NOTE: As part of NCAA Division III week, the Saint Mary's Sports Information Office sat down with several Cardinals to talk about what it means to be a Division III student-athlete.

By ALEX NUEHRING
Saint Mary's Sports Information Intern
 
Jared Wolt (Farmington, Minn.) is a senior Mathematics major with a Sports Business minor on the Cardinal men's soccer team. He was named Honorable-Mention All- Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) in 2014 and 2016. He was also on the track and field team for three years, before choosing to only play soccer during his senior year.

AN: How have the coaches at Saint Mary's helped you grow as a player and person?
JW: One of my bigger influences as a coach was Coach Ward Brendt, the assistant track and field coach. He really helped me develop as a person and really helped me find my way as a leader off the team—and even in life in general. Pete Watkins, the soccer coach for my first three years, also really helped me build my leadership on the field for soccer. They gave me examples of how I should be and how the role model should behave. They had a good guidance for me to follow. Under their wing, I developed really well and became a better leader and person on and off the field. They just improved my life overall, and that's something I can't thank them enough for.

AN: What's the best part of being a Cardinal?
JW: Athletics has brought me really close to a bunch of great people. Since there's a lot of athletes on campus, we're a pretty tight-knit community and we bond over the fact that we all play sports. We're all here because we want a good education, but we still want to be able to compete in one of the best conferences in all of Division III. Being on this campus and a part of an athletic team has really brought me closer to a bunch of people and I have made a lot of friends in my four years.

AN: Has playing at the Division III level allowed you to be more involved on campus?
JW: Oh, yeah, for sure. In college, you really don't see most people compete in two sports, but especially here on our campus, there's a lot of people who do two sports. I was one of the people for three years. Being able to do those two sports, and have the understanding of the coaches that since we're Division III, we have other obligations that don't always coincide with our sport. All the coaches know that that's okay and they are okay with us pursuing other activities.

AN: How have you balanced school and athletics?
JW: I balance school and athletics by just doing all of my academics whenever my athletics aren't happening. I just find time here and there and get it done as quick as I possibly can.

AN: What would your advice be to a freshman student-athlete?
JW: Get involved, not only with the team, but off campus, through other sports and other activities. As well as, even though you're a freshman, don't always act like it—especially on the team. Be a vocal leader, be a leader of any sort and demand the respect of others on and off the field.

AN: Overall, what has your experience as a student-athlete at Saint Mary's University been like?
JW: Wonderful. Playing college sports is a dream. It's an experience that I don't think I'll ever forget, especially competing in the MIAC. It's been a lot of fun, I've made a lot of friends doing it, and I've been able to play some really high-level athletics—especially soccer. I wouldn't trade it for anything.