Balancing Excellence: UIC DPT Students Thrive in the Classroom and in Competition

UIC DPT students Ally Sarussi and Ricardo Salinas are excelling both in the clinic and in competition!

At the University of Illinois Chicago, excellence extends beyond the classroom. Two standout members of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2027, Ricardo Salinas and Ally Sarussi, are not only thriving in one of the most rigorous programs in the country, but also making headlines in the world of athletics!

Ricardo Salinas, U23 Pan-American Bronze Medalist in Freestyle Wrestling

Ricardo Salinas has been making waves on the wrestling mat while keeping pace with the demands of his first year in physical therapy school. Representing Puerto Rico in freestyle wrestling, Ricardo recently earned a bronze medal at the 2025 U23 Pan-American Wrestling Championships, solidifying his status as one of the top young wrestlers in the region.

Ally Sarussi, Record-Setting Distance Runner for UIC Track & Field

Ally Sarussi is a standout athlete for UIC’s women’s track and cross country teams, specializing in middle-distance events. She has earned multiple medals in the 800m and 1500m, and has set several school records during her time on the team.

To spotlight these incredible student-athletes, here are some interview questions to help tell their stories:

How did you get started in your sport, and what drew you to it?

RICARDO: I pretty much grew up on a wrestling mat. My dad is a high school wrestling coach, so my early version of daycare was crawling around and watching high school practices. Wrestling just became a part of my life from the beginning, but as I got older, it was the discipline, the strategy, and the overall process that kept pulling me back. It’s one of those sports that constantly challenges you in different ways, and I think that’s what’s always made it so enticing for me.

ALLY: I have always loved being active and competitive, and for me that meant playing lots of soccer growing up. I realized quickly that my best strength in soccer was my speed and endurance, both of which translated to middle-distance running when I started track in high school. Plus the people are wonderful, I love running with my teammates.

What inspired your decision to pursue physical therapy alongside your athletic career?

RICARDO: Honestly, when I first started physical therapy school, I had zero plans of still competing. I thought my wrestling days were behind me. But as I got deeper into the program, I found a new motivation to keep training. Learning about the body in more detail actually sparked my competitive side again, because I realized I could apply all this new knowledge directly to my own performance. It made me excited to see how much better I could be, both as an athlete and as a future PT.

ALLY: Throughout college, I realized being an athlete made me a better student. Because of track, I am able to set aside time to exercise and take care of my body, challenge myself to reach new goals, and destress with teammates. This all helps me stay balanced as a person and succeed in the classroom. With an extra year of NCAA eligibility from COVID, I realized I could not pass up the opportunity to continue competing while in PT school.

How do you balance the physical and mental demands of your sport with the academic challenges of PT school?

RICARDO: Time management is honestly the biggest thing. I’ve had to get really good at making my schedule as efficient as possible and making the most out of the time I have. It’s about being really intentional with my workouts, my studying, and even my recovery, so that I’m giving both wrestling and school the attention they need without letting either one fall behind.

ALLY: Short answer–it is not always easy! I learned quickly in PT school that to master challenging content, I need to build study habits and routines. Then I figure out how to work the studying I need to get done into my busy schedule. And while I often study and do homework on team trips, I know that to reach my athletic potential, I have to leave the stress of academics behind when I show up to practice or a race.

Have your teammates, classmates, or faculty helped support you in managing both roles?

RICARDO: Absolutely! There’s no way I could balance wrestling and PT school without the support system I have at UIC. My classmates have been awesome about keeping me in the loop when I have to miss class for competitions, and the faculty has been super understanding and flexible too. Just having people around who are rooting for you and willing to help makes a huge difference when you’re trying to juggle so much at once.

ALLY: Yes, SO much! I am really grateful to have friends in my PT cohort that take time out of class to help me catch up on practical skills, lab material, and class notes. Everyone in the cohort is looking to learn and succeed, so I hope getting extra reps in helps us all! My coach also knows how heavy my academic load is and helps me adjust practice and travel times to ensure I can get good sleep and be in class as much as possible. And the faculty in the department have been really understanding about my schedule as well. When track does interfere with school, I work with my professors and make a plan to stay on course. 

Where do you see yourself after graduation; in clinical care, sports performance, research, or elsewhere?

RICARDO: I’ve always had a pull toward working with athletes, but if there’s anything I’ve learned from the professors and the upperclassmen at UIC, it’s that your path can change once you start getting real clinical experience. Right now, I’m keeping an open mind and trying to soak up everything I can. I’m excited to see where the experiences lead me, whether it’s in sports performance or somewhere else I didn’t even expect.

ALLY: Graduate school so far has drawn me to want to explore neuro or pediatrics PT specialties, so I hope to work in a clinic or hospital with one of these patient populations after graduation.

What advice would you give to other student-athletes considering a career in physical therapy?

RICARDO: Honestly, your schedule and training plan only need to make sense to you. Balancing a tough academic program and chasing athletic goals is going to look different for everyone, and that’s okay. Don’t get discouraged if your training isn’t exactly how you pictured it; just focus on maximizing the time and resources you have. Progress is still progress, and you’re doing something a lot of people wouldn’t even attempt, so give yourself credit for that.

ALLY: I would say if you really love your sport and competing, you should pursue it as long as you can. Balancing athletics with school will not be easy, but it is 100% possible if you are willing to put in the work!