Coaches praise community at Cardinal Pride Luncheon
(Post sponsored by Tinsley Title, Holt Wrecker, R&R lawn specialists, Gibson Pharmacy.)
At TVCC, champions are measured in more than trophies.
Tuesday, coaches told Cardinal fans at the semester's first Cardinal Pride Luncheon that what happens on campus builds the foundation for success long after athletes leave Athens.
Softball Head Coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said that nearly every sophomore from last year’s roster advanced to play at a four-year school. Football Head Coach Sherard Poteete said the same is true across Cardinal athletics, pointing to a football player placed at West Virginia University just this week.
Both coaches said that none of it would be possible without support from Athens and the wider Cardinal family. Coach Winn-Ratliff said the community helps shape student-athletes, while Coach Poteete said the support is a key difference-maker.
“These are the reasons they come to the Valley,” he said. “We can’t do the things that we do, we’re not able to place people where we’re able to place them, without our community. That’s what sets The Valley apart from other places.”
Coach Winn-Ratliff said that building champions extends beyond competition. “We’re really excited to help empower some young women to be better people, number one, and stewards of our community,” she said.
The luncheon also celebrated academic success, including the women’s volleyball team earning the highest GPA of any junior college volleyball program in the country.
Fall softball games at Cain Park are scheduled for September and October, with details available online. The Cardinal football team opens the season this Saturday on the road in Kansas.
The next Cardinal Pride Luncheon is scheduled for October.