Student-Athletes Gear Up for Fall Sports Parade
Emily Cobb | September 8, 2022
Rae Milstead
The sound of mighty cheers coupled with the yelps of students as they were pummeled by candy and water from water guns has not always been a tradition at Warren Wilson College (WWC), but one can now expect it to be. Aug. 25 marked the start of the new WWC sports tradition that consists of a parade in which the student-athletes and athletic department ride down from Devries to the pavilion in decorated vehicles.
Also on Aug. 25 was a community barbecue hosted by Interim President Bill Christy to welcome everyone, new and old. Served buffet style, there were barbeque options for all.
“Originally it was going to be a Meet the Owls Night in the gym, but we changed it to coordinate with the barbeque so that we could get the community involved,” said Robin Martin, the Women’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director. “Each team was told to decorate their own car with anything they wanted.”
The women’s soccer team had a pride vehicle with one of their players leading the car with a Nicki Minaj flag, and the swim team had water guns that they used to spray the crowds.
“I liked how every team had their own little flavor with how they presented and showed up to the parade,” said Madeline Wadley, Associate Director of Community Engagement.
The ultimate frisbee team was the vehicle exception this year, with them having a faux vehicle that consisted of a cardboard dashboard and their discs posing as both the steering wheel and wheels.
The ultimate frisbee team is a recent addition to the current sports at WWC, revamped by coach Brett McCall who was a player on the team during his time as a student at WWC. His daughter, freshman Eden McCall, is now leading the team.
“(The parade) is gonna get us some awareness from the school that we exist,” McCall said.
Exposure is important to the frisbee team because they are new and need both players and interest to succeed this year. So far the team has had a lot of success, with dozens of students showing up to the practices.
“I am just super excited to play with folks, it is very relaxing as an intramural team,” McCall said.
Rae Milstead
Junior AG Carr was in their Appalachian Flatfoot and Clogs class right outside of Bryson Gym when the parade started driving by. Sitting on the steps in front of the gym, they had a perfect view of all the cars and were safely outside of the candy and water gun range.
“I really like the themes they are doing because it is community building within the teams and now all the athletic departments are combining to do one big thing together,” Carr said.
The parade gave student-athletes the opportunity to express themselves, have fun and introduce themselves to the campus as well as stress the importance of community at WWC.
“I am excited to see more well-rounded parts of campus,” Carr said. “I know athletics has not really been highlighted very much in the past.”
Now that WWC is an NCAA Division III school, the sports programs and student-athletes will have more opportunities including competitions and rankings. Because WWC is not viewed as a sport-centered school, this change in divisions is helping to connect the student-athletes with more opportunities.
“I love that we are all getting together in person to celebrate the beginning of the school year,” Rachel Kerr, Assistant Director of Global Engagement said.
Due to COVID-19, many of the sports-oriented traditions, such as student-athletes lighting a bonfire during Homecoming week, have not occurred. This event helped to mark a turning point as WWC highlights athletics and returns to pre-COVID-19 norms. The parade and barbeque night served as an energetic start to the year and sparked interest in the sports teams, old and new.