Bakersfield College sophomore dual athlete Katherine James, 20, spends her free time during the current BC swim season focusing on her main sport.

“Anytime I have free time is spent on the golf course,” said James.

James explained how she got involved with golf at Liberty High School.

“I got into golf when I was a sophomore in high school. The next step was naturally junior college.”

As a swimmer in the spring semester and a golfer in the fall semester, James talked about how she balances both.

“I try to get my studies done as much as possible. Swimming is easy, it’s a set practice every day.”

James added, “I feel busy. I did not expect it when I came in. Coming into the junior college level you’d think it was going to be easy, a breeze through it all.”

James said profoundly, “It wasn’t, it caught me on my toes the whole time. I had to keep track of everything.”

When asked how stressful handling two sports can be, James replied, “It’s very stressful. I have the perspective that if this is my most stressful time in life.”

James said proudly, “I can take it if everything looks better from this point on.”

Yet, when James is not on the golf course or in the pool, she said she finds time to relax with friends.

“I go to the movies like any normal kid,” proclaimed James.

James grew up listening to BC swimming coach Charlie Pike’s advice.

“I swam for Charlie [Pike] since I was 11 or 12 in youth clubs, so when I was asked to join the BC swimming team, it was just natural to say ‘yeah.’ ”

James is a liberal studies major at BC, and she said she plans to change her major to psychology when she transfers next semester to Augusta State University in Georgia.

James received a scholarship to play golf at Augusta. James received the offer Jan. 20.

When James compared her two sports, she said, “Swimming is more physical and golf is more mental. Swimming keeps me in shape for golf and golfing keeps me mentally prepared for my swimming races, so they balance.”

However, James mentioned why she prefers golf to swimming.

“I love golf much more,” she said. “In swimming you’re going back and forth on a little black line,” said James with a laugh.

James felt her time at BC was spent well.

“I feel proud. It feels awesome. I don’t really ever think about it, honestly. I just try to get through the next moment.”

James’ preparations before she competes in either sport are simple.

“I eat oatmeal before every swim meet and golf tournament,” she said.

“I’ve done it since I was a little kid, and I don’t want to break the habit,” she added.

James added that she listens to music before competing, also.

“I listen to a lot of music a lot of the time. I’m a fan of the corny Disney music, like Miley Cyrus. You got to have a little bit of her in there. I like country, too.”

James’ plans at Augusta and after are to go professional in golf.

“I want to see if I can join the [Ladies Professional Golf Association] Tour.”

James added, “I want to get two years in of serious golf at Augusta and see if I can go out and make it as a professional golfer,” she said.

James admitted, “I may never get in the pool again [after BC].”

After quitting swimming her junior high school, James said, “I came back because they needed more swimmers on the team at BC.”

James competes in the 500-yard freestyle, 1,000-yard freestyle, 1,650-freestyle and 100-yard butterfly.

James’ goal this swimming season is to go as far as she did in the fall semester of 2009 in golf.

“Swimming wise, I’m trying to make it to state,” said James.

James added, “That’s the ultimate goal: is to go to state in two sports. In golf, I was all-state, so in swimming I want to do the same.”