Sophomore Maeve Gallagher, also appropriately known as “superwoman,” has welcomed an overflowing plate of academics and sports for yet another year.

Since the age of four, Gallagher has been consistently participating in her three favorite sports: basketball, soccer and softball. Her father has been a basketball coach for years and is a special education history teacher at Perry Traditional Academy; Gallagher has similar dreams.

Gallagher has managed to maintain a triple athletic schedule as well as a triple academic schedule, majoring in secondary education, English and special education. Before the year began, Gallagher and the athletic department met to evenly divide her earned athletic scholarships, which added up to a full ride. She also devised a time-consuming, yet easy-to-follow, sports schedule. To some, this task may be difficult, but for Gallagher, it is just the way it has always been.

“My dad was very persistent on not having a season off,” Gallagher said. “It formed me more as a person than it did as an athlete. I am honored the school trusts me enough to do this. A lot of schools wouldn’t allow it. It is a huge time commitment.”

Gallagher, at 5-foot-9-inches, plays right field for softball, left defensive back for soccer and small forward for basketball.

“I encourage students who can play two sports, to do so – it helps pay the bills,” women’s head basketball coach Sam Kosanovich said. “Maeve is truly, without a doubt, 100 percent team first, Maeve second. She always encourages her teammates. She practices and plays hard and is a constant team player.”

Gallagher’s schedule does not permit her to participate fully in all three sports her soccer season is ending as basketball season is beginning and softball season is beginning when basketball season is ending. This is only a minor problem for both Gallagher and her coaches.

“Very few athletes can do what she is doing right now,” head softball coach Michelle Coultas said. “Even though we have Maeve for a little bit, it’s still worth it.”

Many can agree that Gallagher is a huge contributor to each team she plays on. Characteristics all three coaches agree on are that she is “very coachable,” grasps a “general athletic understanding” and is “very funny.”

“She has a great physical presence. She fights, she plays her position well,” head women’s soccer coach Jeroen Walstra said. “I love her, she’s a great girl.”

Gallagher loves each sport in a different way. She loves basketball because it is something from her roots.

“Basketball is something I grew up on, my dad coached it and my brother played it,” Gallagher said. “I love playing basketball, I love the aspect of the game and there is a certain chemistry with the teammates. It’s unreal to be on a team like that.”

She also enjoys the challenge of soccer.

“I love soccer because it is extremely physical. You have to truly go 100 percent when you play,” Gallagher said. “You are constantly improving yourself and being challenged.”

When playing softball, Gallagher describes it as having a “position to maintain” and it being an “individual sport.”

“If I can excel in my position, I know I am helping my team,” she said. “Softball is a thought-out game. There are not many opportunities to make a mistake. With every game, you have to bring your A-game.”

Whether or not Gallagher continues with her three sports and three majors schedule in the coming years, she will leave each game, each season and each year knowing she left with something more important than time management skills.

“If I can leave here saying anything,” Gallagher said, “it is that I can leave here with a bunch of really important friendships.”