As student athletes at Quincy University spend hours on the road traveling for sports each week they try to occupy their time with various activities.

Sports teams at QU travel anywhere from 2 hours to over 15 hours during their season. Whether it is a pregame bus ride or an after-the-game bus ride, student athletes have to find ways to avoid boredom. There are several things that students do to pass the time, including sleeping, watching movies or shows, listening to music, and more.

For many students, the bus ride is more than just transportation; it’s where students bond with their team while trying to balance a heavy schedule of schoolwork and athletics. Before the bus even arrives, students spend time carefully packing their bags with uniforms, headphones, snacks, and other items. Pillows and blankets are frequently brought for students to stay comfortable on the bus.

“To pass the time on the bus, I usually take a nap if I can, start a new TV show or movie, or just scroll on my phone. Maybe I’ll do homework if I have it,” Casey Fronhieser, junior on the QU softball team, said.

Fronhieser also added that her bus ride essentials are her headphones, phone, and pillow. She says she chooses to use the bus ride as time to be relaxed rather than productive, unless she has to get homework done.

Bus rides are a shared experience between all QU student-athletes. Athletes on the same team can use the ride to connect with one another while playing games, such as “Mafia“, or even games on their phones. These shared experiences help teams bond and create a lasting team chemistry.

“My favorite thing to do on the bus while traveling is listen to music and play Clash Royale and Brawl Stars with the other guys on the team,” Lincoln Pahl, freshman on the QU men’s lacrosse team, said.

Music on the bus is one thing that stays constant. Whether it is on the way to play or even on the bus ride back to campus, music can quickly turn the bus into a concert. Student athletes always want to be on aux to control the music that is played.

“I just listen to music. If I have time, I do homework, and if I have Wi-Fi or if I have my book with me. If I have a lot of homework, then I must do homework, but other than that, I just relax,” Zeyne Cetn, senior on QU volleyball, said.

Between early morning departures and late-night returns, student-athletes spend hours sitting side by side with each other. What can start as a quiet ride often turns into laughter, conversation, and moments that bring a team together.

Inside jokes form, friendships grow stronger, and the entire bond of a team can be strengthened all in the span of a few hours. The time building up to the game is important when it comes to building the relationships needed to succeed during competition.