From April 7 to 13, Division III athletes at Keene State College celebrated their academic and athletic contributions to campus as part of a national event hosted by the NCAA known as Division III Week.
Division III Week began in 2010 as an NCAA initiative to recognize the unique aspects of DIII athletics and the student-athlete experience. Since then, it has grown into an annual April tradition across all DIII athletic departments, including Keene State.
Throughout the week, Keene State student-athletes took part in a variety of activities across campus, with all proceeds benefiting the Special Olympics. Events included tie-dyeing shirts, pieing coaches and administrators and a staff vs. students basketball game held in Spaulding Gymnasium to cap off the week. One of the central displays featured a large sign where student-athletes wrote why they chose to compete at the DIII level.
Director of Athletics Marty Testo described the celebration as more than just a chance to have fun — it was a way to honor the commitment, character and everyday grind of DIII athletes.
“They’re committed, they’re responsible, they’re loyal, they’re accountable,” Testo said. “There’s so many life lessons built within student athletics at the Division III level.”
Unlike at Division I or II schools, most DIII athletes receive no athletic scholarships. Instead, they play for the love of the game, the bond of the team and the overall college experience. According to Testo, many of Keene State’s athletes balance more than just practices and games; they also juggle classes, jobs and involvement in other campus organizations.
“Their seven to seven is really different from other people’s seven to seven,” he said. “If you’re not familiar with what a day looks like in-season or out of season for a student-athlete, you should check it out. It’s special.”
Student-athletes like junior Marissa McCarney of the women’s soccer team, who helped run the tie-dye stand and participated in the “Pie a Coach” event, said the week is a meaningful break from their usual grind.
“To be a DIII athlete is a lot of time and commitment during season and off-season,” McCarney said. “But it’s very rewarding when you see yourself progress as an athlete. DIII Week is worth celebrating because it lets student-athletes know their hard work in and out of the classroom doesn’t go unnoticed.”
First-year men’s golf athlete Teddy Steinberg echoed that sentiment, adding that while DIII athletes may sometimes be overlooked, the level of dedication is no less real.
“We may be looked down on because we’re not DI or whatever, but we are still real good athletes and we work hard,” Steinberg said. “We came here to keep playing the sport we love, and I’m grateful to be surrounded by hard workers.”
Some student-athletes said they often carry a label that doesn’t tell the whole story. For many, that label comes with unfair comparisons and misconceptions about what it means to compete at the DIII level.
“DIII sports get the reputation of low-level athletics,” said sophomore men’s soccer player Charles Wason. “Having a week dedicated to DIII sports shows the community around the sport and the passion, and it brings awareness to the levels of play in DIII.”
The responsibilities do not stop at practice or in the classroom. Many student-athletes also navigate the pressure of being seen as role models.
“I think student-athletes can get a bad [reputation] because they are often the role model at their schools,” said Riley Devine, a junior on the women’s lacrosse team. “People look up to them and set them to a higher standard than other students. This makes people more aware of the mistakes they make. But even with that, I enjoy being a student-athlete because it keeps my days structured, gives me something to work for, and a group of girls I can call family.”
Testo pointed to the “Why DIII?” sign as one of his favorite parts of the week. While some answers were humorous — “Because I didn’t get a scholarship” — others were more heartfelt, touching on themes of opportunity, belonging and passion.
“The sense that I felt when I met the team, the coach, the resources available to me … all of those things make you feel like we’re doing the right thing,” Testo said.
To him, celebrating DIII athletes goes beyond applauding athletic success; it’s about acknowledging the quiet leadership and community impact these students have every day.
“They bring something to our campus that allows community members to see what’s possible,” Testo said. “Until people really understand what that word, ‘student-athlete,’ means, they’ll never fully appreciate what these young people do.”
Elías Stowell Alemán can be contacted at
estowellaleman@kscequinox.com
