Though I usually focus on current Dartmouth athletes, I have chosen the ever-growing population of ex-varsity athletes in Hanover as the topic of this column. While many of us weekend warriors dream of collegiate athletics, these men and women once lived the dream. Recently, I sat down with two of them: Becca Auritt '08, formerly of Dartmouth's women's track team, and Hayley Kennedy '08, who played soccer for the Big Green.
A common sentiment among students at Dartmouth is that the time commitment required of athletes is, understandably, overwhelming and all-encompassing.
"I probably wouldn't have be the same person I am now because of the experiences I have had, which I probably wouldn't have been able to have if I hadn't quit," Kennedy said.
Kennedy is a member of The Dartmouth Staff.
"Not what I wanted to be doing in college," Auritt said of track.
Both Auritt and Kennedy, however, expressed admiration and praise for their former teams and teammates.
"It wasn't a decision I made because of the soccer team. It was a very personal decision," Kennedy said. "I came [to Dartmouth] with the intention of quitting." She then quickly rephrased her statement, "I was going to come see how I liked it, but knowing I could quit if I needed to."
Both said that upon quitting their respective sports, they bonded with each other and became "varsity pong players." Both cited having a great deal more time to hang out as a large motivation for quitting, and Auritt specifically mentioned having more "college experiences" as justification for her decision.
Both Kennedy and Auritt said they came to Dartmouth for its academics rather than for specific athletic teams, which made it easier to quit. Auritt describes herself as "so much happier" after quitting, and says if she hadn't quit, she "never would have made the same friends I've made otherwise."
As one might expect, their experiences as varsity athletes have shaped their lives in other ways. Kennedy cites "the athlete mindset" as something that has helped her in setting and meeting goals and Auritt said, "I'm still the same way I was before, I just care about different things."
(Auritt is, in fact, one of the most competitive pong players I have ever met.)
"[I do miss] competing in general," Auritt said. "I feel that everyone who plays a sport here was a star in high school, and coming here and sucking wasn't all that fun."
Auritt still holds records at her high school in the 200m, the 400m and the javelin.
Kennedy didn't really seem to miss the competition aspect, but rather the game itself.
"I miss playing," she said. "I walk past the soccer field and feel nostalgic."
Kennedy also played on the Alpha Chi Alpha intramural soccer team over sophomore summer, and claims that she "schooled peeps on the field."
Neither former athlete regrets her decision to quit, but both noted there is a certain amount of nostalgia among most former athletes.
"I like how my life is, though I'd probably be way hotter if I was still playing," Kennedy said. "But, I wouldn't be drawing a comic either."
Auritt also claimed she would be healthier if she was still running, but neither Auritt nor Kennedy regrets having more time to enjoy themselves.
"I really respect a lot of Dartmouth athletes because it takes so much time and effort to be completely committed to your sport while you're in an environment where everyone is doing everything all of the time," Kennedy said.
Kennedy was also recruited by the Naval Academy, which would have been slightly more intense than Dartmouth, which led her to decide that it was not the right place for her (besides, have you met Hayley Kennedy?).
These are just two of the stories of former athletes at Dartmouth, though there are other reasons people quit.
As students at Dartmouth we all have extracurricular activities, but athletics are an overriding commitment for many Dartmouth students. Road trips for games, endless practices and meetings are only some of the challenges Dartmouth athletes face, let alone academics.
And, if nothing else, they can take solace in the fact that they're still much more athletic than the rest of us.
