Women’s soccer team receives sixth straight academic award

The Chapman women’s soccer team would frequently do homework together, a sense of camaraderie and dedication that led to the program’s sixth straight annual Team Academic Award. Panther Archives

Family, school – and then soccer. 

That’s the order of priorities Chapman women’s soccer head coach Courtney Calderon said her players should abide by. For many athletes on the team, academics is a big reason they chose to attend Chapman. By keeping the same goals in mind, the Panthers have been able to succeed on and off the field.

During soccer season, players spend nearly 30 hours a week together. From practices to games to study sessions, each player motivates and pushes the others to work hard. This mentality drove the team to win its sixth straight annual Team Academic Award from the United Soccer Coaches. 

“A lot of us would do homework together; it helped keep everyone focused,” said Faith Holloway, last year’s captain and spring 2020 graduate. “If there’s a group going to the library and you go with, you’re going to get work done … Studying together helps keep everyone really on task and on top of their work.” 

Being a student athlete and balancing academics is not always the easiest task. Some players, like junior midfielder Jessie Roux, know it’s tough to stay on top of schoolwork during the season.  

“You really have to be strict on yourself,” Roux said. “Even if something isn’t due until the end of the week, but you have games during the week, it will benefit you in the long run to get it done early.” 

In many ways, the skills players learn through soccer can also help in the classroom. Roux has been able to find many connections between her major and her sport. 

“As a software engineer major, most of my projects are done in teams and we have to divide up work,” she said. “It’s very similar to being on the field and being on a team, where we all have the same goal but different jobs and roles on the field.”

Many student athletes credit their work ethic to the sports they played growing up. Grinding through long hours of practices and games, Holloway said, has helped her prepare for her new job with a research and development firm.

“In pretty much any field that you go into, teamwork is going to be huge,” Holloway said. “You kind of develop a sense of grit, and you just know how to work hard and dedicate yourself to something.”

As Holloway has moved on to the corporate world, her mindset has stuck with the returning members of the team.

“Our competitive drive on the field is also very much noticed in the classroom,” Roux said. “We’re all so supportive on the field; it’s easy to be supportive off the field as well.”