Grounded by the Game: Blake Cavill's Journey as an International Student Athlete

For many international student-athletes, the initial transition to the United States offers a unique chance to adapt to new cultures and ways of life they had previously grown accustomed to back home. These International student-athletes go through much more than their American counterparts, but these challenges can offer significant personal and professional growth.

But not without sacrifice.

Blake Cavill knows this all too well.

 

Hailing from Sydney, Australia, runs deep in the Cavill family.

Though deemed “America’s pastime”, Cavill found his love and passion for the game came early for him. His father, uncle, and older brother introduced him to it at a young age alongside his mother, who found her niche in softball. 

With much practice and dedication to the sport alongside his family, Cavill soon found himself a roster spot for Team Australia’s Youth National Team. 

However, more opportunities drew him to the United States, knowing that the level of competition would bring on much more notoriety than in Australia. 

 

Now a senior infielder at Troy University in Alabama, Cavill understands the immense struggles that come with the transition from being away from home. 

 

The move came with its struggles, being hundreds of miles away from home, and understanding that family time that was so normal for him growing up was now a rarity. 

Having not been home in a year, Cavill explained:

 

“I’m lucky, there isn’t a lot of time open for homesickness. Our schedule doesn’t allow for it, with us practicing and playing six to seven days a week. Living in and out of suitcases is how it is.”

 

As mind-boggling as it may be for the average person to comprehend never being home and rarely seeing family, Cavill explained that for many international student- athletes like himself, their sport offers them that small sense of home.

 

“It was tough in the beginning, but I have baseball and my team. When you have good friendships on the team, it makes the team better, and if we play together, we win more. I grew up playing baseball, it gives me that feeling of home. It’s what I knew growing up, so how can I miss home when it’s all around me on the field?”