With no athletic scholarships and schedules often jam-packed with multiple obligations, Division III student-athletes still make time for the sports they love while pursuing academic excellence.
In Division III, pretty much all sports are non-revenue-generating, and student-athletes compete in front of small groups of fellow students and diehard fans. There are few perks though. Athletic departments try to make the most with what they have, driven by the desire to give sports-minded students a complete collegiate experience.
These schools are both rural and urban, and some are known for their exceptional academics. No matter the situation, you can always find athletes as passionate about their sports as a cornerback at an FBS school in the Power Five.
The lack of glamour doesn’t diminish their love of competing and the pride they take in representing their college or university. We check in with three D-III student-athletes, who share what is driving them to achieve excellence.
Point guard Ephraim Reed is back home in Northern Virginia completing his freshman year online. Even before coronavirus ended intercollegiate sports, he was off the court with a torn plantar fascia. Throughout basketball season, he remained steadfast in his commitment, attending every game and traveling with the team, which gave him the opportunity to bond with his teammates and learn nuances of the sport.
Growing up, Reed thrived in the intensively competitive basketball scene in Northern Virginia. Although he played AAU (travel team), he wasn’t getting D-I athletic scholarship offers, but was garnering attention from the Ivy League (the Ivies play D-I, but don’t offer athletic scholarships).
