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 24, 2026 — Balancing 20 credit hours, Division I athletics, and the demands of ROTC is no small task, but for Isabelle Haer ’28, that challenge is exactly the point. 

“I'm a big fan of the structure — the formations, waking up, having set things to do. Then being with people who are very focused on their future,” she said. 

Haer was drawn to Virginia Military Institute for its framework, closeknit environment, along with the opportunity to pursue both athletics and a potential commission. She found VMI as a place that matched her focus and drive.  

Her father was a graduate of The Citadel and she’s had many family members who have taken the military path. She wasn’t a stranger to what VMI could offer.  

“It was kind of the perfect fit, because it had the swim and dive team. It had the level of academics I was looking for, and a great alumni network,” the international studies major admitted.  

As a diver on VMI’s swim and dive team, she competes in the one-meter and three-meter springboard. Haer started out as a gymnast, though. When COVID-19 hit while she was in high school, she decided to make a switch. By her junior year, she was diving for her high school team. 

“I'm a big fan of always being able to learn something new and striving to be better,” she said. "For me, it's very skill based so, as a gymnast, there was always a better skill you could get. Now with diving, I can always add another flip. I can always add another twist. You improve your technique somehow, point your toes, straighten your legs, switch positions. There's always something that I can add on to my diving, so it's never a boring practice.” 

She’s sometimes not as experienced as others in terms of certain dives, which can get in her head, but, she goes back to her foundation — she’s trained and worked hard. 

"I have to trust myself, my body, and my muscle memory,” she said. "When I get up there, I know that I can do it. At the end of the day, it is just a sport. It's just a portion of my experience here at VMI. One dive isn't the end of the world.”

If she ever overanalyzes before a competition, she has a plan. She has keywords she repeats to herself: “stand up straight, point your toes, keep your chest up on the board.”  

"I just say it's a dive, it's okay, just try your best," she admits. “As long as you do your best ... whatever happens, happens. I like to trust my practice that I've put in, and know that when it's time to perform, I'm ready, because I've put in the hours and put in the work." 

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. 

On top of her general cadet duties, she also serves as a math tutor for the Miller Academic Center, where she helps with several 4th Class classes. She is an S5 corporal, where she helps lead public relations, counseling, and recruiting programs for the Corps of Cadets. 

With 5:30 a.m. wakeups, Haer has morning practice several days a week. After thate, she’ll often have some time to get classwork done before a block of classes.  

“That's when I like to do a lot of my homework, right after practice when I have the blood flowing,” she commented. “It helps me. I like to get stuff done more in the mornings.” 

She goes from class straight to afternoon practice, which lasts until nearly 7 p.m. some days. This type of schedule follows her throughout the year — the season for swim and dive is from August to February.  

“I think the rigor is the main thing here. The strict schedule and being with like-minded individuals, always having something to do, but always being pushed to better myself and held to a higher standard will set me up,” she stated.  

Laura Peters Shapiro
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE