As a prospective college golfer deciding where to apply, high-academic Division III schools like the 5Cs offered the perfect balance between sport and school.
After many conversations with coaches and back-and-forth with my parents, however, I decided that I wouldn’t be able to handle the demands that come with being a student-athlete. I thought I would have needed an extra year or two to emotionally mature before I could handle that level of rigor.
There is a common misconception that collegiate athletics are just a hobby, but the reality is far from casual. DIII coaches, particularly at top programs, hold their athletes to standards similar to those found at DI schools. When I visited DIII schools during recruitment, players and coaches emphasized how reduced holiday breaks, multiple training sessions a day and weekends spent traveling are just a few of the expectations that come with being an athlete.
At schools where athletes routinely turn down DI opportunities in pursuit of better academics, the 5C community’s indifference towards its own athletes tells a misleading story.
Before writing off athletes as one-dimensional, the 5C community needs to try showing up for their peers. Witnessing athletes’ dedication can turn skeptics into supporters, and when fans fill the stands, we create a deeper sense of school spirit and community. Unfortunately, the Claremont Colleges’ games often have low attendance — especially for women’s sports — despite the dedication these students pour into their craft.
Beyond the athletes themselves, sports games are simply a good time. There is something about being in the stands, surrounded by peers who are also invested in the score, that brings out an energizing and competitive spirit. I hear many people complain that 5C games aren’t as exciting as those at DI schools, but they never consider their own role in this.
While the level between the top of the top DI schools and DIII schools is certainly different, DIII games feel dead because no one is there to fuel the fire. Fan energy is what makes athletics fun for everyone, and right now, our stands are too empty to find out what we’re missing.
One of the primary ways that school spirit is fostered is through the relationships between athletes and students. It is no surprise that the biggest events of the year revolve around the Sixth Street Rivalry. Students turn out to watch people they see every day battle it out on the field. The personal connection college fans feel when we know people on our team and the opposition stirs up pride and energy.
For those on the field, the hours of practice, training and feelings of frustration can get exhausting. Speaking from experience, I went through countless phases of hating my sport. One day, I would swear off golf. The next day, I would be on the course, loving golf and who I was while playing. The burnout and unrealistic expectations many athletes set for themselves create unhealthy back-and-forth dynamics with their sport, and it is during these times of stress and pressure that athletes need encouragement more than ever.
For most athletes, quitting is never on the table, and it’s not supportive. Especially in college, where busy training schedules often mean that teammates become your best friends, quitting represents more than abandoning years of training; it means distancing yourself from your entire support system.
In athletics, encouragement is often just as important as competition. To help our athletes perform to the best of their ability, it is imperative that we take steps to show we care as they battle emotional lows and the extreme stress of their sports. This encouragement often manifests through game attendance, when players can see firsthand how many people care about their contributions to our schools.
When CMS and P-P are at the top of the DIII rankings, it represents our schools as a whole. It draws in prospective student-athletes, elevates the prestige of our degrees and puts the consortium on a global map.
CMS women’s volleyball dominates the SCIAC rankings. CMS men’s water polo won the 2025 national championship, and so did P-P women’s water polo. Both the P-P and CMS women’s golf teams are ranked in the top 10 nationally.
There is a surplus of amazing athletes at the consortium, and students are missing out on a front row seat to excellence, commitment and dedication. The athletes who dedicate themselves to upholding that standard deserve a community that recognizes their role in shaping our schools.
Ansley Kang SC ’29 chose golf as her sport because it (usually) doesn’t require any running
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