During the week of April 3-9, Agnes Scott Athletics are celebrating Division III Week! Division III Week, organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, honors Division III student-athletes and their impact on our community. The difference between DI and DII athletes compared to DIII athletes is commonly mistaken. DIII allows its student-athletes to play their sport at a competitive level while being involved in a rigorous academic atmosphere. Unlike DI and DII schools, DIII student-athletes do not receive privileges such as priority class selection or athletic scholarships. Agnes Scott’s student-athletes play the game because they love it, but they are students first. Division III schools strive for their athletes to have a life outside of athletics in academics, extracurricular activities, and leadership/service opportunities. DIII Week is set out to enhance the identity of DIII athletics and the impact of the student-athletes on our school. Here are some of Agnes Scott’s student-athletes and what their experience in DIII athletics has been so far!
Iara Moran
Hometown – Marietta, Ga
Class year – 2019
Sport – Soccer
Her Campus: What is it like to be a student-athlete?
Iara Moran: Being a student-athlete is all about balance. As a pre-med/neuro student as well, being organized and on top of your game is necessary pretty much all the time. It takes a good amount of commitment and dedication but it’s worth it when you enjoy what you do. Soccer is my way to relieve some stress, have some fun and be part of another community or family apart from academics.
HC: How has being a part of Division III athletics enhanced your leadership/community involvement?
IM: Our team has had leadership training events that train individuals for field and captain leadership positions. Soccer is a team sport and it’s all about communication and working well together. You learn the importance of trust, leadership, and community early on. There are opportunities to be leaders even if you’re not a captain by always putting your best effort forward and showing that you care by putting the team’s growth and accomplishments before your own. As a goalie, leadership and community is crucial to having a successful and understanding team.
Haley Keesler
Hometown – Trenton, GA
Class year – 2020
Sport – Cross Country, Softball
HC: What has been your favorite experience of being a student-athlete?
Haley Keesler: My favorite experience of being a student-athlete is having an immediate support system built into my college life. I know I can turn to any of my teammates and ask advice about anything. Their support goes beyond the field and fosters a community like no other.
HC: What are the advantages of being a part of DIII athletics?
HK: DIII allows a student to really explore academics that does not happen at large colleges. I can be in organizations on campus and further my skills not only as an athlete but as a person as a part of DIII athletics.
Annie Weimerskirch
Hometown – Murfreesboro, TN
Class year – 2020
Sport – Basketball
HC: How has being a part of Division III athletics enhanced your leadership/community involvement?
Annie Weimerskirch: I have learned how to be more assertive and talkative on the court. In addition, I have learned the importance of communication and teamwork which is essential for leadership.
Ellie Vergura
Hometown – Dunwoody, GA
Class year – 2019
Sport – Cross country
HC: What are the advantages of being a part of DIII athletics?
Ellie Vergura: I joined D3 because I wanted academics to come first in my life. The point of college is to educate yourself further and most D1/D2 schools do not focus on academics over their sports. I feel as though D3 athletics values the education and academics of their athletes equally. Since D3 does not give away scholarships, all athletes are there because they are passionate about their sport, instead of being there for the money.
Nicole Gilkeson
Hometown – Atlanta, GA
Class year – 2019
Sport – Softball
HC: How has being a part of Division III athletics enhanced your leadership/community involvement?
Nicole Gilkeson: Since I am one of four captains on the softball team as well as holding a membership in SAAC (Student Athletic Advisory Committee), DIII athletics has given me the opportunity to be involved in leadership positions that I possibly wouldn’t of been given the chance if I was at another college or not an athlete at Agnes.
HC: Has there been a time (s) where you feel you’ve been viewed negatively because of the school’s DIII status?
NG: I think some people disregard DIII school’s and think we don’t give much attention to our athletics and I think sometimes that is seen on our campus. Students and professors alike don’t think we take our sports seriously because of our status but I think if we could get more attendance at our games they would see just how intense we are about our sports.
Alexis (Slim) Smith
Hometown – Memphis, TN
Class year – 2018
Sport – Volleyball
HC: How has being a part of Division III athletics enhanced your leadership/community involvement?
Slim Smith: One of my biggest fears about being a collegiate student-athlete was not having enough time to do volunteer in the community or to be a part of any organization. Being a part of DIII athletics has actually provided me with more opportunities to do community service, and our athletic department actually encourages us to join organizations on campus and to apply for leadership positions in those organizations. DIII athletics does not just focus on bettering the athlete part of their athletes. Instead, DIII athletics focus on bettering us as students, athletes, and people overall.
HC: What are the advantages of being a part of DIII athletics?
SS: The emphasis on us being students first and athletes second is the greatest advantage of being a part of DIII athletics. Another advantage is that when we meet with our coaches, they aren’t just concerned with our athletic lives. They ask about our academics, our families, our health, and just our well-being overall. Our coaches understand that there are other things that happen in our lives outside of the court, field, track, etc.
Jessica Costero
Hometown – Miami, FL
Class year – 2019
Sport – Softball
HC: What is it like to be a student-athlete?
Jessica Costero: Being a collegiate student-athlete is something I always wanted but I never anticipated all the hardships that went with it. Prioritizing your sport is something that comes naturally to every athlete. From a young age, we find comfort in whatever sport we play–– it becomes our outlet. As we grow older our sport opens doors for us. Personally, I never would have heard of Agnes Scott if it wasn’t for Coach T (the softball coach at the time). Now that I am fully submerged in the realm of DIII athletics. I’ve learned that there is a lot more to it than get good grades and play hard. As a STEM major, I have a constant struggle of is this practice/game worth missing lab? Being a student-athlete you have to be aware that all your decisions don’t just affect you. I have 10 other girls on that field with me. If I decide not to pick my sport that day all of them are affected, it’s not just me. Trying to find a balance between softball and school never gets easier. Especially when the majority of games we play are away. It becomes pretty hard to create a presentation while on bumpy bus. I constantly have to remind myself that softball won’t be here forever. Knowing that my time as an athlete has an expiration date is one of my hardest struggles. I am having to fight what I have been taught my entire life. I can no longer prioritize my sport every day. Especially at Agnes, I have to remind myself my grades come first even if that means disappointing my team and coach every now and then. What they don’t tell you about being a student-athlete is that sometimes you have to drop part of the title and it’s hard to pick which part.
Starting Monday the 3rd of April there will be events on campus representing our Division III athletics. Check out the flyer below to see how you can be involved with Division III Week!