We’ve all seen the movies with the jock wearing letterman jacket teasing the nerd in the halls. Deep down, we sympathize with the nerd, knowing he’ll grow up to change the world while the jock amounts to nothing. The media has done a great job supplying the ammunition for the arsenal against the student athlete. However, upon inspection, it was easy for me to see that Skyline’s student athletes defy this negative stereotype.

Talk to any of Skyline’s coaches and their focus for their players begins in the classroom. Skyline’s coaches all share a philosophy that is measured off the field, emphasizing the importance of excelling in the classroom, reminding them that they offer more than just a winning record.

As Sports Editor of The Skyline View, I had the pleasure of getting to know a number of Skyline’s athletes and coaches. Amazingly, I’ve never had to suffer a swirly at the big, burly hands of a jock, reminiscent of scenes in 1980s teen dramas. Instead, I’ve met class-act players who thanked me for attending games, proud coaches who shared the accomplishments of their players, and a dean of athletics willing to do anything he can to help his Trojans and The Skyline View. Skyline College has an athletics staff that approaches collegiate sports the right way.

Every team on campus is made up of students who thanks to their coaches see the big picture. A baseball team that averages 18 units per player and consistently sends its entire squad on to four-year universities only complements the State Scholar Award received by the basketball team this past season. Every coach on campus has their students’ success stories posted on their office doors. For this, I applaud Skyline Athletics for their dedication to their players and to the athletes who choose to be students first.