2008 Woodie Awards
Athletes bring character to campus
Pat Pickens
Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
ESPN refer to themselves as "the total sports network." This is both true and misleading. The network is terrific at covering sports especially the one's in which people have the most interest.
But what about all the rest?
I fall into the trap too. I love to talk about football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and the popular sports that everyone "cares" about.
But again what about all the rest?
Sacred Heart has 32 division 1 sports, and I am often one of the first to complain about how some obscure sports seem "useless."
But this weekend something remarkable happened.
Senior Payam Zarrinpour, Shiraz, Iran won his 100th career wrestling match. Zarrinpour is nationally ranked in college wrestling and is easily the best wrestler to ever come from Sacred Heart.
Zarrinpour is one of the most decorated wrestlers in the country. He is a two-time academic All-American, in one of the most demanding and time consuming majors, Athletic Training.
He is also one of the most visible athletes in the university community, as his size and stature are both difficult to miss as he walks down the hallway or around campus.
I bring this up because there are a large majority of athletes at Sacred Heart who are visible on campus.
At many universities this is not the case, athletes are often isolated and separated from the university community, except for athletic events.
But over the course of four years at Sacred Heart, I have been fortunate enough to communicate and become friendly with many of the athletes in the university community.
There are an inordinate amount of student athletes at Sacred Heart, and it is often impossible to not see them in the hall, in Flik, or in class.
But, the number of sports and athletes at Sacred Heart make our university special. The fact that there are sports like wrestling, men's and women's bowling, both track and field and cross country team's, amongst others make our university special, breed camaraderie, and help our students do something they love by staying in shape as well.
I have friends who play sports at bigger division I schools, and they hate playing, because it is a hassle, and the coaches make it un-fun.But the athletes at SHU play games, practices, and tournaments in all weather, in front of sparse crowds, and at all times of day and night, almost every day.
Crew practices on a river every morning at 6 am. Fencing practices, some days, until 10 pm. Equestrian has shows on Saturday's and Sunday's all over the northeast and sometimes leave as early as 4 am.
These are the stories that do not get the recognition from even our own athletics website. And with lifting, running, and practices, there is little to no off-season for the athletes here.
Classes are difficult enough as it is, and to juggle all of it for very little other than love of the game is truly remarkable. I give the athletes here all the credit in the world.
But what about all the rest?
I fall into the trap too. I love to talk about football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and the popular sports that everyone "cares" about.
But again what about all the rest?
Sacred Heart has 32 division 1 sports, and I am often one of the first to complain about how some obscure sports seem "useless."
But this weekend something remarkable happened.
Senior Payam Zarrinpour, Shiraz, Iran won his 100th career wrestling match. Zarrinpour is nationally ranked in college wrestling and is easily the best wrestler to ever come from Sacred Heart.
Zarrinpour is one of the most decorated wrestlers in the country. He is a two-time academic All-American, in one of the most demanding and time consuming majors, Athletic Training.
He is also one of the most visible athletes in the university community, as his size and stature are both difficult to miss as he walks down the hallway or around campus.
I bring this up because there are a large majority of athletes at Sacred Heart who are visible on campus.
At many universities this is not the case, athletes are often isolated and separated from the university community, except for athletic events.
But over the course of four years at Sacred Heart, I have been fortunate enough to communicate and become friendly with many of the athletes in the university community.
There are an inordinate amount of student athletes at Sacred Heart, and it is often impossible to not see them in the hall, in Flik, or in class.
But, the number of sports and athletes at Sacred Heart make our university special. The fact that there are sports like wrestling, men's and women's bowling, both track and field and cross country team's, amongst others make our university special, breed camaraderie, and help our students do something they love by staying in shape as well.
I have friends who play sports at bigger division I schools, and they hate playing, because it is a hassle, and the coaches make it un-fun.But the athletes at SHU play games, practices, and tournaments in all weather, in front of sparse crowds, and at all times of day and night, almost every day.
Crew practices on a river every morning at 6 am. Fencing practices, some days, until 10 pm. Equestrian has shows on Saturday's and Sunday's all over the northeast and sometimes leave as early as 4 am.
These are the stories that do not get the recognition from even our own athletics website. And with lifting, running, and practices, there is little to no off-season for the athletes here.
Classes are difficult enough as it is, and to juggle all of it for very little other than love of the game is truly remarkable. I give the athletes here all the credit in the world.
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