Philosophy of Athletics at Goshen College

acayo_0910“Our intercollegiate athletics program is an important facet of the total educational program at Goshen College. A quality athletic program provides opportunities for the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of its participants, players, and coaches. Quality includes a chance to succeed athletically. It also means fidelity to our college mission, fairness in opportunity for women and men, support for the academic aspirations of athletes, good sportsmanship and attractive facilities. Athletes have the opportunity to learn the important life skills of wise time management, leadership and teamwork. Such life skills contribute positively to students performance on the playing field, in the classrooms and in residence life. Athletic teams have numerous opportunities to model a Christian lifestyle.”

-Adopted by the Goshen College Board of Overseers; January, 1996


All That’s Right With College Athletics

Whether its being a Champion in Competition, a Champion in the Classroom, or a Champion in the Community, Maple Leaf Athletics is doing it right.  Our student-athletes embody what it means to pursue excellence in all areas of their lives.

Champions in Competition

Tina Peters (Senior) has won 4 NAIA Track & Field National Championships
4 NAIA All-American, and 20 All-Conference selections in 2010
Women’s Track & Field placed higher than any other MCC school at the 2009 Outdoor NAIA Track and Field Championships

Champions in the Classroom

Record 50 NAIA All-American Scholar-Athletes in 2008-09
Volleyball, Cross-Country and Women’s Soccer awarded Scholar Team awards
52% of incoming freshman have GPA’s of 3.73 or higher (22% have 4.00)

Champions in the Community

The Leaf Relief program, designed to get our student-athletes into the community and give back, focuses on three areas:
1. Community service projects
2. Raising awareness for various Causes
3. Raising funds for local and international organizations.

2008-09 Projects included:

  • Sponsoring a child from Rwanda through World Vision’s child sponsorship program
  • Running free basketball clinics in every elementary school in Goshen Community Schools
  • Toys for Tots drive that collected toys at Christmas for local children in need
  • Canned Food Drive that collected non-perishable food at Thanksgiving
  • Shoes for Kenya, a collection of shoes sent to young aspiring runners in Kenya
  • Family Fun Fest, a free family carnival event that was fun for the whole family.
  • Volunteering with LaCasa, Habitat for Humanity, and Feed the Children
  • Pink Out Night as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • Various other fund-raisers and projects