It's tough enough to balance athletics and academics, but the cadets at the U.S. Military Academy who are student-athletes also balance military exercises and training as part of the mix.

You'd think those student-athletes at West Point would be correspondingly stingy with their time, but they're not.

In fact, the student-athletes participating on the 25 intercollegiate athletics teams at Army are known for their far-reaching commitment to community service.

The Black Knights' women's tennis players donate their hair to make wigs for children with cancer, and the football and baseball teams are involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The women's soccer team gathers donations from classmates in the Corps to buy toys for the Marine Corps Reserves, then they participate in the Military Academies Toys for Tots Classic.

"This is the sixth straight year that we have participated in this tournament," said head coach Gene Ventriglia. "We go there not just to play games but to give something back to the community. We visit the hospital to bring cheer to children who are very sick. We give them shirts, fanny packs and hats, but more importantly, we give of ourselves by spending time with the kids.

We probably get more back than we give because it makes us step back and realize how fortunate we are."