Putting the “fresh” in freshman

Photo collage by Easton Clark, Photo Editor; Photo from Panther Archives

Stepping foot into unknown territory is a milestone every freshman experiences. However, some students choose to navigate their college journey with two primary goals in mind: academics and athletics. Suddenly, a new balance is required to achieve success not only in school and competition, but also in personal growth.

Competing on a new stage takes some getting used to. Nerves are heightened, playing time is limited and it’s all about leaving your heart on the court. Chapman’s freshmen have shown that, despite their lack of collegiate experience, grit produces results.

The cross-country team competed in the Mark Covert Invite at California State University, Fullerton on Aug. 30, where freshmen creative producing major Jane Song and biological sciences major Valerie Noria made their college debuts. In the women’s 6k race, Noria placed second for the Panthers and 24th overall. Song placed third for the Panthers and 34th overall. Song also ran a new personal best in the 6k with a time of 22:52.

“The great thing about running is that you can see yourself improving in such a short time if you put in the effort,” Song said.

Another challenge that comes with being a collegiate athlete is adjusting to a new workload and schedule. Freshman health sciences major and water polo goalkeeper David Yacoub, who had 16 saves against Biola University and 10 against Concordia University Irvine this past Saturday, said that it took a little time to get used to the way college classes work. 

“It was a big jump, to be honest. The upperclassmen helped me with my classes.” Yacoub said. “They helped me so much in so many ways.” 

Similarly, freshman health sciences major Delaney Kitchens found that the longer soccer practice schedule seemed daunting at first, but it quickly became part of her routine. The women’s team this year has prioritized communication and developing chemistry, which has made the transition for the freshmen less intimidating. 

Coming into this new setting, freshmen can struggle to find their way around a new social environment. Luckily for athletes, the beauty of a team is that it serves as a built-in friend group and even a home away from home for some.

“I think that’s one thing about Division III football, they still have the family, whereas higher levels have kind of lost that,” Eli Brandt, a freshman quarterback and health sciences major, said.

The upperclassmen across all of Chapman’s sports teams have guided the new recruits and taken on the role of mentors. Many athletes have held team bonding events, such as going out to eat together after practices and matches. For the Panthers, connection has become a main pillar in what it means to be a student-athlete at Chapman. 

“They’re people that you’ll see around campus, people you’ll want to hang out with and you love seeing,” Song said.

The Panther is not just a mascot; it represents unity and is one of the main reasons why students are drawn to Chapman’s status as a smaller university. The hardest part of growing as one unit is that teams are never stagnant. They are always evolving to test the group’s connection. Each day is an opportunity for the freshmen to adopt a new culture and make it their own. Before they know it, it’ll be time to begin the yearly cycle once again, though next time, they’ll shift from learner to leader.