Joanna Bartz: Balancing Academics and Athletics at the Highest Levels

By Diana Camarena, special to MSUSpartans.com

Joanna Bartz's love for softball began at age five, starting with T-ball at her local home park in Mattawan, Michigan. Her love soon turned into a skilled passion as Bartz grew.

She was Michigan's Miss Softball, and then chose to come play third base for Michigan State. Bartz is now a junior, combining her softball career with her long-standing love for science. She is majoring in Human Biology, walking a path in medicine laid down by her mother.

"From hearing my mom talk about her experience and the doctors, I decided to go into Human Biology with the goal of becoming a Physician Assistant, but now that is 'Plan B'," said Bartz, who said her mom worked at a hospital.

'Plan A' is now keeping her involvement with high level softball going. Bartz has realized that her passion for softball, right now, is greater than her love for medicine. She now wants to pursue college softball coaching, and planning studying for her Master's in sports psychology or medicine with a sports and medicine focus. She can go back later for her Physician Assistant's advanced degree at a later date, as PA students tend to be older anyways.

"Those are my current plans and academic goals but things can certainly change," said Bartz, "especially having one more year at State left."

Bartz holds a large time commitment with softball and her academics at MSU. From the outside, it seems like a lot to handle, but Bartz said she has been managing it all. "I have always been a straight-A student," said Bartz. "I think the hardest thing about the transition from high school to college was definitely adapting to the schedule and the increase of time for softball."

The 2020 softball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it still was a successful one for Bartz. She finished the season with a career-best .306 average.
Joanna Bartz

With the NCAA's decision to allow another year of eligibility for spring sport athletes, Bartz hopes it will allow her to play another year and make up for this season being cut short on March 12. "I want to play as much as I can, so I hope that I can take an extra year," said Bartz. "I know I am not the only one that feels this way. It's a developing situation and we're all just showing patience to see how it affects us. There's still a lot to be decided."

This a time of large change and adaptation for everyone, and Bartz said she is continuing to adapt to online classes, stay in shape, and practicing hitting at home.

"I don't mind the online classes. My professors have been very understanding. It was hard at first with my organic chemistry class," said Bartz. "We weren't sure how things would work out online but everything ended up being ok. So now I am just focusing on class and staying in the best shape I can at home."

Bartz has already decided that she will stop playing softball at a high level after her career ends at MSU. The time is coming to transition to being Coach Bartz. Until then, she hopes to play as much as possible and really leave her mark on the team. She wants to mentor younger teammates, help them improve and hopefully, lead the Spartans to titles.

"Softball will still play a part of my life in the form of coaching," said Bartz. "I love playing, so I plan on continuing to play for fun whether that is in a women's rec league or in my free time with family and friends."

Joanna Bartz: Balancing Academics and Athletics at the Highest Levels

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Joanna Bartz

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