Flames first-in-class

Student-athletes continue to be successful on and off the field and court

Liberty University athletes are known to dominate on the field, but a little known fact is that they do the same in the classroom.

With an overall GPA of 3.10, Liberty student-athletes fare even better than the rest of the student body, according to libertyflames.com. Keeping students on track acadmically is no easy task, but Kristie Beitz, senior associate athletics director for academic affairs, and her crew are up for the challenge.

STUDENTS FIRST — All Flames have access to a variety of academic assistance.  Photo credit: Hannah Lipscomb

STUDENTS FIRST — All Flames have access to a variety of academic assistance. Photo credit: Hannah Lipscomb

“We’re excited by what our student-athletes are doing, but it literally takes a village to make it happen,” Beitz said. “It takes the support of our president, our athletics director, our deans and chairs. … It’s not just one person or one group that makes this happen, it’s everybody investing in the lives of our student-athletes that make this possible.”

Joining Liberty’s Athletics Department staff in 2006, Beitz has continued to see substantial growth in the success of the university’s student-athletes, an unfamiliar tale in today’s world of college sports.

“When I started here eight years ago, … we had a 2.99 cumulative GPA,” Beitz said. “We have worked in every single semester that I have been here, and our cumulative GPA has risen for our student-athletes. We are very proud of what our student-athletes are doing.”

Individual determination plays a big role in the success of each student, but there are also several programs put in place to help them along the way. The Summer Bridge program, along with S.T.A.N.D (Study Together Achieve New Dreams) for freshman and R.I.S.E (Responsibility in Studying Everyday) for upperclassmen, keeps these busy athletes up to speed with courses and major requirements. Beitz also said Liberty’s student-athletes are even graduating at an even higher rate than the rest of the
student body.

The Summer Bridge is a three-week intensive for student-athletes of all sports who are new to Liberty University. It allows them the ability to assimilate into college life, participate in community outreach, and get a head start on general education courses. According to Beitz, participants typically start off their college career with a 3.5-4.0 GPA.

According to libertyflames.com, Lady Flames field hockey finished the 2014 fall semester with a 3.47 GPA, among the highest of all Liberty sports teams, despite the fall being their active season. Senior midfielder Erin Dombach was a contributing factor on a Northern Pacific Conference (NorPac) Championship winning team, while bringing in one of the team’s highest GPA’s.

“At first it was really hard, knowing how to balance field hockey and academics, but it’s definitely something you get used to the longer that you’re (at Liberty),” Dombach said. “You have to set priorities and know when you need to get something done and when you have time to hang out with your friends.”

With plans to pursue her master’s degree in public health in the fall, the NorPac champion will obtain a bachelor degree in health promotions in May after just three years at Liberty. With her perspective reaching far beyond the field, Dombach shared her plans for the future.

“I would love to work with a nonprofit or Women, Infants and Children, which works with women, pregnancy and nutrition,” Dombach said.

So how does an athlete who is constantly practicing, traveling and training manage to be a successful student?

“I literally write down everything in my agenda planner so that I know what’s coming up the next week,” Dombach said. “I can look and see when things are due and then what I have to do for field hockey.”

Dombach also advised student-athletes to think ahead in order to combat procrastination.

“Just staying on top of what needs to be done and along with that being able to see what needs to be done and then doing it, not just putting it off until the last minute (helps get things done),” Dombach said. “Anticipating being tired and not wanting to stay up late, that’s a big thing for me.”

Beitz is quick to sing the praises of players, coaches and staff, who all collectively help make it possible to boast in the 14th nationally ranked academic support program by the NCAA. A real team approach to academic success is taken, including team-specific academic advisors, color-coded schedules and action plans and one-on-one meetings.

“We truly are about building our student-athletes academically, athletically, socially and spiritually, and I think that we are doing that,” Beitz said. “Academic affairs for athletics really has a positive and lasting role in the lives of our student-athletes.”

CARTER is a sports reporter.

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