Roger Bothe may be the most adept juggler this side of Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey.
He's successfully kept two balls -- college academics and college soccer -- in the air for the past four years. And even though he's now playing professional soccer for the Richmond Kickers, he'll be required to keep juggling for a few more weeks.
Bothe, a senior finance major at William and Mary, is carrying a 14-hour academic load as he approaches final exams and commencement. He's also playing as a reserve center defender for the reigning USL-2 champions, a club that began its season a week ago.
"I'll be honest: At the moment, soccer is taking a bit of a hit," said Bothe, a 6-2, 170-pound defender who was twice chosen as the state high school player of the year during a sparkling career at Thomas Dale. "I'm only able to make it to maybe two training sessions a week. Obviously, I'm very eager for summer to get here so I can train on a full-time basis and be a part of everything the team does."
Bothe was speaking via cell phone shortly before leaving Williamsburg for yesterday's 4 p.m. workout at UR Stadium. The problems created by his dual existence, he said, are more cognitive than physical.
He is participating in offseason drills with his former Tribe teammates, so "in terms of running and staying fit, I'm OK. I'm certainly not coasting" while awaiting the end of the school year.
"But when you look at team chemistry and cohesiveness and things like that -- that's where it hurts. Being out there in practice every day -- that's how you learn each other's strengths and nuances; that's how you learn what different guys like to do in different situations."
Helping immensely, he said, has been Kickers coach Leigh Cowlishaw's willingness to cooperate.
"Last week was unbelievably hectic," Bothe said. "I had a presentation, a paper and two tests. It was crazy. Fortunately. Leigh was very cool about it. Normally I try very hard to make the Monday practice. But last week I had to call him and say, 'I'm sorry, but I've got a big test on Monday . . . ' He completely understood, which made everything a lot easier."
Bothe, 22, is the first Kickers player to ascend through the club's junior program to its professional roster. Cowlishaw called his February signing "a significant moment in Kickers history."
Bothe played as a late-game replacement in the Kickers' season-opening tie against Harrisburg. His minutes could increase significantly if ankle injuries continue to bother starters Yomby William and Henry Kalungi tonight.
Contact Vic Dorr Jr. at (804) 649-6442 or vdorr@timesdispatch.com.
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