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. Feb. 3, 2026 — Sydney Smith ’26 had her sights set on attending the Air Force Academy after high school. Both of her parents were athletes there and she wanted to follow in their footsteps. One thing made her hesitate; Smith played water polo and there was no NCAA women's water polo team at the academy. Instead, she forged her own path that led her to Virginia Military Institute.  

“I started to look at schools with ROTC programs where I could also play water polo. Coach [Danielle] Montenegro found me, and I came on my official visit, and I was like, this is it.”

Smith swam her entire life but picked up the sport of water polo because her father played. 

“I like the physicality. I like the aggression. It's more interactive,” she explained. “I also like that it is a team sport. Swimming, it's a team sport, but you're still competing against your teammates for points. Whereas water polo, you can't do it without each other. I like being on a team, it's more fun.” 

The biology major will be commissioning into the United States Air Force come May when she graduates. From there, she will head to Pensacola, Florida, to be a combat systems officer at the Naval Navigation School in July. Her time at VMI has helped her prepare for her upcoming post.  

She is one of the three 1st Class cadets on the water polo team who holds rank. Her position as S6 lieutenant gives her firsthand experience with communications, standard operating procedures, radios, and writing — all things she will need to know in the Air Force.  

Holding a leadership position also embodies the four core values the water polo team has — support, pride, energy, and focus. Nearly everyone on the team holds rank. 

“We make it a point to support each other, even if it does get challenging,” she said. “We've created these four core values on our team, and we actually say each one of them when we're doing our cool down at practice and before every lap." 

The structure of VMI was appealing to Smith, as well as the option to commission. But the bonds she’s made with her brother rats and those on her team have really stood out. 

“We definitely have one of the best team dynamics, but I'm probably a little biased,” she admitted.  

She said it was kind of surreal to see what good friends everyone is on the team. It’s more like a family. They even established a rule that none of them would live together in barracks, just so they wouldn’t get sick of each other. 

"It played out very well. None of us were in the same company, so we never lived together, but we’ve never had any issues," she said. “Through our years here, we've told the 4th Class cadets that same thing: try not to live together. That can cause problems. And they've all made that a rule, too. And all of them are super close, too. We all hang out, and we do team dinners all the time, especially after practice in season. We make a point to all just go eat together and hang out all the time. A few of us are all the same majors. We have class together.” 

She said those on the team strive to be overachievers. From holding rank to other activities, Smith has a booked schedule.  

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. 

Growing up, Smith and her sister, who is at the Naval Academy, were always told they needed to have diverse activities.  

“We've both been told you're going to do other things. You are each going to play a sport, and you are going to play an instrument, and you're also going to find a leadership role,” she said. 

Smith is also on the Glee Club, while spending two to three hours in the pool a day. That doesn’t include early morning practices or weightlifting. She’s thought ahead though, by taking summer classes every year she’s been here to lighten her academic load while she’s in season. Hence, her last semester is 13.5 credits.  

In order to keep everything straight, Smith has a large calendar she keeps in her room that’s color coded with all her activities and assignments. She said that VMI has prepared her in terms of how to handle a busy schedule. 

"Everything that I've had to do and manage with stress, school, and water polo, I've kind of compartmentalized all of it,” she said. “I think it has been the most beneficial thing. If I can handle being this busy, I can handle anything.” 

Laura Peters Shapiro
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE