had to pick one, I’d choose soccer,” she revealed. “That’s the sport I’d love to play in college, even if it’s for a smaller school like Schoolcraft.”

Early start

Alyssa started dabbling in basketball, soccer and volleyball when she was 2 years old, so she had a head start in terms of juggling her activities.

“I definitely got my work ethic from my parents,” she said. “One of the keys to playing multiple sports is that you have to push yourself; you shouldn’t’ need someone pushing you. I’ve always had a strong will to win and get better.”

Playing volleyball for her mom has been a special experience, Alyssa said.

“We have a great relationship and she knows she can coach me as hard as she wants because I can take it,” Alyssa said. “Actually, I like being pushed hard by all my coaches. That’s how you get better.”

Football experience was fantastic

Lardin’s first year of varsity flag football this past spring for the P-CEP Prowlers was an unforgettable experience as she helped the first-year team reach the playoffs at Ford Field.

“Just being in that environment at Ford Field was amazing, even though we didn’t win,” she said. “It was fun being around girls who like to work as hard as I do.”

On the rare occasions she feels mentally run down, she dives into sports psychology books she ordered on Amazon.

“I’d love to get into something sports-related once I graduate college,” she said. “A sports psychologist job would be cool or something in business management in the sports world.”

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.