Cedarville's christian worldview sets them apart in the sports world By Avonfea Brown On a typical afternoon, the halls of the Callan Athletic Center are filled with students. They are on the way to the gym for practice, to the weight room, or coming from the locker rooms after a team meeting. Students that pass one another offer encouraging remarks, a brief 'hello,' and give a friendly high-five before moving on. There is always a faint smell of sweat, the sound of sneakers on the gym floor can be heard echoing around the building, and every once in a while you will see a soccer ball roll by followed by a student. Contrary to stereotypes, the gym atmosphere is full of friendly students who are always willing to help one another. This community of students has a higher purpose than just performing well in their sports. This purpose is reflected in how Cedarville defines sports to its students. 22 CED61l5 Photograph by Logan Howa rd The Oxford dictionary defines a sport as, "an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment." Some people add games such as Chess and esports to the list, while others scoff at the notion. There are many debates about what a sport is and the definition of sports is flexible from individual to individual. At Cedarville University a unique component is added to the definition of sports. Sports are a way of putting the Christian worldview into practice and glorifying God. Students at Cedarville are taught that any and all gifts they have can be used to glorify God. Athletic ability is a gift and students on sports teams are encouraged to use their time to discover how their faith can be incorporated into their sport. The emphasis on the community between players and teams is part of Cedarville's Christian worldview. especially humility and fellowship. Doada Sieh, a sophomore mechanical engineering major and a runner on the men's track team, sE!es this as a way to take the focus of a sport off the individual and put it more on God. "Sports can be used to glori fy God when the athlete learns that the sport is not all about them." Sieh said. "When they remove all the attention from themselves and realize that all the skills they have and where they are is because of God, they start celebrating Him in all o f their wins and losses." Jo Holmes is a sophomore mechanical engineering major and participant in an intramural sand volleyball team. She enjoys the unique understanding of sports that the campus community fosters. Particularly the team focus, taking the pressure off the ind ividuals to compete against each other. Fall 2022
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