Wheaton College Athletics

Throughout the history of intercollegiate athletics at Wheaton College our mission has remained the same: to employ competitive sports to develop within our students, not just physical prowess, but the depth of faith, strength of character and skills of leadership required for a lifetime of service to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. This high purpose requires us to strive for excellence in every dimension of our athletics programs. Yet it is an excellence defined by our mission, not by lesser measures.

 

We believe competitive sports add a crucial dimension to the life of Wheaton College, providing distinctive educational opportunities to each participant. Former student-athletes and spectators alike testify to the ways sports at Wheaton shaped how they lead in the workplace or in the church, how they serve in government or in volunteer organizations, and how they give of themselves in the home or in the community.

 

Excellence in athletics compels Wheaton athletes and teams to prepare, and then perform, to the best of their abilities each time they take the field, and at Wheaton College we aspire to nothing less. This kind of competitiveness is woven into the fabric of what we mean by excellence. The immediate purpose of athletic competition is to win, and winning is our goal each time we walk onto the court or step up to the plate.

 

Yet underlying this goal is a greater one, the goal of shaping lives for Jesus Christ. We believe that if we succeed here, even when we lose a match or game, we have achieved our mission; conversely, if we win ever game but fail here, we will have achieved little of lasting significance.

 

This broader mission brings gifted athletes to Wheaton even when they may forego scholarships elsewhere. They are drawn here, not only because of the winning tradition of the College, but because they understand that our athletics programs are integral to the College’s overall purpose- to develop whole and effective Christians to serve Christ wherever they go. At Wheaton, they know they will receive a world-class Christian liberal arts education while also participating in a first-rate athletics program.