PROVO — Aleisha Cramer doesn't have time to watch the Olympics. She's got sociology reading to catch up on, soccer practice to attend, weights to lift, and never mind trying to lead an 18-year-old college student's social life.
Nonetheless, it seems absurd she hasn't watched a women's Olympic soccer game yet, especially when you consider she trained with the team throughout the summer, calls the women her friends and nearly made the U.S. squad herself.
The highly touted BYU freshman is discovering that juggling school, soccer, religion and friends doesn't leave much time for television, even if you'd be watching the women whose shoes you'd like to fill someday.
"It's sad, but I've only had time to watch like five minutes," she said.
Cramer will probably make time to watch her friends play Norway in Thursday's gold-medal game in Sydney, Australia. If for no other reason, it will be a good history lesson for the teen who might be starting for the United States in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
It's almost unheard of what the Colorado native has accomplished at such a young age.
Cramer made her debut with the U.S. National Team in Fresno, Calif., when she was 16 in a match against Ukraine. In fact, she's made eight appearances with the team, but you'd never know she's one of the future stars of American soccer by seeing her in street clothes.
At 5-foot-10, the fair-skinned redhead looks like a typical college student. But once she straps on her shin guards and steps on the field, the prodigy makes soccer look effortless at times.
During her lifetime, Cramer has always been superior to her peers.
Obviously that changes somewhat when she plays alongside Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain and Kristine Lilly, but those are her mentors, the women she may someday replace on the national team.
That's why she's upset her schedule doesn't allot more time for Olympic watching. She said she loves watching the United States play.
During the summer, Cramer spent three months training in California under national team coach April Heinrichs. When she found out she wasn't one of the 18 women selected for the Olympic team, she proudly packed her bags and realized what a unique experience she had.
"I have a lot to learn, and those other players have so much more experience," she said.
That's what she hopes to gain during the next four years at BYU. In addition to helping the Cougars make their first Final Four — Cramer's goal — she'll focus on developing herself into a player Heinrichs would be foolish to overlook for the 2003 Women's World Cup, the 2004 Olympics and beyond.
But despite all her accolades and prospects, Cramer maintains perspective.
She loves talking soccer, but when the conversation shifts to praising herself, she blushes and stumbles as she tries to find the perfect words to say, without sounding arrogant.
She lets her game speak for itself and always walks off the field with a smile.
"There's so much more to life than soccer," Cramer said. "I love my family, and I love building relationships with people around me. There are so many people who look up to athletes, and not just Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm."
She said she understands that, once she puts on a U.S. jersey or a BYU jersey, she's a role model and she enjoys that. Once she steps off the field, however, she's just a regular teenager trying to figure out what to do with the rest of her life.
Last year Cramer was the No. 1 recruited high school player in the country, and after wavering among North Carolina, Santa Clara and BYU, her LDS faith won out and she opted to be a Cougar.
"There were pros and cons with each," Cramer said. "It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. But religion is the most important thing in my life, so I figured I had to sacrifice somewhere."
Sure Cramer skipped out on playing for a perennial national power, but it's not like she committed to Provo Poly Tech. The Cougars are one of the top teams out West and consistently rank in the top 25.
Jennifer Rockwood's team has never made it past the sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, but Cramer is expecting and expected to alter that.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com