Division III Week Student Spotlight - Will Thrash

This week is NCAA Division III Week and member institutions across the country are celebrating the sixth-year event.

Division III Week, which runs from Monday through Sunday, is intended to recognize the academic and athletic accomplishments as well as the campus leadership and community service efforts of Division III student-athletes.

As part of Huntingdon College's participation in Division III Week, five student-athletes will be featured this week. Huntingdon senior Will Thrash is today's featured student-athlete. 

By Chuck Tidmore

Sports Information Assistant

Name: Will Thrash    

Year: Sr.

Hometown: Prattville, Ala.  

Major: Accounting

Career Goals: Plans to turn professional in golf after the NCAA Division III tournament in May.

Sport: Men's Golf

Athletic Accomplishments: Thrash entered the spring season with an impressive resume and is currently the 12th ranked player in Division III. During the fall, Thrash shot a 5-under-par 67 for his best round at Huntingdon before taking medalist honors in the DIII Preview. Last season, he was named honorable mention All-American by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and honorable mention All-Conference. As a junior, he helped lead the Hawks to the NCAA Division III national tournament where he tied for 12th individually. He also set the Huntingdon NCAA-era record with 85 birdies in a season. During his sophomore campaign, Thrash was named to the GCAA All-Region team and was a second-team All-Conference selection.

Academic Achievements and Campus Activities: Thrash was named to the Academic All-Conference team as a junior and was a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee his freshman and sophomore season.   

What made you feel like Huntingdon was the right place for you? "Coming out of high school, I hadn't been playing golf a lot and I didn't have many opportunities to play in college. I knew some people that went to Huntingdon and so I came and met with the coaches and really liked what they had to offer. I'm happy with my decision and it has worked out great." 

What has made your Huntingdon experience unique? "It will have to go back to golf with me. We get to do a lot of traveling and we are able to see some really cool places. Being on the road so much, you form a close bond with your teammates, which is really special. Academically speaking, I like the bond you can form with the professors. I feel like I can talk to any of my professors at anytime which is really cool."

How has Huntingdon challenged you academically and athletically? "To combine the two, traveling makes it really hard. You have to learn how to manage your time well when on the road to keep your grades at a high standard."

What has been your biggest highlight as a Huntingdon student-athlete? "All the wins we have had. It is really fun when you are winning and it's hard to think of just one. If I had to pick one, it would have to be the Gordin Classic. We won by 30 strokes and a few of us had a chance to win the tournament as an individual but we were unable to do that. That was the most fun I have had."

As a student-athlete, what is your impression of Division III now compared to your first season? "I didn't know a lot about the different divisions when I came here. I figured Division III would be smaller and not quite as strong competition. But you see that talent around Division III and the guys are putting in just as much time and getting better every day. For me, I was a late bloomer golf wise, and it gave me an opportunity to get better and realize my potential."