Division III Week Student Spotlight – Tyler Chaffee
This week is NCAA Division III Week and member institutions across the country are celebrating the fourth-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, six student-athletes will be featured this week. Huntingdon senior Tyler Chaffee is today's featured student-athlete.
Name: Tyler Chaffee
Year: Senior
Hometown: Greenville, S.C.
Major: Graphic Design
Career Goals: Own and run an ad agency
Sport: Men's Tennis
Athletic Accomplishments: A four-year player for the men's tennis team, Chaffee has a 37-7 record in doubles during his career and is 8-0 in doubles this season. He was chosen to the USA South Academic All-Conference team as a junior. During his freshman season, he helped the Hawks win a conference title in their final season as members of the Great South Athletic Conference.
Academic Achievements and Campus Activities: Chaffee is a Huntingdon Ambassador and the Vice President of Communications for Sigma Phi Epsilon. He has been a member of the Dean's List and the Dean's List of High Honors and is a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Honor Society.
What made you feel like Huntingdon was the right place for you? "I liked the small-school atmosphere and being able to play tennis here. When I met the team, it was a good fit for me and coach Charlie Lane was a great fit."
What has made your Huntingdon experience unique? "With the school being so small, it has really helped me develop connections. Vice President Anthony Leigh and the people in his office have been a big help to me and other students. They've helped me get a couple of internships and I've had a great experience doing jobs and internships outside of Huntingdon."
Former head men's tennis coach Charlie Lane, who passed away in February, was one of the primary reasons you and your teammates chose Huntingdon. As you reflect on the time you had as one of Charlie's players, what kind of an impact did he have on you and your teammates? "He definitely had a big impact on us. He was a great person. I've never met anyone who didn't like him. Every match we've played this year, the first thing the other team tells us is how sorry they are for our loss. They all make sure to tell us what a great guy they thought he was."
Of all the things Charlie taught you, is there a biggest lesson you learned from him? "Probably, just how to be a good person. He was big on attitude and being a good sport. He was all about sportsmanship and he was always positive. Even as he was going through his health battles, if you didn't know what he was going through, you wouldn't be able to tell by just talking to him. He was always happy and upbeat."
What has been your biggest highlight as a Huntingdon student-athlete? "Winning conference my freshman year. That was coach Charlie Osten's first year as well. Everyone was so excited and pumped up. Piedmont is a big rival and we beat them 5-0 in the championship match."
As a student-athlete, what is your impression of Division III? "I feel like it's a good balance between school work and tennis. It's not too much of either. I know several athletes at the Division I level, who play for a year but then get burned out. At the Division III level, it's the perfect combination. You have enough time for school, to play a sport and still be able to do other things you enjoy."