Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Month of Giving: FAU Student-Athletes Lend to One Another
11/21/2018 10:26:00 AM | Academics
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The student-athletes at Florida Atlantic University treat each other like family. This sense of connectivity is not just present within each team but resides within all 480-plus student-athletes at FAU. No matter what sport the Owls play, they are always there to support one another, even if that means having a 5:30 a.m. wakeup call on a Saturday morning.
Â
At the Conference USA Cross Country Championship held last month, the men's tennis, men's and women's swimming and diving, and track and field put their Owl pride on display. All of the members of the teams volunteered to make the event, which was hosted by FAU for the first time in school history, a success.
Â
The volunteers were placed at several locations before the runners took off. Some of the helpers, such as junior swimmer Caitlin Dunne, were posted at the finish prepared to help out the exhausted runners as they crossed the line.
Â
"Before we volunteered at our first cross country race, none of us had any idea that the runners literally hit the deck when they cross the line," said Dunne, who had volunteered at a previous cross country meet with her team this season. "With some of [the runners], they just lose all control of everything and you have to drag them out of the way of the incoming finishers."
Â
Running 5K and 8K distances in under a six-minute pace per mile can be exhausting. When these runners, who have been training all season for the C-USA Championship, cross the finish line, they gave the race every ounce of energy they had and may not have much more left in the tank following their finish.
Â
Dunne helped upwards of 10 runners, despite what school colors they were representing, by catching them, dragging them out of the way of the finish line, pouring water on their heads and checking to see if they needed any further help.
Â
"It's honestly so rewarding to go see other people's hard work pay off, and I don't think other people realize that until you go to an actual cross country race and get yourself involved," added Dunne. "The runners push themselves so far and [helping out] is the least we can do."
Â
Kelsey Witkay, junior and captain of the women's swimming and diving team, and the other group of student-athletes who volunteered were taken to the backend of the course, cheering on the runners as they passed.
Â
"I think cheering on members of my Owl family really connects all of FAU athletics," said Witkay. "As a team, not only being out there supporting them, but also being there to volunteer and help put on their conference championships brings us closer."
Â
The C-USA Cross Country Championship is just one of the many examples of how the student-athletes respect one another. FAU's Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence hosts red and blue games for all sports throughout the year. At these games, teams earn points toward the red/blue Owl Cup points system. But even without such incentive, Witkay and her team highlighted how they attend all the games they can as a team.
Â
"It's almost a two-way rewarding system, where they get something out of it for us being there and supporting them, but we also see the appreciation they have for us," added Witkay.
Â
The FAU student-athletes have been putting in a lot of hard work into the community, but also display that same generosity through supporting and volunteering at events ran by the university and athletic department. Having the student-athletes actively involved at the Cross Country Championship is a prime example of that Owl pride and love for FAU being put to display.
Â
Â
At the Conference USA Cross Country Championship held last month, the men's tennis, men's and women's swimming and diving, and track and field put their Owl pride on display. All of the members of the teams volunteered to make the event, which was hosted by FAU for the first time in school history, a success.
Â
The volunteers were placed at several locations before the runners took off. Some of the helpers, such as junior swimmer Caitlin Dunne, were posted at the finish prepared to help out the exhausted runners as they crossed the line.
Â
"Before we volunteered at our first cross country race, none of us had any idea that the runners literally hit the deck when they cross the line," said Dunne, who had volunteered at a previous cross country meet with her team this season. "With some of [the runners], they just lose all control of everything and you have to drag them out of the way of the incoming finishers."
Â
Running 5K and 8K distances in under a six-minute pace per mile can be exhausting. When these runners, who have been training all season for the C-USA Championship, cross the finish line, they gave the race every ounce of energy they had and may not have much more left in the tank following their finish.
Â
Dunne helped upwards of 10 runners, despite what school colors they were representing, by catching them, dragging them out of the way of the finish line, pouring water on their heads and checking to see if they needed any further help.
Â
"It's honestly so rewarding to go see other people's hard work pay off, and I don't think other people realize that until you go to an actual cross country race and get yourself involved," added Dunne. "The runners push themselves so far and [helping out] is the least we can do."
Â
Kelsey Witkay, junior and captain of the women's swimming and diving team, and the other group of student-athletes who volunteered were taken to the backend of the course, cheering on the runners as they passed.
Â
"I think cheering on members of my Owl family really connects all of FAU athletics," said Witkay. "As a team, not only being out there supporting them, but also being there to volunteer and help put on their conference championships brings us closer."
Â
The C-USA Cross Country Championship is just one of the many examples of how the student-athletes respect one another. FAU's Student-Athlete Center for Academic Excellence hosts red and blue games for all sports throughout the year. At these games, teams earn points toward the red/blue Owl Cup points system. But even without such incentive, Witkay and her team highlighted how they attend all the games they can as a team.
Â
"It's almost a two-way rewarding system, where they get something out of it for us being there and supporting them, but we also see the appreciation they have for us," added Witkay.
Â
The FAU student-athletes have been putting in a lot of hard work into the community, but also display that same generosity through supporting and volunteering at events ran by the university and athletic department. Having the student-athletes actively involved at the Cross Country Championship is a prime example of that Owl pride and love for FAU being put to display.
Â
Tuesday, May 12
Tuesday, May 05
Thursday, April 23
Wednesday, April 08