A
Involvement at All Levels
Because our student body is small, at first glance it may not seem like athletics is a big part of campus life. Just because our varsity teams are not as highly competitive as other schools, though, does not mean that athletics are not prevalent and valued at Whitman. I believe Whitman deserves an A for athletics because Whitman offers opportunities for all levels of skill and commitment. Most of the student body is involved at some level, whether it be taking a beginning SSRA class for a semester (tennis, ice skating, rock climbing, etc.), forming on an intramural team with your residence hall neighbors, joining one of the many club teams (which practice about 3 times a week and have home and away games almost every weekend during their seasons), or being a varsity athlete. Varsity athletes are student-athletes, with the implication being that in order to stay on the team, they must keep up with their academics as well. They are truly dedicated to their sports, and their friends, knowing this, are always willing to show up for fan support. When you go to a Whitman sporting event, you are that much more into it because you know most everyone on the court (small school phenomenon). This kind of school athletic spirit is so much more sincere, I think. I have only heard good things about the team athletic facilities (especially the swimming pool). The Baker Ferguson Fitness Center, open to anyone, is AMAZING. As far as my involvement goes, I played club rugby for a year and a half, I played a season of IM football and soccer, I play pick-up soccer on Ankeny Field, I go to the rock climbing gym, and am taking a "coaching soccer" class. Other popular sports at Whitman are the Alpine/Nordic ski team and the cycling team, both club sports.