AU Sports

With Andrews University being a small, private institution, the sports program is not as emphasized as it would be at a larger college. For those who may want to play sports but are unaware of the resources and quality of the programs offered here, I asked current student-athletes from each sport offered at AU (soccer, volleyball, and basketball), along with the Women’s Soccer Team coach, how their experience has been so far and what they believe the school spirit on campus is like.

I think over time the school’s leadership has come to give more attention to the student-athletes and support them through their journey. After all, they are representing the university’s name and demonstrating to others that one can focus on both their career pathway and hobbies. In women’s soccer, though, it has always been hard to receive support…honestly, in any female sport, it’s hard to find the same support the men receive. It’s simply a different style and way of playing. Gradually, we are receiving more support from our peers. However, there are always people who will speak badly, which is really unfortunate because unkind words don’t uplift the athletes. What people need is to uplift one another in good and hard times.
Sophia Martinez (junior, health science pre-physical therapy) AU Women’s Soccer Team Captain

My only gripe is that facilities for the basketball and volleyball programs are very developed. They have a large multipurpose gym with several courts equipped with a locker room and showers, while soccer only has a field with a currently dysfunctional scoreboard. In addition to that, even though I doubt it would ever be achieved, is the introduction of sports scholarships to entice higher quality athletes thus raising the standard of athletics even further.
Jaquan Darrell (sophomore, finance) AU Men’s Soccer Team

I feel like the quality of the sports program is pretty good as this is the first year for the volleyball team. They just recently added two more assistant coaches at our most recent practice, on top of the main coach and assistant coach we already had. We haven't had a scrimmage game yet, but I think that once the games do start we might have a decent amount of support because I feel like volleyball is such a fun sport to watch and it's often full at volleyball open gym.
Sophia Lim (junior, psychology) AU Women’s Volleyball Team

I feel like we have a great sports program. I wish we had more resources when it comes to women’s athletics, but the program as a whole is good. I feel like our school has lots of school spirit when it comes to the basketball games. I just wish there was a little more school spirit for the women’s sports program.
Samantha Woolford-Hunt (sophomore, graphic design) AU Women’s Basketball Team

The level of support from both school leadership and my peers varies. While some individuals in leadership roles and among my peers are genuinely supportive (ex. [former] VP Michael Nixon & student Zyon Wiley (graduate, physical therapy), there are also those who may not consistently offer support, especially during tough losses. True support goes beyond words and extends to actions, especially during tough games.

Increasing school spirit for our sports teams would create a more positive and motivating atmosphere. When athletes feel a strong sense of backing from their school community, it boosts their confidence and performance, ultimately fostering a more cohesive and successful sports culture on campus.
Mugabe Menani (sophomore, nursing) AU Men’s Basketball Team Captain

Keeping the school size in mind, I believe our sports programs are in good condition. We are working to provide proper off-season training for the athletes to best prepare them for the seasons ahead using better metrics like VO2 Max testing and Sports Performance Training.
I think it would be great to see more faculty and staff come together along with the student body to support the University athletes. I think school spirit could be enhanced with more Cardinal merchandise for students to rep at games and on campus.
Daron Raynor (Lady Cardinal’s Soccer Team Coach, first year)

As you can see, a common theme among our student-athletes (and coaches) is that there could always be room for improvement in the sports programs, especially with school spirit. If you don’t know when the games are, ask a friend or athlete, or follow @andrewscardinals on Instagram for game days and times. One of the best ways to improve the sports programs here is just to show up and support. It will definitely be encouraging for the student-athletes and will create a sense of community at AU games.