SPORTS
1
Grappling with athlete housing
STORY BY DOUG FRY
SPORTS EDITOR
The Clackamas Community College
wrestling team helps us step into the shoes
o f a student-athlete in a small way by
showing a glimpse into their experience
living with other athletes.
For many students, a home is not a
worry when they look forward to going
to college, but athletes at CCC do not
always have the luxury of living at home.
CCC student-athletes bear the burden of
finding affordable housing close to campus
while juggling the transition to becoming
a college athlete.
Unlike the m ajority o f universities,
Clackamas does not have dorms or on-
campus housing for students or student-
athletes who attend the school. On top of
finding a place to live the wrestlers also
have to worry about finding their next
meal. Most college athletes are set up
through meal plans where students are
given a set amount of meals on-campus
per term. With on campus living and meal
plans, studpnt-athletes would have a large
weight lifted o ff their shoulders while
tackling the challenges of school.
Josh Rhoden is entering his 12th year
as the head wrestling coach at Clackamas.
After many years he has seen the benefits
and the shortcomings of CCC.
“ Wrestling is one o f the
toughest sports and
we’re a ll going through
the same th in g "
- Clai Quintanilla
“I t’s som ething that people recruit
against us nationally,” said Rhoden.
“[Clackamas doesn’t] have dorms. Parents
want to hear that their kids are going to
be looked after and have meals provided.”
The benefits o f a meal program on
campus would reach past the athletic
department and also help students who
cannot afford paying for each meal.
“You’ve got a lot of guys who are trying
to figure out how to cook for themselves
for the' first time, figuring out how to
manage their money versus having it on a
meal plan card and having nutritious stuff
prepared for them,” said Rhoden. “I think
there is a benefit to that, I know there is.”
Freshman Clai Quintanilla is joining the
wrestling team and coming from Spokane,
Wash. He is living with three teammates.
“It’s tough, you’re used to coming home
to your family,” said Quintanilla. “You
have guys on the team that you bond with
and eventually become your family. We’re
going through it together. Wrestling is one
of the toughest sports and we’re all going
through the same thing, so you’re able to
push each other.”
One burden student-athletes have to cope
with is growing up quickly while living
on their own. They do so while struggling
to balance class, work, practice, social
life and the responsibilities of living on
their own.
“We’re all hungry, we’re all working
for the same thing,” said Israel Casarez,
freshman wrestler from Reno, Nev. “Most
the athletes here are just getting by. It’d
be nice to have a meal plan and a place
for us to live, that would make it a lot
easier on us.”
Casarez says that like most qollege
students with roommates they have their
conflict and friction that comes with
having roommates, but there are benefits
of living with other wrestlers.
“We all have the same schedule, same
classes, practice at the same time so it
helps a lot,” said Casarez.
The life of a college athlete is difficult
alone, but when they have to find living
arrangements on their own they can easily
be distracted from school work and their
sport. Being able to lighten the load
wrestlers already face is the goal of Rhoden
and his coaching staff by pairing them with
roommates and building relationships with
the local apartment complexes.
photos by Sam Weston
The Preserve and Landing apartments are two of several used by Clackamas
Community College athletes for housing. The Preserve apartments are off of
Molalla Avenue within walking distance from campus.
Clackamas Print
The Landing apartments are across from Oregon City High School off Beavercreek
Road nearly two miles by car and one for students to walk.
t h e c la c k a m a s p r in t .n e t
_____________ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ November 15,2017
J