By Greg Scholand

Greg Scholand is an Assistant Editor at Athletic Management. He can be reached at: gs@MomentumMedia.com.

By 2010, there could be a very different landscape in NCAA Division III athletics. The NCAA's Division III Working Group on Membership Issues is currently hammering out proposals on how (or whether) to split the division in two, with a vote on their ideas slated for the 2009 NCAA Convention.

As discussions about the future of Division III continue, athletic administrators are examining--more closely than ever before--the meaning of the D-III experience. Are the time commitments expected of Division III athletes too much? Do coaches and staff support student-athletes in the right ways? Are their athletic experiences helping them make the transition to the working world?

To better understand the participant's perspective on questions like these, we asked a panel of Division III student-athletes about their experiences. Each of them serves on a student-athlete advisory committee, and all are upperclassmen (see their biographies below). Their answers provide insight into how student-athletes--from different types and sizes of schools and different sports--currently view Division III, and what they think about its future.

If you could change one thing about your collegiate athletic experience, what would it be?

Tauquir Puthawala: In hindsight, I would have cut down on the number of other activities I pursued at the same time as tennis, especially during the traditional season. I worked part-time, I was an editor for the school newspaper, I tutored students in mathematics and sciences, and I was treasurer of the Physical Science Club. While I was able to juggle all that with academics [he's currently on track to graduate summa cum laude], I probably could have been more successful in my sport if I had limited my other activities.

Shawn Kerek: Mt. Union is a big football school, and as a baseball player, I would like it if the school took other sports more seriously. The football team gets the most attention, better travel accommodations, and other benefits like that--and rightfully so, because they're a great team--but there are times when it feels like there should be more balance.

Michael DeRise: If I could go back and change one thing, I would have devoted more time to bonding with my teammates. I've made some great friends on my team, and as my college career is coming to the end, I've been thinking about how much those relationships mean to me. They've made my whole college experience so much more memorable.

Stephanie Wujcik: Bryn Mawr is an all-women's college that doesn't emphasize athletics very much, so if I could change one thing, it would be to increase my institution's focus on sports. Having been an athlete since kindergarten, I know I've gotten so much out of athletics that you can't get in a classroom or anywhere else. At a school where sports are not a major part of the campus culture, I think many students miss out on that.

Would you like to see any changes to the rules Division III athletes follow?

Kerek: I know there are reasons why Division III doesn't offer athletic scholarships, but I wish there was some way that athletes could get more financial support. Athletics can be just as time consuming for us as for Division I athletes, so it can be virtually impossible to hold a regular job and balance that with school and sports. Money has been tight for me all four years, and I know the same is true for a lot of other athletes in Division III.

DeRise: It could be a good idea for teams--even those with very high GPAs--to have a mandatory team study hour. I think this could help teammates motivate each other academically as well as athletically. Sometimes it's really hard to hit the books after a long day when you're exhausted, but if you look around and see a lot of other people studying, you think, 'Wow, I'd better be studying, too.' I think that could be helpful to a lot of student-athletes.

Wujcik: I'd like the nontraditional season to be a little longer. I'd like to throw in another lacrosse game or two in the fall, just to give us that extra work before the season. We're currently allowed just one day of competition, and I feel that really limits us.

Puthawala: At the Division III level, I don't think there is any over-regulation. Division III student-athletes are considered students first and athletes second, unlike in the other two divisions. I think all the compliance rules are fair and in the best interest of the student-athletes.

What will be your biggest challenge transitioning to the "real world," and how has college athletics helped you prepare for it?

Wujcik: For me, the most difficult thing will be realizing that I'll no longer be a competitive athlete. I've been participating in athletics since I was very young, and when you graduate, all of a sudden you basically drop it. Right now, my team is always there for me, our practice schedule is a structure that I'm used to, and having this excellent way to blow off some steam every day is just great. It's going to be really difficult to find another outlet for that.

Kerek: Playing a college sport has actually helped with my job search. I'm planning to be a financial advisor, and most companies I've interviewed with have loved the fact that I play college baseball--it's even been the focal point of some of my interviews. They always ask about how I juggle academics and my sport commitments, the leadership skills I've learned as a team captain, and the work ethic that it takes to be a college athlete. I also think I've learned a lot about competitiveness and the importance of working with other people as an athlete, and those skills will definitely translate well to the working world.

DeRise: I've learned a lot about discipline and teamwork through athletics, as well as performing under pressure. Every person has to deal with pressure and adversity at some point in their career, and learning what it takes to overcome that and give your best effort can prepare you for whatever will come later in life.

Jamie Kressel: It might sound cheesy, but I feel I've learned a lot about commitment--I've been so dedicated to softball and my academics for four years, it's really taught me how to commit myself to something and work hard to be successful at it.

Chad Languish: When trying to balance football, class, and a social life, you realize pretty quickly how important time management is. Also, being on a team of over a hundred guys allowed me to fully understand the meaning of teamwork and the importance of leadership. I'm studying to become a phys. ed. teacher, so I know that those skills will help me in my career.

If you had been forced to take year off from sports, what would you have done?

Wujcik: I would have gone abroad. I feel like my sport is a year-round commitment, with our nontraditional season in the fall, captains' practices in the winter, and our normal season in the spring. I could have studied abroad if I'd really wanted to, but I was deterred by the fact that I wanted to be in the best possible shape and at the top of my game coming into the spring.

Kerek: I definitely would have gotten a job, and I also would have gotten more involved with campus activities. There are a lot of clubs and societies on campus that could have helped me bolster my resume, especially those related to my major that would have allowed me to get some work experience in my field.

DeRise: I'm currently a member of my school's student government, but I probably would have taken a more active role if I couldn't compete in my sport. For me, academics comes first, and after that I've had to prioritize my extracurriculars. That's been fairly easy because I've always loved track and I love being an athlete, but if that wasn't available, student government is probably where I would have spent the extra time.

What would you think of a freshman no-play rule?

Wujcik: I think it would really hurt smaller institutions. In our conference, some teams even have a hard time finding enough girls to fill out their rosters. We've fielded several freshmen in our games, and if we didn't have them, we wouldn't be able to compete.

Kerek: I wouldn't like that. I'm a big believer in individuals figuring out for themselves what they're getting into, what it will take to succeed, and whether they're up to it. If I'd had to sit out my freshman year, it might have influenced my decision to play college sports in the first place.

Kressel: There were definitely times as a freshman when it was hard and I didn't know whether I would be able to handle everything, but I think pushing myself through it was an amazing learning experience. If I hadn't been able to play, I'd have missed out on that.

Languish: When I was a freshman, I was never so overwhelmed that I didn't know what to do--it was just a matter of learning to make adjustments. And participating in football actually helped with the transition because I had a hundred friends before school even started. I could go to the upperclassmen if I had any questions or needed guidance with anything.

If it were up to you, how would you change the recruiting process?

DeRise: I don't think text messaging should be allowed at all. With a phone call, you can look at the caller ID and decide whether or not to pick it up and have a conversation. But with a short text message on your cell phone, it's so informal that you almost have to read it. It also gives coaches a lot more access to athletes--you can't call a student at any time of the day and expect them to pick up, but you can send them a text message at any time, even when they're in class.

I also think phone calls should be limited. They should be prohibited at certain times of the day, like when athletes are in school, and limited to one or two calls a week at most. Anything more than that is borderline harassment.

Kressel: I was called a lot during the recruiting process, and it made me feel like they wanted me to come here and be happy here, which was really nice. I never felt like it was overwhelming or intruded into my life too much.

Would you have jumped at the chance to play in Division I if you could have?

DeRise: It's hard to say. I would have sat down with my parents and really weighed the pros and cons of the individual schools. I think both the Division I and Division III models are great for different reasons. In Division III, we have a lot more balance and flexibility in our lives and more down time, and there are definitely advantages to that.

Kressel: I knew I wanted to play in Division III. I worked hard so that I could get into a college that would challenge me academically, but I wanted to be in a very competitive softball program, too. I think we're just as committed to our sport and we take just as much pride in it as any Division I program. So this was the perfect fit for me.

Puthawala: Out of high school, I would have said yes. The chance to play for a big-time program and compete against some of the best would have been very enticing. But now, as I'm finishing up my college career, I would say no. The Division III experience allows student-athletes to be students first and also to experience the rest of college--everything else that happens on campus academically, athletically, and socially. In Division I, I may not have been able to diversify my interests as much.

What do you think of the prospect of splitting Division III in the future?

Wujcik: We've talked about this a little bit on campus, and a lot at the conference level. I really don't like the idea, because I don't think any school would want to move "down" to a Division IV, or a III-AA. I'm very proud to be a member of Division III, and I'd hate to see that changed.

Kerek: I could see a split being a positive thing for high school athletes trying to decide where to go to college. It might help them distinguish between schools where athletics are taken very seriously and teams are very competitive, and schools that don't emphasize sports as much. That could help high school students find the best fit, no matter which model they're looking for.

A split could also lead to more consistency in the quality of opponents. We've played some pretty bad teams in my college career, and some extremely good ones. If more schools were playing against opponents at the same level, that could be a positive change.

DeRise: With the Division III membership growing and more schools taking money and resources from the same pot, it's common sense that that can't continue forever. Division III athletics is an excellent experience, but if the money and opportunities don't keep growing along with the numbers, everyone is going to get less. I don't know how those issues can be resolved, but if there is a split, I'm sure it won't be an easy process.

Do you feel Division III athletes receive enough benefits and support?

Wujcik: I don't think we need any special attention, but one thing that could be very useful is some sort of counseling service for athletes. We face a lot of unique pressures, so I think help with personal issues would be invaluable.

Kerek: I've heard of some schools giving academic credit for playing a varsity sport, because of the time commitment involved, and that would definitely be nice. I also know of some schools where athletes have priority when choosing their class schedules, because we have to work around practice and game schedules, and I think that's a great idea. But for the most part, I think we get a lot of support and we're treated pretty well.

Kressel: I remember in my freshman year, a bunch of girls had a chemistry exam scheduled during a team trip. Our coaches and the athletic director worked out an arrangement with the professor so that my teammates could take the exam during the trip--an assistant coach served as proctor, and they sent the exams back to campus via UPS the next day. Other times, we've been able to move exams around to accommodate travel. That's the kind of supportive environment we have, and it's great for everyone.

Puthawala: I don't feel I should have gotten more support. That is the challenge of Division III athletics: You are considered a student first and an athlete second. There are some benefits, but not many--and I think that's the way it should be.

What is your most cherished memory of your college athletic career?

Wujcik: This season we went to Colorado for spring break, and our flight home was canceled so we ended up staying in Denver for four extra days--that's something I'll never forget. We had 17 girls and two coaches running around finding somewhere to stay and cooking dinner for ourselves. It was one of those unexpected experiences that brings everyone closer together.

Kerek: For the rest of my life, I'll remember the friends I've made, both teammates and coaches. Our team is like a family--we hang out together, we spend a lot of time at practice and on the road together, and I've made a lot of friendships that I know will last a lifetime. That's probably the biggest benefit that I've gotten from playing a sport.

DeRise: In my freshman year, we won the triple crown--the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track league championships--and I'll never forget that. We were all working so hard, particularly for the outdoor championship because there were so many teams competing and our main rival was challenging us for it. With everyone giving it their all and our team coming through victorious, it was just exhilarating.

Kressel: Two years ago, a member of our team had both her parents pass away within six months. It was a terrible tragedy, but the way we all came together to support her was something I'd never experienced before. We have so much love and respect for each other--that experience really showed me how important the team is in each of our lives.

Being on my team has been like having 16 sisters. We all work out together, a lot of us have class together, after practice we all go eat together, and some of us even live together. When we're traveling, our coach picks our roommates, and they're different every time, so we all end up growing very close to each other.

Sidebar: OUR PANEL
Michael DeRise is a senior on the men's track & field team at Hunter College and a member of the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Shawn Kerek is a senior on the baseball team at Mt. Union College and a member of Mt. Union's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Jamie Kressel is a senior on the softball team at Washington University in St. Louis and a member of the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Chad Languish is a junior on the football team at the State University of New York College at Brockport and a member of Brockport's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Tauquir Puthawala is a senior on the men's tennis team at Rhode Island College and a member of the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Stephanie Wujcik is a junior on the women's lacrosse team at Bryn Mawr College and chair of the Centennial Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.