Competitive Division III athletics. Rigorous academics. For more than 20 percent of Whitman students, it is an ideal combination. It’s about sacrifices and rewards. Individual brilliance and brilliant team effort. Caring coaches and memorable bus/van rides. Winning plays they will remember for life and winning lifelong friends. It’s about balancing the mind and the body in order to transform the self. It’s what being a scholar-athlete is all about.

“If it were not for the basketball program and my coach, Michelle Ferenz, I may not have even heard of Whitman college,” admits Kelsey Krumdieck, a history major and varsity basketball player who came to Whitman from San Diego, California. “But once I read more about the college and visited, I was sold.”

What were Kelsey’s first impressions about Whitman?

“All I know is that I came to visit for a weekend and immediately fell in love with the beautiful campus and the town of Walla Walla. I felt like the people I met were happy to be here and that made me think that I might be happy to be at Whitman too.”

“Since then my life at Whitman and Whitman athletics have been completely intertwined, and I would not have it any other way. I love how it keeps my life in balance. If I had to pick the best part of basketball, I would say that it is the support I get from my team — they are some of my closest friends at Whitman.”

“Another great thing about Whitman athletics is that all of the teams are great at supporting each other,” continues Kelsey. “My fellow athletes are often the loudest fans at my games and vice versa. We all understand the sacrifices and rewards that come with competitive DIII athletics at a rigorous academic school like Whitman.”

Kelsey not only maintains a high GPA but also is involved in several campus activities.

“It is definitely easy to get involved at Whitman. In fact there are probably too many opportunities to explore. One of the main things I’m involved in is my sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma. Kappa has offered me many ways to serve the community through philanthropic and Greek-affiliated activities. It has given me the opportunity to hone my leadership skills and develop valuable relationships with Whitman alums for the future. Most importantly, it has allowed me to make some great new friends ”

Kelsey describes the Whitman experience: “I’ve discovered that it is not only the quality of the academics, or my relationships with my professors, or the basketball games and other social events that make me appreciate Whitman. It’s also the times in between when I’m just relaxing with my friends and feeling happy and lucky to be here.”