NCAA Honors the Role of Division III Scholar-Athletes
NCAA Division III Week April 9-15
Student-athletes at Ohio Wesleyan will join more than 172,000 Division III collegiate athletes from across the nation in celebrating the impact of varsity athletics on their respective campuses and communities during NCAA Division III Week, April 9-15. This is the first year the NCAA has singled out D-III institutions to build greater awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the positive influence made by Division III athletics. Division III athletes make up about 40 percent of the more than 430,000 student-athletes who compete in all divisions of NCAA competition.
Roughly one-quarter of all Ohio Wesleyan students participate in at least one varsity sport. Ohio Wesleyan will recognize their accomplishments and contributions to the campus community with a range of themed events throughout NCAA Division III Week.
Monday, April 9: Community Service
This day recognizes the service performed by Ohio Wesleyan’s student-athletes throughout the year. Through their participation and leadership in a wide range of community and charitable causes, OWU student-athletes make our campus and our community a better place to live, work and play. OWU athletes volunteer their time with organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, People in Need, and many other charitable initiatives. They participate in reading programs in Delaware schools and volunteer for a variety of youth sports clinics. The women’s basketball team proudly hosts the annual Hoops for Hope basketball tournament, while the men’s team was honored with an award for community service by the NCAA last year. Our Battling Bishop athletes are committed to making a difference.
Tuesday, April 10: Academic Success
Student-athletes at Ohio Wesleyan have a proud tradition of achievement in the classroom as well as in the competitive arena. OWU has produced 79 CoSida Academic All-American selections in its storied athletic history. Since 2000, 10 Battling Bishops athletes have been awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships, with senior Sharif Kronemer the most recent recipient. Since 1990, more than 40 OWU athletes have received the NCAC Scholar-Athlete Award, which honors outstanding academic and athletic achievement.
On Tuesday, all Ohio Wesleyan student-athletes, representing the University’s 23 varsity sports, will wear their team jerseys/warm-ups to class to provide a powerful visual reminder of how many students participate in at least one intercollegiate sport.
Wednesday, April 11: Athletic Success
Since the founding of the North Coast Athletic Conference, no other school has produced winners as consistently and in as many sports as Ohio Wesleyan. OWU has captured 132 NCAC titles in athletics, the most conference championships in the league. On the national stage, the Battling Bishops have won five national team championships, as well as 13 individual national championships. On Wednesday, we will celebrate Ohio Wesleyan’s winning legacy in NCAA Division III intercollegiate competition. Look for posters and displays around campus that highlight our winning tradition.
Thursday, April 12: Coaching and Mentoring
The successes described above cannot be realized without the commitment and dedication of coaches who understand and embrace the ideals of NCAA Division III athletics. Ohio Wesleyan coaches do more than coach; they are mentors and educators who strive to maintain an environment in which a student’s athletic activities are conducted as an integral part of the overall educational experience.
Ohio Wesleyan coaches have earned regional and national recognition for producing winners, as well as devoting themselves to the profession. Posters and displays across campus will showcase our coaches’ record of achievement.
Friday, April 13: Faculty/Student-Athlete partnerships
Ohio Wesleyan University has a long-standing tradition of celebrating the academic achievements of its scholar-athletes. For example, each year at the Dale J. Bruce Scholar-Athlete Awards Dinner, our top 50 academic performers invite a faculty member to join them in recognition of the special relationship they share in and out of the classroom.
We will conclude the NCAA Division III Week celebration at noon on Friday, April 13, in Branch Rickey Arena, with a display that showcases these collaborative relationships between student-athletes and their faculty mentors. Come join us for refreshments and conversation about this important component of our athletes’ success in the classroom.
Sunday, April 15: Bishop Games
As a reminder, Ohio Wesleyan University will host the annual Bishop Games on Sunday, April 15, in Selby Stadium. Gates open at 3 p.m. and the games will begin at 3:30 p.m.