The power of St. Olaf Athletics
St. Olaf College is more than a campus — it’s a community. The same can be said for St. Olaf Athletics, which provides student-athletes with so much more than simply the opportunity to compete. During their time on the Hill, Ole student-athletes form lifelong friendships, gain valuable skills, and continue to play the sport(s) they love, all while receiving a world-class education.
This 2021-22 academic year, St. Olaf has 583 student-athletes competing in 26 sports, including alpine skiing, baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, hockey, Nordic skiing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. This year, Ole student-athletes hail from 44 different states and 16 countries around the globe.
As a member of NCAA Division III, St. Olaf competes as a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) in 22 of its 26 sports alongside 12 other institutions in the state. Collectively, St. Olaf has won 67 individual and team national championships and 185 conference championships.
In addition to competing at a high level, St. Olaf student-athletes engage in rigorous academics, participate in incredible internships, and are involved in a variety of student organizations on campus, providing them with a well-rounded college experience.
“Our student-athlete experience is our priority,” said St. Olaf Athletic Director Ryan Bowles. “St. Olaf Athletics is an extension of the classroom and provides our student-athletes the opportunity to learn and grow together and prepares them for a successful future. It is our goal that each of our student-athletes look back on their time on the Hill with fond memories of the impact being an Ole student-athlete had on their lives.”
St. Olaf Athletics is an extension of the classroom and provides our student-athletes the opportunity to learn and grow together and prepares them for a successful future.Athletic Director Ryan Bowles
Starting during their first semester on campus, all St. Olaf students participate in a program called St. Olaf Orientation to Academics and Resources (SOAR) that helps first-year students learn about the college’s academic resources, teaches them study techniques, and allows them to practice successful academic habits. As sophomores, student-athletes may be nominated for the Ole Leadership Academy (OLA), which is made up of several educational sessions around a variety of topics dedicated to developing future leaders.
Programs like SOAR and OLA are designed to help Oles set themselves up for future success beyond their time as a student-athlete. When combined with the opportunity to challenge themselves both athletically and academically in a tight-knit community, student-athletes at St. Olaf are able to develop themselves in a variety of ways on the Hill, positioning themselves for their future careers in whatever field they choose to pursue.