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. March 31, 2026 — Anthony Wilkerson ’28 was looking for connection when he came to Virginia Military Institute. Initially, it was a mix of track and field and a scholarship through the U.S. Army that got him through the door, but it was the bonds he formed with his brother rats that made him want to stay.  

“I came here for track and field. But being here, making connections with my brother rats — people older than me, younger — just made me want to stay here even more,” he said.

Wilkerson hopes to attend medical school, so he’s devoted a lot of his time at VMI to his studies and keeping up his GPA. It’s also the reason he joined the cadet emergency medical technicians (EMT). 

“I wanted to become an EMT because I wanted more medical field experience, something I could put on my resume for medical school," he commented. “I think everyone needs to learn emergency medicine, because you never know when someone might pass out right beside you and it might be your best friend suffering. Instead of sitting there in a panic, you know what to do.” 

The biology major is going into the semester with 18 credits, which he must balance with his track and field schedule while also being an EMT corporal. With days starting early at 6 a.m. and classes throughout, mixed in with practice, and the need to keep up with assignments, he’s usually up until nearly midnight. His responsibilities are plentiful and well spread, but he’s learned that time management and determination are his best friends. 

“I think I have a pretty good sense of time management, because I'm the type of person that has to get all my work done before I lie down,” he explained. “I don't think about doing something late. I don't even look at that as an option, to be honest.” 

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. 

Wilkerson shared there is a shift on the team as upper-class cadets graduate. 

“Last year we had a lot of 1st Class cadets, and you had someone to look up to. But this year, it's like me and my friends are the ones the rats are looking up to,” he stated. "Last year, my brother rats and I would go to our dykes’ rooms, but now all the rats are coming to our rooms. It's a cool change in dynamic being able to give those people advice on things that they're looking for. They come to you for literally anything.” 

He aims to be an example for others. 

"I want to make sure with my rat, and the people younger than me, that I'm always there for them, and they feel like they can come talk to me whenever they want,” he said. “I can have a stronger bond with them." 

Stress can be a big factor in Wilkerson’s daily life at VMI, but he combats it by decompressing in his room after hours.  

“I just handle the stress of the day by coming back to my room and just talking to all my roommates,” he said.  

Having people to talk to with is a good outlet, especially since there isn’t much time in the day to dwell or complain. 

The regimented schedule works to his benefit, allowing him to get shorter class assignments done between things.  

"If I have a break between classes, I'll do those assignments,” he said. 

Whether he's eating lunch in his room to catch up on work or spending a chunk of time between practice and dinner, Wilkerson is hammering away on assignments to stay on top of things. He says VMI has kept his life structured and allowed him to not procrastinate, compared to life at home. 

"When I come here, it's just so much different, where I have to be here at this time. I can't be late or this, I need to show up looking a certain way. Being here and then going home, two completely different realms,” he explained. “I think being here, it honestly helped me more than going to a different college. There are still opportunities to have fun here, just your priorities, they come first.” 

Laura Peters Shapiro
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE