Athletics and Hilltopper Pride

Transcript

Hilltoppers have tremendous campus traditions and school spirit, especially when it comes to their NCAA sports teams and their club sports. Mimi is up next. She’s a freshman majoring in Marketing and she plays varsity soccer. She’ll tell us what it’s like to be a student athlete at St. Ed’s and a part of their championship athletic program. We’ll also hear how St. Ed’s supports the outstanding academic achievements of its athletes. Mimi, give us the scoop. You are on.

– Thanks for the introduction, Alex. Hey, everyone! Growing up, I always knew I wanted to play college soccer. After being recruited by several schools across the country, I chose St. Ed’s because of its highly successful soccer program, commitment to social justice, diverse student body, and location here in the city of Austin, Texas.

– [Crowd] Yay!

– [Male Onlooker] Now, now! Here we go! He’s a Hilltopper!

– Here we go!

– [Guy] Here we go!

– So far, my experience as a student athlete has been everything I hoped it would be. At St. Edward’s, we have 10 NCAA varsity sports that compete in the Division II Lone Star Conference. We also have 16 different club teams, such as cheer, lacrosse, and rugby. There are plenty of ways to get involved with athletics. Over the past 20 years, St. Edward’s athletic teams have won over 60 conference titles and advanced to the NCAA tournament more than 75 times. The Lone Star Conference is very competitive, which brings out a lot of Hilltopper spirit and pride. School rivalries, Senior Night, and Battle of the Saints always draw out huge crowds. Something that makes St. Edward’s athletics special is that we are valued as students, not just athletes. Our team is high-achieving in the classroom because our coaches encourage us to take challenging and rigorous courses. They accommodate our academic needs by proctoring tests on the road or encouraging student athletes to leave training early for their classes. I have also received tremendous academic support from my success coach, free tutoring, and therapy. No matter what club or team you join here, you will develop real-world skills. St. Edward’s has taught me the value of teamwork, time management, and goal-setting. I’ve also built connections with other students and athletes that will last a lifetime. That’s all from me! Back to you, Alex!

– Thanks, Mimi for sharing your story and giving us a great look at how popular the Hilltopper athletic teams and club sports competitions are. It’s no secret that school spirit and traditions are thriving at St. Ed’s. Good luck in your next soccer match, Mimi, and Toppers up!