Division III Week Student Spotlight – Mark Melchor
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. Lucy Burch, Mark Melchor and Madi DeWees are today's featured student-athletes.
By Brittany Greene
Sports Information Assistant
Name: Mark Melchor
Year: Senior
Hometown: Madera, Calif.
Major: Exercise Science
Sport: Men's Tennis
Athletic Accomplishments: Melchor was a four-year member of the men's tennis team and played at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles as a junior and senior. During his career, he helped lead the Hawks to 27 wins and one appearance in the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament.
Academic Achievements and Campus Activities: Melchor is a member of Sigma Nu, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Student Government Association and served as Junior Class Treasurer.
What made you feel like Huntingdon was the right place for you? "The atmosphere, the design of our campus and the vibes it brought me were great. I knew it would be a place I would like to stay. The friendships I made helped me realize that they are my family and they helped make the transition from moving across the country much easier."
As a student-athlete, what is your impression of Division III now compared to your first season? "I always knew playing collegiate tennis at the Division III level would be very competitive, where you have to have the right mindset and try to outwork everyone."
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 to always cherish the moments you have with your family and friends. It is a blessing to be healthy and safe with this whole pandemic going on. However, we all have to make sure to be there for one another to make these tough times much easier, and to be able to get through this and be able to make more memories."
If you could offer one piece of encouragement at this time to your friends, family and classmates, what would it be? "You can't control what happens in life but you can control how you respond to it. Try to find ways to better yourself during these times. Keep striving for success. If you don't believe in yourself no one will."
What advice would you give our current underclassmen and incoming recruits to better prepare them for the next few years? "Always outwork the person next to you but try to work twice as hard in the classroom as you do on the field. Embrace the opportunity that is in front of you because not everyone could be a collegiate athlete."
How has your experience at Huntingdon prepared you for life after Huntingdon? "My experience at Huntingdon has helped me mature and be able to be prepared for graduate school. Having the resources the institution provided as well as my awesome professors I was able to get admitted into FSU Kinesiology graduate program."