Wittenberg’s athletic department worked to prove that all good things really do come in threes last week. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) sponsored a variety of activities for Division III Week from April 3-7.
Division III Week is a yearly event sponsored by the NCAA which works to celebrate Division III athletics. According to the NCAA, the week is an opportunity for athletes, coaches and administrators to share the positive influence of athletics and student-athletes on their campuses. This year’s Division III activities included an all-athlete photo, a social media campaign and a Wittenberg takeover of the NCAA’s Instagram page.
The organization sponsoring Wittenberg’s events, SAAC, is a committee made up of two representatives from each team on campus. The elected athletes that serve on SAAC plan events and programming that promote athletics, teamwork, unity, service and academic improvement for all teams on campus.
SAAC representative Frankie Bowsher, ‘17, used the week to reflect on the influence that being a Division III athlete has had on her college experience.
“I love being a DIII athlete because it allows me to balance everything from schoolwork, to track meets, to internships,” Bowsher said. “It means that I can be successful in the classroom and on the track.”
As a member of SAAC, Bowsher helped plan the week’s events, which she felt were more about unity than competition.
“Planning DIII Week with other SAAC representatives is fun because it gives us a chance to shine light on our student athletes for more than just wins and losses,” Bowsher said. “It gives us a chance to come together and celebrate something we have in common: sports and academic success.”
According to Amy Schulz, ‘17, Division III Week is not just an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of Division III athletics. It also serves as an occasion to inspire the next generation of athletes to get involved.
“It is important to celebrate DIII Week because being a DIII is unique. By going to a DIII institution, we are not only playing high level athletics; we are also getting a one of a kind education,” Schulz said. “This week also shows younger students that they can compete in college if they truly want to. There is a DIII institution for every level of every sport.”
