White House Honors National Champions at College Athlete Day
Photo by Jaelyn Arndt/NCAA
Washington, D.C. (PSF) - On College Athlete Day, the White House welcomed NCAA national champions from all three divisions to celebrate their remarkable achievements from the past academic year. A total of 52 teams showed up to the nation's capital to be honored by the Biden administration. While the White House frequently hosts champion teams from the world of sports, this is the first time NCAA national champions were invited.
For all the NCAA athletes and coaches, it was a truly memorable moment, as they had already reached the pinnacle of their respective sports. This experience served as the cherry on top of their hard work and dedication throughout the year, and is an official end to this school year.
Zach Tyson, a men's ice hockey player and graduate student from Hobart/William Smith, expressed his excitement, stating, "This is definitely the cherry on top. All of our hard work on and off the ice this year. It came down to that national championship game, and we definitely earned it."
For some student-athletes, the joy of winning a championship was still fresh in their minds. Many arrived at the White House wearing their official team gear/uniform or national championship merchandise. Cal Poly Humbolt, the Division II rowing champions, had clinched their victory just two weeks prior.
Dana Foley, a senior and member of the Cal Poly Humbolt team, shared her enthusiasm, saying, "It's just awesome to spend today with all the people that I love so much. It feels really special because our team is made up mostly of new rowers. To win early in our careers is really exciting for the future. To get to do this makes it extra meaningful."
Photo by Jaelyn Arndt/NCAA
During the program, coaches selected one student-athlete from each team to represent them on stage. Vice President Kamala Harris received a replica of a NCAA trophy from NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship Most Outstanding Player Logan Eggleston from Texas women's volleyball, and NCAA President Charlie Baker delivered remarks.
The speakers highlighted the qualities and attributes that propelled the teams to their championship victories, emphasizing the significance of the event as the culmination of a long and challenging journey.
Photo by Jaelyn Arndt/NCAA
Vice President Harris acknowledged the sacrifices made by the athletes, stating, "Only the best of the best become a national champion. I know it wasn't easy. You made tremendous sacrifices. Training through injuries, birthdays, vacations, and even a pandemic. You know, all of you, what it means to commit and to persevere."
Logan Eggleston, reflecting on the power of sports to bring people together, expressed her pride in being there with her fellow athletes, saying, "I'm so proud to be here today with all of you. This is what I love about sports. It can bring people together from all backgrounds and identities. The diversity we see here today reflects American society, and the qualities we portray as student-athletes are important values that we as a country continue to exhibit every single day, such as commitment, communication, trust, and acceptance."
Referring to the traditional motto on the Great Seal of the United States, "E pluribus unum," NCAA President Charlie Baker addressed the champions, stating, "That is exactly who you are and what you represent here today. You are the national champions in your sports, and you're here today representing all those who played with you and against you."
