(Courtesy of SMU Athletics)

This week’s athlete of the week is SMU Men’s soccer player Arthur Ivo. The native Brazilian has dominated in positions such as midfielder and forward. Ivo is currently leading the team in points with one goal, four assists and six points. He has already established impressive marks for the 2011 season by claiming ninth in the nation in total assists and 13th in the nation in assists per game.

For Ivo, success is no over-night achievement but rather, a step-by-step process. “We have to pick one game at a time,” Ivo said. “We can’t be thinking way ahead of us in the NCAA tournament when we still have important games.”

In the 2011 season, the SMU Mustangs will be facing the nation’s elite and training has been rigorous.

“Every time we step onto the field we know it’s going to be a battle and we got to come out on top,” Ivo said.

However, for Ivo the battles don’t cease on the field, but carry over into his daily routine.

“I think the hardest thing [about being an athlete] is the work load that we have with training and school,” he said.

While there are challenges to being a devoted athlete that lives, eats and breathes soccer, Ivo believes it’s all worth it.

“The best part of being an athlete is coming out here, everyday, and training and playing on the weekend.”