“Powered by Tradition” is the well-known

slogan of all athletic teams at the University of

Wisconsin-Whitewater, but what many people

don’t know about are all of the other various

things it takes to power a student-athlete.

Balancing classes, work, and athletics can be a

very challenging task for college students,

which is why only a select group of people can

make it work. Here is an inside look at the lives

of these dedicated individuals and what it takes

to keep them going.

Whitewater is a division III school which means it is unable to award any grants or scholarship

money for athletics. At division I and II levels, athletes are paid to play their sport while balancing

schoolwork and classes, but here at Whitewater we play solely based on our love for the game. This

is what makes our athletes so special. In a survey given to UWW athletes, a member of the Men’s

Baseball Team responded, “Student athletes at Whitewater are extremely dedicated. There’s always

someone putting in the extra work or staying the extra ten minutes after practice. We pride ourselves

on winning national championships at Whitewater, otherwise you go unnoticed.” While we do pride

ourselves on winning national titles, we also take pride in all of the work we do to prepare for such

opportunities.

Student-Athlete Life at UWW

-Mackenzie JordanWhitewater, Wis.

Athletes at Whitewater are some of the most hard-

working, dedicated people you will meet. Many

people would never guess the amount of hours our

athletes spend in the gym, training through strength

and conditioning, in addition to the time they spend

during practices and games. Haley Hintz, a

sophomore on the Women’s Varsity Volleyball Team

puts it this way, “Hard work and dedication in the

weight room and during conditioning is valued as

much as actually playing the sport.” It is safe to say

that many athletes spend up to twenty hours per week training to get better at their sport. Whether it

is physically or mentally training themselves, their time dedicated to their sport is enough to qualify for

a part-time job. Even when they are not in the gym, on the court, or the field, student-athletes must

show commitment to their sport by choosing to make healthy choices when it comes to the food and

drinks they are putting into their body.

While the majority of campus is out partying on a Thursday night, you will find most student-

athletes in bed preparing for an early morning at the gym. When it comes to alcohol consumption,

sports teams at Whitewater are supposed to abide by the 24-48 hour rule; meaning that they are not

to consume any alcohol within 24 hours of a scheduled practice or workout, or within 48 hours of a

scheduled game or competition. In a college atmosphere, abiding by this rule does take ultimate

dedication and loyalty to one’s team. One main reason athletes are able to refrain from falling to peer

pressure is the bond they share with their teammates and coaches.

When you’re a student athlete, you have

two real families. There is the family that you

were born to and raised with, and there is your

team. This is especially evident in the volleyball

locker room where a special sign hangs that

reads “building a team, creating a family.” All

team members don’t always get along, and they

don’t have to, but no matter what-- athletes can

always count on their teammates to be there for

them and have their backs. Your teammates are your brothers and sisters and being a part of a team

here at Whitewater is an amazing experience that creates a life-long bond with amazing people.

Though the workouts are tough, the pressure is high, and the time commitment is vast, being a

student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is an incredible life experience that will

never be forgotten by those who chose this way of life. The lessons students learn from being part of

a team are invaluable and in the end, they are worth all of the pain, sweat, and tears. As stated by

Kirsten Hammer of the Women’s Varsity Basketball Team, “Through athletics, we are encouraged to

be better people in the classroom as well as the community.”