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Student athletes learn to juggle more than a ball

Assistant coach Alli Blake talks with members of the women’s basketball team. Even though the basketball season is over, the team still has team meetings, weightlifting and team workouts to attend. Photos by Mika Pinner

Many student athletes at Westminster agree that had they not played sports in college or growing up, they would not be where they are today.

The likelihood of high school athletes playing in college at any level affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is on average 6.02 percent for men and 8.01 percent for women. Wrestling ranks lowest for men at only 2.6 percent and basketball lowest for women at 3.8 percent, according to the NCAA.

Since Westminster is currently going through the transition to the NCAA, a brief overview of the academic requirements for students is different from years past. College athletes graduate at rates higher than college students in general, according to the NCAA.

“I wouldn’t be at Westminster without sports.” — Reily Reidhead, junior education major

“I wouldn’t be at Westminster without sports,” said Riley Reidhead, junior education major. “[Sports] give me an opportunity to get to know my professors better.”

Each year, student athletes have to complete a percentage of degree-specific course work to be eligible the next season. At the Division I level, students have to complete 40 percent by the end of the second year, 60 percent by the end of the third, and 80 percent by the end of the fourth.

At the Division II level, 55 percent of student athletes graduate, with only 49 percent of the regular student body graduating from Division II institutions, according to the NCAA.

Nearly 20 percent of student athletes are first-generation college students. For some, sports is the only way they could pay for college.

“Without an athletic scholarship, I wouldn’t be where I am in school,” said Lancee Whetman, junior economics major. “Although it can sometimes be hard to balance school and sports, I wouldn’t change my decision to play in college.”

Westminster had 267 student athletes last semester, with 25 student athletes recording a 4.0 and 192 students recording a 3.5 or better, which accounts for 49.4 percent of the student athletes at Westminster, according to Westminster’s Athletics Department.

“Are we perfect?” asked Shay Wyatt, Westminster athletic director. “No, but that comes with the learning curve and, collectively, we are pretty good. I am always impressed with how well [student athletes] do in their classes. [Westminster’s student athletes] personify what it means to be a student athlete. They are a great example of balance between athletics and academics.”

Although athletics can be time consuming and difficult to manage practice, film, meeting, travel and keeping up on school work, most student athletes wouldn’t change their college experience.

“Some days it’s hard for sure, and I question my decision to play,” said Whetman, junior economics major. “However, it has also provided me with great relationships, opportunities and also challenges. Overall, I am grateful that playing a college sport has provided me the ability to get a great education.”

Editor’s note: Mika Pinner is a member of the women’s basketball team.

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3 Comments

  1. As much as studies are necessary for making future bright just like this games are also a part of education. Making Athletes is best part of this school where athletes learn to juggle and learn to educated themselves for proper education and learning. This is best website indeed for me.

    Reply
  2. I also tend to think in a same manner as if students were not allowed for co-curricular activities, then how would they be able to concentrate on their studies with a healthy mind? As for healthy mind, we need to provide them a healthy environment to focus on their targets.

    Reply
  3. Well. Learning is one major of education and even sports and athletics also contribute to your education. Having fun with the ball is quite a thing to do. You know just love this athletics stuff.

    Reply

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