At the Division-III level, student-athletes often choose their school where academics come first, but balancing coursework, practices, travel and competition still demands constant discipline and careful time management.
Student-athletes aren’t on athletic scholarships, instead being encouraged to prioritize academics alongside their sport. This creates an environment where athletes often choose majors based on their career goals outside of athletics. They do this while still committing much of their time training and competing. The balance is demanding, but many say this lifestyle allows them to develop skills that extend beyond the field or pool.
For Augustana senior Mark Addison, that balance has defined much of his collegiate career.
Addison, an accounting triple major, recently completed one of the most decorated seasons in Augustana swimming history. He claimed conference victories in the 200 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke, 500 freestyle, 400-yard medley relay and 800 freestyle relay at the CCIW championships.
His accomplishments extended far beyond the pool. Addison earned the Elite 26 award for the second consecutive year, recognizing the conference’s student-athletes with the highest GPA competing at the conference match. Addison also became Augustana’s first Academic All-American since the 1998-1999 season and broke four school records during the process.
For Addison, those honors represent more than statistics.
“It represents all of the hard work I’ve put in, all the injuries I’ve had to overcome. It’s a recognition that I was able to achieve, regardless of the circumstances,” Addison said.
As a dual-sport athlete in both swimming and water polo, Addison had his fair share of physical and scheduling challenges throughout his four years.
The pressure to succeed academically while remaining a fierce competitor demanded careful prioritization.
“I’ve had to sacrifice a lot in order to be the best athlete I can be, as well as the best student I can be,” Addison said. “In order to compete at the best, or if I’m going to do something, I want to do it to the best of my ability.”
While discipline and personal drive are central to a student-athlete’s success, many athletes say the support systems around them are equally important.
Women’s swimmer, junior Kendle Mihm is a psychology and Spanish major and said that Augustana’s Division-III environment was part of what attracted her to the school.
Mihm captured conference titles in the 100 freestyle, 50 freestyle, and 400 freestyle relay while also receiving the Elite 26 Award for the second consecutive year. For Mihm, athletics and academics are not competing priorities but instead complementary parts of college life.
“I think it definitely promotes a balance which I’m really grateful for,” Mihm said. “That was something I was looking for when I was picking a school.”
That balance, however, does not happen automatically. Between classes, practices, competitions, and a demanding travel schedule, Mihm relies on organization to stay on track.
“I’m a huge to-do list person, so having it all written out and just knowing what’s coming up, I think it was helpful,” she said.
Addison echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the important role that teammates play during long, demanding seasons.
“I couldn’t have asked for better teammates,” Addison said. “They’ve been so much fun. I can be myself around them.”
For Division III athletes like Mihm and Addison, success is rarely defined by athletics alone. Championships and awards reflect countless hours of work, but lessons developed through balancing academics and athletics may prove just as valuable.
Whether managing injuries, maintaining perfect grades, or organizing daily schedules around competition days, student-athletes continue navigating a lifestyle that demands commitment both in and out of competition.
