Deciding where to go to college is very stressful for many seniors. With thousands of colleges and universities to choose from, there can be a lot of pressure not to choose the wrong one. In the United States, there are around 540,000 student-athletes. Whether they are at a Division One university or a local community college, everyone has one goal, and that is to play the sport they love. Many colleges have a lot to offer, whether it’s for academics or athletics, and there are a lot of positive attributes that many colleges and universities have for their students.
St. Francis University is a Catholic university based in Loretto, Pennsylvania. They were founded in 1847 and have been going strong ever since. While being a Division One school, they have been to championships in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and track & field. They also have a very successful academic program, where they try to focus on career-directed studies and leadership.
On March 25, St. Francis announced that they would be changing the division of the school from Division One to Division Three. This was very surprising for the students and the people who work there. Many are concerned about what the future will be like for St. Francis University, but within days of finding out, many athletes have already entered the transfer portal. This has affected many of the athletes because it is a different competition level, and they have also lost their athletic scholarships. Kaleb Diers, senior, is currently committed to play football at the University of Northern Iowa. Many athletes decide where to go based on their sport, and this can also impact their studies. “It was the best fit for me and what I thought my future in football would help with,” said Diers. Athletics can depend on an athlete’s experience level, how good they are at a sport, and also their level of commitment. There are many sports that people are more serious about than others, and it can really depend on how far they would like to go with the sport.
With the big change coming into effect, many are wondering when it will happen and why.
“The university’s athletics teams will continue to participate in Division I intercollegiate athletics as part of the Northeast Conference through summer 2026 competition. The university will file the necessary paperwork with the NCAA and has accepted an invitation from the Presidents’ Athletic Conference,” said SFU athletics. With many wondering about the reasons for the change, there have been a couple of different answers. Some include the university wanting to focus more on academics rather than sports, the fact that it is very expensive to fund a Division One university, and wanting the students to have a better well-being. Many are concerned that this will affect the athletes of the college and where they will get their income from after this change.
Even though Division One is very big and can help athletes more, that isn’t always the case for everyone. The setting can sometimes be overwhelming with so many more people within classes, and not always getting a good chance in sports. Going smaller can be the way to go for certain people. Mrs. Paige, who runs the high school’s success center, went to Mount Mercy University to play basketball. Instead of going big and focusing on her sport more, she decided to find a college that had a good academic program where she would be able to gain the experience and knowledge she would need to succeed. “I felt like academics were very important to me, I always wanted to be a teacher, and I also wanted to play the sport that I loved, which was basketball. It was a good balance because I could do my academics, and I also got to play the sport that I love…It was a really good experience for me,” said Paige. While a student there, she met her husband and got her degree in teaching.
When deciding whether to go to college for a sport, it can be very stressful for many. With the time and work they have to put into it, while also having to do school work, is sometimes something one really has to think about. Many athletes will look at the division to demonstrate how good they are at the sport. This can be a big factor for many when choosing where to go. The legacy of being a division of a university will forever last in the community and the athletes who were able to play at St. Francis University.
