Division III Week Student Spotlight - Sam Hitt

This week is NCAA Division III Week and member institutions across the country are celebrating the eighth-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 Sam Hitt is today's featured student-athlete.

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 By Vic Jerald

Sports Information Assistant

Name: Sam Hitt

Year: Senior

Hometown: Finksburg, Md.

Major: Business Administration    

Career Goals: Pursue a career in the business or medical field

Sport: Men's Lacrosse  

Athletic Accomplishments: Hitt was named the first USA South Athletic Conference Player of the Year for men's lacrosse in 2018. He was also selected as the Huntingdon Male Student-Athlete of the Year as a junior.

Among active players, Hitt ranks first in Division III in career faceoff attempts (1,296), second in career faceoff wins (842) and second in career ground balls (482). For players with more than 1,000 career attempts, he ranks second in faceoff win percentage (65-percent).

During his four-year career, Hitt has set Huntingdon records for career faceoff wins and faceoff win percentage, as well as faceoff wins in a season (250), faceoff wins in a game (29) and ground balls in a game (21). He ranks second in career ground balls with 482 and his current 75.1 faceoff win percentage ranks first in a season by a Hawk.

Despite missing time with an injury this season, Hitt is third in Division III with 154 faceoffs won this season and, among players with at least 200 faceoff attempts, he leads Division III in faceoff win percentage. His 119 ground balls are second in Division III. He also has 10 goals this season.

What made you feel like Huntingdon was the right place for you? "From the second I stepped on campus, I knew Huntingdon was going to be the perfect school for me. The family atmosphere here is unlike any other school that I had visited and the school does a great job in making sure you feel included in that family. Along with the rigorous academics and the strong athletics programs, I knew Huntingdon was the right place for me."

What has made your Huntingdon experience unique? "The amount of connections and friendships I have made in my four years here has made my Huntingdon experience unique. The friendships and bonds I have created with the students and faculty here will stay with me for the rest of my life."

How has Huntingdon challenged you academically and athletically? "Huntingdon does a fantastic job in not only providing courses that will challenge you in the classroom, but also providing you with all the tools that you need to grow as a student and an athlete. Those tools will help you, not only in your time here as a student, but also when you graduate and enter the workforce."

What has been your biggest highlight as a Huntingdon student-athlete? "My biggest highlight as a Huntingdon student-athlete was winning the first USA South men's lacrosse championship last season. It was really rewarding to see all of the hard work we put in, during the preseason and season, pay off. Being able to share an accomplishment like that with my team was an incredible experience."

As a student-athlete, what is your impression of Division III now compared to your first season? "When looking at Division III now, I have come to realize the amount of work that the athletes have to put in to succeed at this level. The amount of training and dedication that people put in to be the best is much stronger than I believed it would be."