By Olyver LaGabed, Staff Writer
When you think of community on a college campus, what’s the first thing you think of? Is it college cafeteria food? Might it be events in the courtyard? Could it even be just as simple as the inevitable exam psychosis every student enters at one point or another? For most of you, it’s likely a combination of all three of these things, along with one secret fourth option: sports.
Every college in the United States has a sports program — and if they don’t, they’re not a real college. (I’ve been informed that this is a comment I’m not allowed to make unless I strictly clarify that I’m joking. So… in case you were wondering, I am joking). That being said, Pellissippi State Community College is no stranger to its sports. Pellissippi State has a large number of options for sports degrees, anything from golf all the way to the topic of this article: soccer.
Soccer is arguably one of Pellissippi State’s most notable sports. This past year, students witnessed the building of Pellissippi State’s soccer field, and now we’re finally getting to use it! So far this season, our men’s soccer team has had the opportunity to compete in three games, our first victory being against Lindsey Wilson JV on September 9 and our second on September 20 against Dyersburg State Community College. And that’s only the start of Pellissippi State’s soccer season, with one more game happening before the end of this month — on September 25 at 1:30 p.m. For more details, you can always check Pellissippi State Community College’s sports page for updates.
For many players, soccer season at Pellissippi State is a huge deal. It’s a chance to go out onto the field and really show their community everything they’ve worked on. This week’s Player of the Week, Yahir Pacheco, had the following to say about how sports at Pellissippi State have impacted him:
“Soccer has a pretty big impact on my college life because it’s a big part of my everyday routine. Moving from Illinois to Tennessee for college was a big change for me, and soccer made that transition a lot easier. It gave me something familiar to focus on and helped me meet people and build relationships with my teammates. It also keeps me disciplined and teaches me how to manage my time between school, training, games, and having a social life. Being away from home and adjusting to a new state has definitely been an experience, but soccer has given me a community and something I can always rely on.”
Ultimately, there are a lot of things that make up the backbone of Pellissippi State’s community — but between every exam, on-campus event, and soccer match, the biggest thing that really builds the foundations of our college is the people who come together and support one another. Programs like athletics help students to feel more connected to each other and their campus as they navigate through the different aspects of college life. At the end of the day, a college campus just isn’t a college campus without its sports department. In the aforementioned interview I had with Pacheco, he delves deeper into the impact that soccer had on his life, explaining that soccer has not only helped him find community, but it has also helped shape who he is as he navigates college life:
“Soccer has brought a lot of people and memories into my life and it has helped shape me into the person I am today. I’m very grateful for all the opportunities soccer has given me and for everyone who has supported me along the way. Go Panthers!”
Pacheco said it best: Go Panthers! And be sure to check out all Pellissippi State sports have to offer!
