Lehigh ex-athletes find niche on campus

When signing a National Letter of Intent to become a Division I athlete, some athletes focus on the benefits of the next level.

But what that contract doesn’t mention is the other commitments that come along with it, such as long hours, muscle aches, the painful injuries and tough workouts. Because of this, some student athletes have chosen to pursue a different path after playing a Division I sport at Lehigh.

Senior ex-field hockey player Amanda Granger said while she loved her sport, it became more of a job than a game and diminished the love she had for it.

“The reason I decided to leave the team was based on my commitments to my senior thesis as well as my busy class schedule in loom of graduating early,” Granger said.  “The stress of balancing athletics and academics is already a challenge, and when you throw in a new coach with high demands for the team, it became overwhelming.”

Granger said because she quit, her life as a college student is finally back in her control. Although she does not regret having the experience of a Division I athlete, she said she has taken the opportunity to use her newfound free time to pursue things she is passionate about and knows that long term, it will benefit her professional career.

Senior ex-baseball player Spencer Diggins had his decision made for him. Back and neck injuries ended his career earlier than he would have liked.

“I was in too much pain to the point that I wasn’t having fun anymore,” Diggins said. “I do miss playing at times, however — I still hangout with the guys all the time, so I feel like I’m a part of the team.”

Extra free time has also given Diggins the opportunity to enjoy possibilities he hadn’t considered while on the team like participating in Greek life. He is now a member Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He says it also helped him in his career to pursue internships and ultimately get a job.

Unlike her fellow classmates, senior ex-soccer player Brinn McClennan said her decision came from personal reasoning. The death of a close friend led to a tough spring semester and then a summer abroad in which McClennan realized interests she wouldn’t be able to develop if she remained an athlete.

McClennan said she believes she ultimately made the right decision to stop playing.

“I wouldn’t trade my two years on the team for the world,” McClennan said.  “I had the chance to meet some of the best people during my time and had the opportunity to grow immensely thanks to the teammates, coaches and others in the athletic community. I believe I made the right decision for my own development and aspirations, but don’t get me wrong — I miss it all the time.”

For Granger, the opportunity to work as an event coordinator at Hotel Bethlehem, pursue graduate school and work on her research were some of the advantages she found worth dedicating more time to and exploring further.

As for McClennan, she was able to begin pursuing fashion through her internship with CollegeFashionista last spring. In addition, she also earned a full-time job with Lord & Taylor after interning for the company last summer. She has even worked for Lehigh Sports and taken photos during the different sports teams’ seasons.

“I’ve loved being able to keep up with the different sports teams, but I honestly would be at most of the games regardless,” McClennan said.

Granger said her effort to stay connected with her team has come out of nothing but respect for Lehigh Athletics. She said she cheers on her friends at all their home games and enjoys watching them continue to make progress year after year.

All three athletes agreed they miss their sport everyday, but made the right decision. The teams and sports are still a huge part of all of their lives.

“It’s hard to break the bond of teammates, which is one of the greatest features of being a part of a team,” McClennan said. “They will always feel like family.”