Juniata basketball player Kelsey Livoti ’15 split the difference in studying abroad by taking a summer “Business in China” course that wouldn’t interfere with the team’s season. Photo: J.D. Cavrich
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Juniata athletes are encouraged to train yearround with and without their team, often having practice six days a week while sports are in season. Admittedly, being a collegiate athlete is much more than competing in a sport. It is about committing to a lifestyle, finding a group of friends that become a quasifamily, and attending Doug Smith (Juniata’s strength and conditioning coach) practices that are sometimes composed of, as Angie Shaffer ’13, of Prospect, Pa., remembers, “130 squats with weights.” Even within this strict routine, a small number of students take it upon themselves to pile more onto their plate by studying abroad. Many would say that Juniata College is unique because it is possible to pursue a dual degree, compete in a Division III sport, be involved with campus activities, and study abroad. But what makes Juniata truly unique is that the College has students who choose to do all of the above. Greg Curley, Juniata athletic director and basketball coach, highlights opportunities that Juniata sports teams have, as a group, to travel and compete abroad every three or four years. Curley mentions that the men’s basketball team “played in Ottawa over fall break last year for four days and played three Canadian teams.” He explains, “The NCAA gives you exempt games, and the chance to practice 10 times before you go. A number of our teams have done this and it has been a fantastic experience. As a group, teams decide to go. The individual athletic teams raise funds, or some students pay their way, and our office does fundraisers to offset the costs to make sure none of the student athletes have to stay home.” Outside of athletics-sponsored trips, coaches are noticing a shift in students’ priorities, too. Caroline Gillich, Juniata head field hockey coach says, “I feel like there was a huge shift for our team, when things changed legally in NCAA.” In the past, the field hockey team was able to split the academic year into 21 weeks of practice, but new NCAA regulations allow only 16 days of involvement in the spring. “When that happened, there was a recognition, on my part, that it’s not like it used to be, and that if there are other things that athletes want to do with their time, they might do them,” Gillich adds, “I have noticed this trend to be class specific, though. Some classes will have high study abroad numbers and some will not.”