Life Beyond the Pool: Springfels' Next Chapter in Life
Wednesday, August 19, 2015 | Men's Swimming & Diving
By Ben Schmitz
UAA Communications
Over the past decade, the University of Florida's swimming and diving team has remained an elite contender among the upper echelon of major college swimming. What may surprise you though, is that I'm not talking about the number of championships won between the lanes. I'm talking about the titles won inside the classrooms, the ones that come after long nights spent at the library, and follow a demanding workout schedule.
For David Springfels, a former University of Florida diver and Nuclear Engineering major, it wasn't always the cushy path that some might envision a student-athlete goes through. Rather, it was the challenging one that featured long days spent inside laboratories, countless hours of academic work, and if that wasn't enough, he never missed a diving practice due to a “busy schedule.”
His choice to take on that challenging path has him in line to face his next big test: an internship at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna, Austria; he credits this opportunity to the work ethic gained while diving as a Florida Gator.
“The coaches at UF realized we were student-athletes, and the 'student' aspect came first,” said Springfels.
“Eventually we were going to graduate and life was going to keep moving forward. The expectation at that point was to set ourselves up for life after school. In doing so, they pushed us just as hard in the classroom as they did at practice. Whether it was the mental or physical side of it, if you weren't doing well in one spectrum, you wouldn't be doing well in the other.”
Despite the pressure that comes with a jam-packed schedule, the benefits gained from his academic success are beginning to pay off. Having graduated in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering, Springfels has been employed with Florida Power and Light for two years now at Turkey Point Nuclear Power. With plans to eventually return to Gainesville and pursue a Ph.D., the Bradenton, Florida, native's next chapter in life is scheduled take him oversees: his internship with the IAEA; an opportunity that doesn't come easy.
There, he will join a staff comprised of over 2,500 professionals from over 100 different countries -- all coming from diverse ranks and backgrounds. Collectively, this group will check and verify whereabouts of sensitive nuclear material, run projects that help countries bring fresh water to cities, richer harvests to farmers' fields, help scientists better understand and protect the environment, and some will even help medical doctors prevent and treat diseases.
“It was the academic side from UF that has given me the opportunity to travel internationally this internship,” said Springfels. “All of that came through what I learned as a student-athlete here. There's more to it than just being in the pool and lifting weights; there's a lot of time management that can go unnoticed.
“The time and effort ultimately set me up to succeed in this career field. There's a large market for this line of work, and like most jobs it can vary. For those who pursue a bachelor's degree -- you can go and work as an engineer like I have at a nuclear site, you can work at a vendor or a power company, and if you stay in school to work towards a Ph.D., there are endless opportunities at national labs and research companies. Right now I'm just seeing where this internship with the IAEA takes me.”
Although uncertainty remains as to where his career path will lead him, there's one choice he remains confident with: his decision to don the Orange and Blue.
“When I was looking at schools, there was never a question as to whether or not Florida had strong academics,” said Springfels. “With UF being such a powerhouse in collegiate athletics, people tend to forget that we carry that same strength in the classrooms.”
“The University of Florida is the perfect institution for those who want to excel both academically and athletically,” said Springfels.
UF head coach Gregg Troy echoed Springfel's statements.
“We have strong academics here -- to the point you want good students to come here,” said Troy. “From an admissions standpoint, it's important, but it's also important for their sake because it means they can handle the demanding schedule that comes with being the student and the athlete.
“A guy like David is a classic example. He is very motivated at everything he does. He transferred here from Georgia Tech after his freshman season and got better every year as a diver. He was very, very committed and was one of the guys who had a great work ethic and was a tremendous student. It just goes to show what you can do if you have the appropriate surroundings and you're focused.”
Springfels clearly had that focus, in addition to many of his other traits. As he reflects on his career at UF, he knows despite the bright future ahead, it's a chapter of his life he will never forget.
“I'm very blessed to have had the opportunity to spend the final three years of my career here at UF, with this coaching staff, and with this program.”
