The document discusses the challenges and dedication required of student-athletes at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. It notes that as a Division III school, UWW is unable to award athletic scholarships, so students play solely for love of the game. Student-athletes spend up to 20 hours per week training and adhere to rules like abstaining from alcohol before practices and games. Though the workload is demanding, being part of a team provides lifelong bonds and invaluable life lessons that make the experience worthwhile.

1. “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.
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
Student-Athlete
Life at UWW
-Mackenzie Jordan
Whitewater, Wis.

2. 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.”

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