123 Shares

From Shelton to Adelaide, Australia, students are making their way to South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) to become student athletes and compete at the next level. Each student forged their own path to the college and each student has different goals after they graduate. But, by being a student athlete at SPSCC, each player has found a wealth of support and opportunities for growth from the SPSCC community.

Ben Janssan

South Puget Sound Community College Student Athletes Basketball Ben Janssan
Ben Janssan is a basketball player and an international student from Australia. Photo credit: Molly Walsh

Ben Janssan is in his third quarter at SPSCC and attended the college to play basketball. As an international student from Adelaide, Australia, he first learned about SPSCC after attending Centralia High School as an exchange student.

“SPSCC was an option that I wanted to pursue due to their school record and their program and the winning culture,” explains Janssan. “That’s something I wanted to be part of.”

And that culture of success includes year-round workouts and weight-lifting sessions, even in the off season. “We have our workouts at Evergreen Monday through Friday,” says Janssan. “We’re still in the gym, still getting better, still got that goal of being a good team next year as well.”

In addition to basketball, Janssan keeps academics a top priority and works part-time on campus at the Clipper Café. “I’m on campus a lot trying to keep my grades up and obviously do well in school, because that’s very important, also.”

Working toward a transfer degree, Janssan hopes to eventually move onto a four-year school after graduation while continuing to play basketball. But in the meantime, he is thankful for the unique opportunity of attending school on the other side of the world. “My favorite part would just be the experience in general,” says Janssan. “Getting to play basketball in another country and go to school and meet new people and have that whole experience is an opportunity that not many people get, so I’m grateful for that.”

Trinity Betoney

South Puget Sound Community College Student Athletes Basketball Trinity Betoney
Trinity Betoney is a basketball player graduating in the summer. Photo credit: Molly Walsh

Trinity Betoney is a sophomore basketball player, slated to graduate this summer. After growing up in Arizona and moving to Nevada, Betoney transferred to SPSCC after being recruited by a friend. “A friend contacted me saying that the coach needed players,” recalls Betoney. “I was just going to end up going to community college and not play, so my friend told me that they needed players at SPSCC, so that’s kind of what brought me here.”

After being a player and student at SPSCC, Betoney is appreciative of the coaches and staff for their assistance to student athletes both on and off the court. “They really work around your schedule a lot here,” says Betoney. “I feel like the coaches and the staff and the athletic directors, they’re really nice and they help a lot. If we need something like books or anything, they’ll help us do scholarships. Or, if we want to find work, they’re always there to help us find that. They help us a lot.”

Currently, Betoney is weighing offers to play basketball from multiple four-year colleges and hopes to make a couple of campus visits before making a final decision. “I have a couple different offers from different schools and I’m just trying to see which ones best fits me,” explains Betoney.

Abigail Green

South Puget Sound Community College Student Athletes Volleyball Abigail Green
Abigail Green plays volleyball and hopes to eventually become a doctor. Photo credit: Molly Walsh

For Abigail Green, volleyball has always been a consistent support. “Volleyball has been the one thing, that no matter what’s going on in life, or what’s happening, I can just be on the court and play the game,” explains Green. Green grew up in Port Angeles and Olympia, earned her GED and started college classes before realizing school wasn’t right for her at that moment.

After spending some time traveling in Texas and California, Green decided to come back to the Pacific Northwest and give college another try. “The moment I stepped foot in this building, it was like ten times better,” explains Green. “Even just the Start Here Desk, where I work, that wasn’t there before. All the help and all the people who want and care about you. That really got me in the door.”

And Green’s time as a student athlete has been an experience in academic and personal development. “A year down of school being an athlete, I am a complete different person,” says Green. “From the responsibility, from having to plan a schedule and do all these outside events for the community. It’s been such an amazing experience and as a freshman athlete, it’s probably one of the hardest things you go through. But by your sophomore year, it’s so worth it to stick it out because you just learn so much.”

After graduation, Green hopes to transfer to a four-year college, continue to play volleyball and eventually become an OB-GYN.

Juan Apaez

South Puget Sound Community College Student Athletes Soccer Juan Apaez
Juan Apaez is a goalie for the soccer team and is interested in eventually pursuing a career in law enforcement. Photo credit: Molly Walsh

Juan Apaez is a goalkeeper for the soccer team and is just about to finish up his first year at SPSCC. Born in Arizona, he moved to Shelton as a teenager. After graduating from Shelton High School, Apaez took time off to earn money for college. After a friend mentioned an open spot on the soccer team, Apaez contacted the coach and auditioned to join the team. “My favorite part has got to be soccer,” explains Apaez. “Soccer’s a big thing for me and it takes all of the stress that I have away. One big thing is I’m able to meet new people through the college and the soccer team, too. We’ve got this strong bond.”

As a student athlete, it is important for Apaez to do well on the field, but also put education at the forefront. “Aside from the fact that we have to go to school, which is the number one thing, it’s just setting time with work,” says Apaez. “You just try to find ways to better yourself and make school the number one priority.”

While working on earning a transfer degree, Apaez is also setting his sights on the criminal justice field by taking relevant classes, setting up meetings and making connections to volunteer with local law enforcement agencies. “I’m into criminal justice right now,” says Apaez. “I’m really into it.”

To learn more about the SPSCC Athletics program, schedules and athletes, visit the South Puget Sound Community College Athletics website.

Sponsored

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
123 Shares