To say the least, women's cross-country's Ashley Maresca disproves that theory. Not only does she maintain her studies and practice daily, she is a uniquely talented musician.

"I think it's beneficial for athletes to do things outside of their sport because it's important to be well rounded. The college experience is one of those situations where you get out of it what you put into it. When you involve yourself in different activities you allow yourself the opportunity to meet new people and try things that may be out of your comfort zone."

So what exactly is Ashley's comfort zone, you might ask? Well that all depends on where you begin.

Her love for music was triggered early. She began taking piano lessons as a child, and as school continued she partook in chorus, and continued to develop her vocal skills along with the piano. But her love for music did not stop there. A few years ago, she taught herself to play the guitar, and even managed to learn the ukulele (yes, the ukulele). No formal lessons necessary, however; she taught herself.

Today, she attempts to apply that sense of self-teaching to her own music. Her youtube channel features covers of songs like "Who You Are" by Jessie J and "Glitter in the Air" by P!nk. But each cover, one quickly notices, has a unique sense of individuality to it. Her cover of "Keep your head up" by Andy Grammer, for example, is a delightful, faster-paced acoustic version. That sense of identity in her music is something Ashley strives for.

"My music is different from most of the mainstream because it's personal to me. Making music is a way for me to positively portray my emotions. Most mainstream music nowadays isn't even written by the artist and has a meaning that is intended to appeal to the listener, rather than music that comes straight from the artists heart."

The FPU newcomer is no slouch on the track either. She was a district all-star at North Warren High School (Chestertown, NY) for all four years. Her team was league champion her senior year, and participated in the statewide meet.

So does it end there? Not even close.

In the classroom, Ashley plans on becoming a health sciences major. "I want to be a doctor," she said, " but more specifically, I want to work with alternative medicine. Instead of just giving patients pills or something like that to ease pain, I want to try and find the root of the cause and fix it more permanently. It sounds corny but I really just want to make the world a healthier place."

Oh… and she just happens to be a published photographer. She bought a camera a few years and became fascinated with the hobby. So much, in fact, "Muscle Machines" – an auto magazine, published one of her photos.

So there it is. In a world where student athletes are so often bounded by their need to practice and study, and then study more and practice some more, Ashley Maresca personifies the power a well-rounded skillset can have. Sure, she can probably run faster than you, sing better, and take better photos. But all the while, she demonstrates a kind of subtle humility you wouldn't expect to be paired with such talent.

"Fame isn't what's important," she made clear. "That's not something I expect out of life. I simply love making music because it's a form of expression. Some people yell. I go run, or take pictures, or write a song. In the end, I just want to help people. Until then, I'm going to keep doing what makes me happy."