Division III Week Student Spotlight – Brooks Freeman
This week is NCAA Division III Week and member institutions across the country are celebrating the ninth-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, 18 student-athletes will be featured this week. Brooks Freeman, Madison Hunt and Tristan Powell are today's featured student-athletes.
By Adam Mann
Sports Information Assistant
Name: Brooks Freeman
Year: Senior
Hometown: Helena, Ala.
Major: Exercise Science
Sport: Baseball
Athletic Accomplishments: Freeman earned 24 starts as a pitcher and appeared in 31 games during his Huntingdon career. He finished his career with a 14-8 record, three complete games, 125 strikeouts and a 3.80 ERA in 163 1/3 innings. Freeman and the Hawks put together back-to-back 20-win seasons during his sophomore and junior years and advanced to the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament both seasons. As a junior, Freeman and the Hawks began the season with a 14-0 record for the program's best start during the NCAA era.
Academic Achievements and Campus Activities: Freeman was named to the Dean's List four times, the Dean's List of High Honors three times and has been a member of the USA South Academic All-Conference team each year of his collegiate career. He has been involved with Campus Ministries, has been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a Huntingdon Ambassador
What made you feel like Huntingdon was the right place for you? "I knew Huntingdon was the place for me when I was going through my first week of classes. Within a couple of days, my teammates, coaches and even the Vice President of the school knew who I was and made me feel at home."
As a student-athlete, what is your impression of Division III now compared to your first season? "I respect Division III a lot more now than when I was a freshman. That is mainly because as a freshman, I did not know everything that went into being a Division III student-athlete. It takes a lot of time and effort to be successful. Nothing is given to you at this level. You have to earn everything."
With the COVID-19 pandemic changing the world we live in, what have you learned about the compassion and resiliency of your friends, family and classmates? "I've learned through this time that I really do value the relationships of, not only my everyday family, but the relationships I have with my Huntingdon family. When you don't get to see those people every day, you realize how important your interactions with those people really are."
If you could offer one piece of encouragement at this time to your friends, family and classmates, what would it be? "Stay the course and keep the faith. God has got all of this under control."
What advice would you give our current underclassmen and incoming recruits to better prepare them for the next few years? "Get ready and embrace all of the changes. The first couple of weeks are going to be a little different, but you're about to have a lot of fun and find out who you really are."
How has your experience at Huntingdon prepared you for life after Huntingdon? "My experience at Huntingdon has prepared me by teaching me how to function on my own without being dependent on others while also providing invaluable connections that are already starting to pay off."