by Chloe Dawson (Whetstone staff writer)

Traveling isn’t free for student athletes. Much of the money comes from fundraisers conducted by the students.
Fundraising money goes into the team’s restricted accounts, which can be used on whatever they intended the fund to be raised for, said Eric Nelson, vice president of finance.

“Raising money for special travel is in effect for all sports,” Nelson said. “No matter when in the year they play their season.”

Restricted accounts are the property of the sports team they’re associated with, he said.

Each team has a budget for equipment, travel and officials.

Other schools may have programs that are more self-supporting, Nelson said.

In 2008-2009, the total expenditures of the athletics department were $1,327,364, the same as its revenue.

The operating expense per player on the softball team came out to more than $2,000 that year.

For football, it was about $900 per player.

“Any spring sport that is going on a spring break must do some kind of fundraiser,” said Mike Drass, head of the athletics department. “Though they aren’t forced to.”

The football team had to raise money for their travel expenses.

“We sold tickets for NFL games,” sophomore Korey Thompson said.

For the general program, football holds other fundraisers.

The women’s softball team held a 100-inning game on Oct. 24 to support traveling over Spring Break, but the game did not last the full 100 innings. It ended at 55.

Each girl on the team was responsible for getting 30 addresses and each of their recipients gives a donation for each inning played.

This raised a bulk of the money for their trip to Florida in March, but they’re still coming up with new ideas.

The team will be playing in a tournament in Florida.

“We are constantly working on fundraising and there will be numerous more events that we will hold,” said Captain Carmen Walsh. “It is a repetitive effort that takes time, but if it’s done consistently, it will work.”

Fundraising motivates the teams, too.

“Nothing in this world is given so if they want something, they have to get it,” softball team captain Keeyana Talley said. “Everyone on the team is motivated to win more games. The more games you win, it will give them incentive to keep going out there to win more games.”

If the team wants to go to Florida to improve their skills they can’t do it without money, she said.