Winning Tradition

The winning athletic tradition of the Monks is well known throughout New England, and Saint Joseph's invites you to take part in our team pride. While honoring passion for sports, Saint Joseph's places the highest priority on the overall educational experience and academic success.

Student-athletes on our 14 NCAA Division III teams receive the individual attention and support necessary to make them successful, not only on the athletic team, but in the classroom as well. When it comes to game time, they can count on the spirited support of the campus fans.

Saint Joseph's was recently invited to join the Great Northeast Athletic Conference and, with the addition of three new varsity sports (men's and women's lacrosse and swimming) for the fall of '07, intercollegiate athletics at Saint Joseph's is going to a whole new level - it's an exciting time to be involved!

Why We Play DIII Athletics

It's not about getting a scholarship, getting drafted, or making SportsCenter. It's a deep need in us that comes from the heart. We need to practice, to play, to lift, to hustle, to sweat. We do it all for our teammates and for the student in our calculus class that we don't even know.

We don't practice with a future major league first baseman; we practice with a future sports agent. We don't lift weights with a future Olympic wrestler; we lift with a future doctor. We don't run with a future Wimbledon champion; we run with a future CEO.

It's a bigger part of us than our friends and family can understand. Sometimes we play for 2,000 fans; sometimes 25. But we still play hard. You cheer for us because you know us. You know more than just our names.

Like all of you, we are students first. We don't sign autographs. But we do sign graduate school applications, MCAT exams, and student body petitions. When we miss a kick or strike out, we don't let down an entire state. We only let down our teammates, coaches, and fans. But the hurt is still the same.

We train hard, lift, throw, run, kick, tackle, shoot, dribble, and lift some more, and in the morning we go to class. And in that class we are nothing more than students.

It's about pride - in ourselves, in our school. It's about our love and passion for the game. And when it's over, when we walk off that court or field for the last time, our hearts crumble. Those tears are real. But deep down inside, we are very proud of ourselves. We will forever be what few can claim ... college athletes.

-- Sean Sornsin

Sean Sornsin played baseball at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. The above article appeared in the Dec. 3, 1999 edition of The Cornellian (student newspaper).