Category: Student Spotlights

By Shanque Williams

Track and field has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I watched my older sister and brother compete in high school while I was still in primary school. I didn’t fully understand everything about the sport at the time, but I knew one thing for sure, I wanted to be just like them. That early exposure planted a seed that would eventually grow into a passion and a dream. That dream became even more real when I watched my sister make the bold decision to move to another country to pursue her athletic career. Seeing her succeed showed me what was possible with hard work, sacrifice, and belief.

When it came time to choose where I wanted to continue both my academic and athletic journey, Clemson University stood out. I was fortunate to have multiple scholarship opportunities, but Clemson felt different. From the moment I stepped on campus during my recruiting visit, it felt like home. The energy of the town, the support from the people, and the overall environment made it an easy decision. Looking back now, I can confidently say it was the right choice. Clemson has exceeded my expectations in every way.

Sports have shaped my life in ways I never imagined. Moving to another country to pursue track and field was not easy, but it taught me resilience and independence. More than anything, this sport has taught me discipline. Track and field is one of the most honest sports there is—you get out exactly what you put in. There are no shortcuts, no hiding from the work. Every practice, every rep, every race reflects your effort. That honesty has helped me grow, not just as an athlete, but as a person. It has taught me lessons that go far beyond the track: consistency, accountability, and the ability to push through challenges even when things get tough.

My time at Clemson has been filled with unforgettable moments. One of the highlights of my journey so far has been earning a spot on my national team for the 2025 Pan American U23 Games. Representing my country is something I take great pride in, and it’s a moment I will never forget. Another major accomplishment has been helping my team win the ACC Championship title for the second year in a row. Achievements like these make all the hard work worth it.

Looking ahead, I have big goals both academically and athletically. I plan to complete my bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business management. Beyond college, I hope to continue competing at the professional level in track and field. At the same time, I’m also interested in building a career in sales, particularly in real estate. No matter which path I take, I know the lessons I’ve learned through sports will continue to guide me toward success.

April 6 each year is National Student-Athlete Day. The Institute is proud to support Clemson student-athletes through the UPIC Beyond the Game program. Meet our spring interns and some of their colleagues from Clemson Athletics.

Malick Daouda

How do you balance academics and athletics?+

Sometimes being an athlete and a student at the same time can be overwhelming, but having a clear schedule and avoiding procrastination help me focus on both.

What lessons from sports, particularly related to areas such as nutrition or training environment, have helped you in school or in life?+

One lesson I learned is that details matter. When preparing for a game or a tournament, details like how much water you drink or what and when you eat can have a big influence on how you perform. This relates to everything in life, when you do something, make sure to do it right and to not cut corners.

What is one sports science lesson every student-athlete should know that you could share with younger athletes?+

Quantity is not always better than quality. With all the resources available to us here, I learned that having a structured workout plan that focuses on your personal weaknesses is better than working twice as hard as you normally would, but without the structure that can help you to truly progress without increasing the injury risk

Kevin Collins

UPIC Beyond the Game Intern

How do you balance academics and athletics?+

Balancing academics and athletics comes down to time management, discipline, and priorities. As a student-athlete, I treat school as part of my sport. I plan my day ahead, using a schedule that blocks out time for classes, practice, studying, and recovery. I also try to stay ahead on assignments, so I am not overwhelmed during competition weeks. Communication is important too, especially with professors and coaches. At the end of the day, I remind myself that being a student comes first, and athletics is an opportunity that supports my education.

What lessons from sports, particularly related to areas such as nutrition or training environment, have helped you in school or in life?+

One major lesson I have learned from sports is the importance of consistency and proper fueling. Nutrition plays a big role in performance, and I have learned that what I put into my body affects my energy, focus, and recovery. That same idea applies to school, because if I am not taking care of my body, I cannot perform well academically either. Also, being in a structured training environment has taught me accountability and discipline. Showing up every day, even when I do not feel like it, has helped me stay consistent with my studying and with handling life’s responsibilities.

What is one sports science lesson every student-athlete should know that you could share with younger athletes?+

One important sports science lesson every student-athlete should know is the importance of recovery. Many younger athletes focus only on training hard, but recovery is just as important as the workout itself. This includes sleep, hydration, stretching, and rest days. Without proper recovery, the body cannot repair itself, increasing the risk of injury and decreasing performance. Understanding this early can help athletes have longer careers and perform at a higher level.

Aniyah Kitt

What does being a student-athlete mean to you and what is one of your most memorable experience as a student athlete?+

To me, being a student-athlete means balancing my performance on the track and in my studies. Having discipline and time management has been a huge factor in my ability to excel in both worlds.

One of my most memorable moments was my freshman year at the ACC Indoor Championship. This is when the women’s team became the Indoor Champions, and I became the 200m ACC Indoor Champion. I remember the rush of adrenaline I had and the feeling of joy and accomplishment. Knowing that not only the team’s efforts but mine as well were worth it. It felt surreal, and I was very grateful to share the experience with my teammates.

What lessons from sports, particularly related to areas such as nutrition or training environment, have helped you in school or in life?+

Some of the biggest lessons I have learned from sports are discipline and accountability. Being part of a team environment has taught me accountability because, although track is more of an individual sport, I still represent my team and work with them toward a common goal: winning. This mindset has helped me become more responsible and take ownership of my actions in everyday life, such as setting high expectations for myself in my schooling. I have also learned the importance of consistency and recovery. Being disciplined and taking care of my body properly after training is essential to performing at my maximum capacity while staying healthy and efficient. This includes proper hydration, sleep, and nutrition. Overall, these habits have helped me not only in my sport but also in maintaining balance and focus in other areas of my life.

How do you use sports science or data to improve your performance?+

I use sports science to track my splits in practice and on film and identify areas for improvement and error. This allows me to identify what I need to keep doing and working towards, and what I need to fix and strengthen. This can also be applied in the weight room to track my progression and strength. All this data helps me become the best version of myself and compete at a high level.

Daniel Kidd

What does being a student-athlete mean to you and what is one of your most memorable experience as a student athlete?+

Being a student-athlete means operating at a high level in multiple demanding environments simultaneously: academics, athletics and professionally while maintaining discipline, accountability, and consistency every day. It’s about managing time effectively, staying mentally resilient, and showing up even when it’s difficult.

One of my most memorable experiences was competing after working through an Achilles injury. That moment reinforced what being a truly student-athlete means to me: trusting the process, staying disciplined in recovery, and still performing under pressure. It wasn’t just about the race, but about overcoming adversity and executing when it mattered.

How do you use sports science or data to improve your performance?+

I use:

• Split times and race modeling to assess efficiency across each segment (e.g., 0–30m, 30–80m, 80–200m)
  
• Strength and power metrics in the weight room (force production, explosiveness)
  
• Recovery data like soreness, fatigue, and training load to avoid overtraining
  
• Biomechanics (posture, stride frequency, ground contact) to improve efficiency

For example, I’ve focused on staying patient through 0-30m and hitting top speed later in the race, which has directly improved my performance. Data allows me to train with intention rather than just effort.

What is one sports science lesson every student-athlete should know that you could share with younger athletes?+

One key lesson is: recovery is just as important as training.

Many younger athletes think improvement comes only from pushing harder, but performance actually improves during recovery. Without proper recovery, like sleep, mobility and nutrition, you increase injury risk and limit performance gains.

Understanding load management, listening to your body, and prioritizing recovery strategies (like mobility work and proper warm-ups) is what allows you to stay consistent and improve long-term.

Shanque Williams

UPIC Beyond the Game Intern

How do you balance academics and athletics?+

Honestly, it’s not always easy. Some days I feel like I’m rushing from class straight to practice and then trying to finish work late at night. What helps me is staying organized and not procrastinating, because once you fall behind, it gets stressful fast. Being a student-athlete has forced me to be more disciplined with my time. I’ve learned how to prioritize what needs to get done, even when I’m tired. It’s definitely a grind, but it’s made me more responsible overall.

How do you use sports science or data to improve your performance?+

I don’t always think about it as “sports science” in the moment, but I use it a lot without realizing it. For example, I pay attention to my times, how I feel during workouts, and how my body responds after practice. If something feels off, I know I need to adjust—whether that’s getting more rest, eating better, or changing how I train. Even small things like focusing on my form or recovery can make a big difference. It’s about training smarter, not just going hard every day.

What is one sports science lesson every student-athlete should know that you could share with younger athletes?+

One thing I wish more athletes understood is how important recovery is. A lot of people think working harder every day will automatically make you better, but
that’s not always true. If you’re not getting enough sleep or taking care of your body, your performance is going to drop. I’ve learned that rest days, stretching, and even just listening to your body are just as important as practice. Taking care of yourself is what helps you stay consistent and improve.

Shantae Foreman

How do you balance academics and athletics?+

Balancing academics and athletics takes extreme discipline and focus. You have to make a lot of sacrifices: put aside a lot of things in terms of enjoyment and going out with friends; put your academics and your mental health first.

What is one aspect of sports science that you believe helps you the most during your athletic career?+

To be honest, nutrition. I had to change my diet, where and how I eat, the amount I eat, and the time I eat, and it was really challenging. But if I were younger and knew it would affect how I perform, I would have looked into it more.

By Nathan Inman

As the semester is entering the home stretch, so too is the newest vehicle build for Clemson Baja SAE. After months of designing, the vehicle is now in its final stages of the build phase as the team prepares to compete in a competition in New York this June.

The RHBSSI sat down with Nicholas Roessler, a freshman automotive engineering major and the team’s chassis lead and head welder, to discuss how the build has progressed over the semester.

“The new build’s coming along well,” he said. “We’re kind of in the final steps of welding together our chassis. Suspension is finally getting finalized, so we can start making the suspension and figuring out where it goes on the car.”

As the chassis lead, Roessler is responsible for ensuring the chassis meets the standards required for the vehicle to handle the rough terrain it will encounter in competition. If one thing went wrong with the chassis, it could derail the entire build.

With that in mind, Roessler said he understands the important responsibility placed upon him and is confident that the chassis will be able to handle whatever is thrown its way.

“Driver safety is the most important thing to us, 100%,” he said. “As I’m getting there, and as I’m designing the chassis, that’s the main thought. We really can’t chance having something break, and so structural integrity is definitely the most important thing.”

Roessler mentioned that throughout the semester, one particular challenge with the chassis has been making it entirely in-house. The team has primarily focused on not outsourcing any development and on making the vehicle entirely student-built.

“There’s a learning curve to kind of bending our own tubes, and there’s been a lot of mistakes actually putting the chassis together, but we’ve kind of got it figured out and on a roll,” he said.

When Clemson Baja last spoke with the RHBSSI, the team focused on a brand-new test track under construction for them to test their newest build right here in Clemson. Roessler says the track will help the team ensure all the pieces are in place for the build to hold together before they compete in June.

“It’ll probably be one of the most beneficial things that has happened for Baja in a long time, he said. “We’ll be able to actually test our vehicle, and that way, if anything fails, hopefully it fails with the shop five minutes away, and not in Rochester, New York.

As the build nears completion, the team has its sights set on June 11 for its first competition in Rochester with the new vehicle.

By Nathan Inman

February 28 was a day that was nearly three years in the making for Clemson Tiger Racing. After being established in 2023, CTR finally ran its first-ever endurance race late last month.

It could have been easy for the team to take it easy and just log laps to gain experience, leaving car number 223 to be an afterthought to its competitors. Instead, though, everyone knew they were there. The team finished fourth in the Saturday race after a solid showing throughout the day, leaving CTR with a shot at a podium finish. Unfortunately, the team was unable to cross the finish line, as the car ran out of gas and slowed to a stop out of the final corner.

While the race finished in heartbreaking fashion, the result was still one the team could be proud of.
“I think we were all flabbergasted that we made it through,” said Hadley Smith, a sophomore engineering major and race engineer for CTR. “We were so incredibly excited and proud of ourselves that we made it through the first day.” The pride Smith mentioned was echoed by several of her fellow team members.

“It’s hard for me to put this feeling into words,” said Macy Jersek, graduate student and operations lead for CTR. “I’m just so happy and really proud of this team. I think we all were just thrilled to see the car finish, and to be so successful and to be competitive with our little Miata with 80 horsepower.”

“I’m also very proud of everyone,” added Kieran Rogers, junior automotive engineering student who is the race engineer lead and a driver for CTR. “There’s a lot of work that went into it, so it’s very rewarding when you see we’re able to go on for as long as possible.”

As Saturday drew to a close, the focus shifted to Sunday, when the team would hit the track once more for the second race of the weekend. After the learning experience of their first race, the team was hopeful they could compete for a podium position once again.

Not only did CTR compete for a podium in Sunday’s race, and the team also led at the break after the first hour and held the lead for several hours afterwards. It appeared that CTR was going to have a shot at winning a race in its first-ever race weekend. Unfortunately, with roughly 90 minutes remaining, the car suffered a failure in the rear differential. With so little time remaining and the car extremely hot, CTR was unable to make repairs and was forced to retire from the race.

While the end result was not what the team had hoped for, the team members had every reason to hold their heads high and mark the weekend as a success. A car fully engineered, maintained and driven by college students lasted an impressive 341 laps and nearly 13 hours throughout the two races, leaving the expectations heading into the weekend in the dust. Even more impressive was that the parts built and installed by the team stayed in shape, and the only thing that prevented the team from completing all 14 hours and potentially earning a race win or podium was one that was never touched by the students besides fluid changes, serving as a testament to the work of the mechanics.

“I think it just really shows how hard every single one of the mechanics has been working,” said Matthew Flaim, an automotive engineering graduate student, as well as driver and lead mechanic for CTR. “Just the effort that has been going in to make sure that we’re making, not only a consistent and competitive race car, but also a safe race car.”

With CTR’s first race finally in the books, the team is now looking ahead to more races and hopes to be back on track in May at Atlanta Motorsports Park. With the experience of the first race weekend and the knowledge gained from it, the sky is now the limit for the team’s future success.

By Nathan Inman

Clemson Formula SAE has been engineering its 2026 race car, Tiger 26, over the last several months, and the finishing touches are nearing completion. Tiger 26 will make its debut when the team hits the track at Michigan International Speedway on May 13.

Launched in 1998, Clemson FSAE is a student-run race team partnered with the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. The organization provides students with real-life experience that cannot be replicated in the classroom, with opportunities in areas such as aerodynamics, business, chassis, electrical, powertrain and suspension. The event in May is part of the international FSAE series, which is hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The series serves as a way for students to see their hard work come to life and compete with other students from around the globe. 

With the annual event hosting thousands of students interested in engineering and motorsports, representatives from those industries attend the event to network with students and see what they are capable of firsthand. Peter Gaspich, suspension lead for Clemson FSAE, says that members of the organization have been able to gather connections at these events that later boosted them into roles with professional racing teams.

“One of our alumni is a performance engineer at [General Motors’] IndyCar program,” Kelly said. “We had a simulation performance engineer at Red Bull F1, and another simulation performance engineer at Alpine F1.”

With the opportunity to meet with industry professionals at these events, the work back at the shop in Clemson becomes even more important. When the team hits the track in Michigan, they will be facing a large variety of tests, such as skid pad, acceleration, autocross and endurance. During the several months spent engineering and building the car, the team must find the happy medium of all four of those areas to ensure their ability to be competitive throughout the entire event.

Gaspich explained that in the skid pad test, the car must complete two figure 8s of constant radius, which evaluates the “steady-state cornering ability,” which is essentially testing how much grip the car is able to make in a low-speed corner. It also evaluates the team’s ability to set up the car and make the best use of the tires. The acceleration competition is more self-explanatory. The acceleration test is practically a short drag race to evaluate how the car can accelerate from being stopped. Gaspich added that on a good day, their car goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 3.5 seconds and has even gotten down to around 3.3 seconds at times. 

From there, the event transitions into the autocross competition. In this event, a half-mile course is set up, and the team gets two chances with two different drivers to complete one lap and set the fastest time. 

“Autocross courses, especially at Michigan, are insanely difficult,” Gaspich said. “There are even some teams out there that’ll even have a professional driver, because as long as they are a student currently enrolled at your university, they are allowed to drive the car.”

Once the autocross event is complete, the competition transitions into the final event: endurance. The endurance event is the largest test of how well the car was built and engineered. The event is 30 straight minutes of racing, and while that doesn’t sound like much, Gaspich emphasized that at the end of the day, these cars are still completely student-built and aren’t professional-grade.

The event has been a tough one for Clemson SAE in recent years, as the team has not finished the full 30 minutes since 2022. Even then, though, the car overheated and severely reduced the top speed. The team came close to finally getting the monkey off its back in last year’s event, but fate had other plans.

“We had a pretty heartbreaking finish to endurance last year,” Gaspich said. “We were doing really good in all of our events, looking to finish at least top 20. We came in after our first stint of endurance to do the driver change, and suddenly we hear over the radio, ‘guys, we’re disqualified.’” 

As it turns out, the car had been leaking just a few drops of oil, and the rules for the event specify that the cars cannot leak any fluid whatsoever. As a result, the team was told their day was done, and the chance to finally finish the endurance event had been snatched away from them once again.

As Clemson FSAE completes its Tiger 26 build, the team is optimistic about their chances to run well in and complete all the events in May. When that time comes, they are ready for the challenges and look forward to getting back on track. Students interested in joining Clemson FSAE can find them on TigerQuest or visit https://www.clemsonfsae.com/join-the-team.

By Nathan Inman

As the semester progresses for Clemson Baja SAE, the team is working towards building its newest vehicle for competition later this year. However, the new vehicle is not the only thing the organization is constructing this semester.

Clemson Baja SAE was founded in 1978 and is a student-run engineering organization that designs and builds custom off-road vehicles to compete in the national Baja SAE Collegiate Design Series. The organization had become dormant following the COVID-19 pandemic, but a group of eight dedicated students were determined to bring the organization back to life in 2023.

Since its revival, Baja has utilized a test track in the woods behind their race shop to ensure their student-built vehicles were primed and ready to compete. Recently, though, the track was cleared and logged, completely destroying the course and making it unusable for the race team. The occurrence left Baja without a way to test their vehicles, meaning they would be unable to be sure that there were no mechanical or safety defects before traveling for competitions. That’s when Blanchard CAT and the Department of Construction Science and Management stepped in.

“This semester, we are partnering with the Construction Science department,” Tyler Odgers, president of Baja SAE, said in an interview. “Right now, they have drone scanned the entire block and they’re designing a track on their computers.”

Odgers added that Blanchard CAT has donated equipment for the construction of the track, something that would have been unfeasible for the team to afford. Just as it does for many professional race teams, funding for Clemson Baja often comes at a premium. With the need for funding, the organization cannot focus solely on engineering and manufacturing their vehicles. Odgers says that the team has begun developing a large business team in order to afford those aforementioned costs.

“Obviously, we need funding, right?” Odgers said. “We have a team that is essentially putting together a packet presentation that we can just go out and give to businesses. There’s a very big communications, marketing type of thing trying to get our name out there.”

Odgers went on to say that he sees opportunities for practically any major, and that “there are very few majors that I think can’t do something with us.” As the team continues to prepare for competition and the construction of its new race vehicle and test track, emphasis will still remain on the business and communications side of the organization. Any students interested in joining Clemson Baja SAE can find them on TigerQuest or go to https://cecas.clemson.edu/bajasae/join/

In celebration of National Girls & Women in Sports Day on February 4, the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute highlights seven female student-athletes. Representing a variety of sports, these athletes share their experiences as women in sport, reflect on the role of sports science in their development, and offer advice to the next generation.

Sade Gray – Track and Field

Major: Marketing
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

What does it mean to be a woman in sports?
To me, being a woman in sports means being strong, resilient, and unstoppable. It gives women the opportunity to chase goals at a high level, earn respect through work ethic, and open doors for younger girls watching. I want them to be able to think, “If she can do it, maybe I can too.”

What aspect of sports science have you found most interesting or impactful in your athletic experience?
The most impactful aspect for me has been recovery and nutrition. You can train hard every day, but recovery can truly make or break performance. Getting the right nutrients to heal injuries and build power and strength has helped me put my best foot forward consistently.

What is your advice for aspiring women in sports?
Believe in yourself before anyone else does. People will try to tell you who you are or limit your future, but it’s your life and your passion. Don’t give up on yourself—work hard, stay focused, and go where you are appreciated.

What has been your favorite or most interesting class taken at Clemson?
One of my favorite classes has been Women’s Global Perspectives. Learning about the challenges women face around the world—especially those who don’t even have the freedom of choice—has inspired me to fully embrace the woman I’m becoming. It motivates me to pursue my dreams boldly and never let anyone take my voice.

Bianca Martinez – Volleyball and Track

Major: Sociology
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska

What does it mean to be a woman in sports?
For me, being a woman in sports is all about representation and feeling confident in myself. Being able to be a role model for younger female athletes and someone they can look up to and see someone living out a reality that they are dreaming about. It also means a place where I have found my confidence, and somewhere I have strived to be the best I could be, and always working towards a goal, but while still knowing who I am and my reasons for playing.

What aspect of sports science have you found most interesting or impactful in your athletic experience?
Definitely has been recovery, and what specific things my body needs to be able to fully recover for another whole day of practice. I feel like being at Clemson, specifically the access we have to recovery, is absolutely amazing, and we are truly blessed here. I have learned so much about what exactly works best for me to feel my best, especially on game and competition days.

What is your advice for aspiring women in sports?
My advice for aspiring women in sports is to always give yourself grace and be kind to yourself. There will be really good days and hard days, and both are part of the journey. It’s so important not to beat yourself up on the days when things don’t go as planned. Positive self-talk matters more than you realize, because the way you speak to yourself can either build your confidence or tear it down. Learning to encourage yourself the same way you would a teammate can make all the difference.

What has been your favorite or most interesting class taken at Clemson?
My favorite class I’ve taken at Clemson so far is my Civil Rights History course, which I am currently enrolled in. As a Global Black Studies student, I understand how important Black history is and how critical it is that it continues to be taught accurately and intentionally. This class has helped me deepen that understanding by connecting historical movements to ongoing struggles for justice today. Professor D’Ondre Juwan Swails is also one of my favorite professors and makes the material engaging and meaningful, which makes the class genuinely exciting to be a part of.

Madison Roush – Cross Country and Track

Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Greer, South Carolina

What does it mean to be a woman in sports?
Being a woman in sports means having a big community of strong and inspirational women to look up to. We are all there to support one another and celebrate our accomplishments. 

What aspect of sports science have you found most interesting or impactful in your athletic experience?
I’ve found that the recovery aspect of running is the most interesting to me because it’s where I’ve seen the greatest success in the sport. Learning about the different ways to help muscles recover from training is fascinating, and the way my body feels after adequate recovery is night and day compared to running while not fully recovered.

What is your advice for aspiring women in sports?
My biggest piece of advice is to say yes to opportunities that come your way and not be afraid to speak up and advocate for yourself. More often than not, people miss out on opportunities simply because they don’t put themselves out there or use their voice. By saying yes and asking to be involved in organizations that support women, I’ve been able to meet so many amazing and inspiring women from around the world.

What has been your favorite or most interesting class taken at Clemson?
My favorite class I’ve taken at Clemson is Sports Engineering. In this course, I learned so much about the body and how it functions during training and recovery, which helped me better understand my own body and improve as a runner. It’s especially rewarding to learn material that you can directly apply to yourself, and that genuinely interests you. Dr. Harvey is also a great professor who teaches the class in an engaging way that keeps it interesting.

Tatum Short – Women’s Soccer

Major: Psychology
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

What does it mean to be a woman in sports?
Being a woman in sports means showing up with strength, discipline, and confidence in spaces that haven’t always made room for us. It’s about resilience and showing younger girls that this path is possible and worth it.

What aspect of sports science have you found most interesting or impactful in your athletic experience?
Nutrition has been the most impactful area of sports science for me because it has a direct impact on my energy, recovery, and performance on the field. Learning how to correctly fuel my body allows me to train harder, recover faster, and maintain consistency throughout the season.

What is your advice for aspiring women in sports?
Believe in your abilities and don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t belong. Work
hard, stay confident, and support other women along the way.

What has been your favorite or most interesting class taken at Clemson?
Women and Psychology has been the most interesting class I’ve taken at Clemson
because it has taught me so much about the challenges women face around the world. It’s
given me a deeper understanding of different experiences and perspectives, and how
those shape women’s lives and choices.

Trinity Webb – Gymnastics

Major: Communication
Hometown: Smithville, Missouri

What does it mean to be a woman in sports?
Being a female athlete means a great deal to me because it represents strength, resilience, and the ability to take up space with confidence. It means embracing the pressure that comes with higher expectations and learning how to carry myself with purpose both in competition and in everyday life. As a woman in sports, I am often aware that performance is only part of how I am judged, which has pushed me to develop a strong sense of self and confidence in my identity. At the same time, being a female athlete is empowering; it gives me a voice, a platform, and the opportunity to represent younger girls who are watching and learning what is possible. For me, it means proving that women can be powerful, disciplined, and competitive while staying true to who they are and using sport to grow not only as athletes but as people.

What aspect of sports science have you found most interesting or impactful in your athletic experience?
One aspect of sports science that has been most impactful in my athletic experience is nutrition, especially for female athletes. Proper fueling plays a major role in performance recovery and overall health it is often underestimated. I have learned that nutrition directly affects energy levels, injury prevention, and consistency in training. When athletes feel their bodies correctly, they are better able to recover and perform at a higher level over time. For women in sports, Understanding Nutrition has helped me view food as a tool for strength and performance rather than limitation, making it one of the most important aspects of sports science in my experience.

What is your advice for aspiring women in sports?
My advice for aspiring women in sports is to trust yourself, especially during times when you may be underestimated or overlooked. There will be moments when others doubt your abilities or fail to see your potential, and learning not to let that define you is important. Confidence has to come from within, not from external validation, and that is something I am still learning myself. Growth in sports is not always linear, but believing in your worth and staying committed to your goals can make all the difference. continue to show up, work hard, and advocate for yourself, because your presence and voice matter just as much as your performance.

What has been your favorite or most interesting class taken at Clemson?
My favorite class I’ve taken at Clemson has been criminal law because I enjoy learning about how the legal system works and understanding the reasoning behind laws and Court decisions. I find it interesting to see how real-life cases are analyzed and how the justice system impacts people and society, especially when it comes to justice being taken. 

Shanque Williams – Track and Field

Major: Psychology
Hometown: St. Elizabeth, Jamaica

What does it mean to be a woman in sports?
Being a woman in sports means embracing both strength and vulnerability while constantly pushing myself to be better. It means overcoming challenges, proving my abilities, and staying confident in spaces where women are sometimes underestimated. As a female athlete, I take pride in representing where I come from and showing that women can be powerful, disciplined, and resilient. Competing as a woman in sports has taught me self-belief, perseverance, and the importance of using my voice and presence to inspire others.

What aspect of sports science have you found most interesting or impactful in your athletic experience?
The most impactful aspect of sports science in my athletic experience has been recovery
and injury prevention. Learning how proper recovery, rest, and monitoring fatigue affect
performance has helped me understand that recovery is just as important as training.
Paying attention to things like muscle soreness, sleep, and overall readiness has allowed
me to take better care of my body, stay healthier throughout the season, and perform at a higher level during competition.

What is your advice for aspiring women in sports?
My advice for aspiring women in sports is to stay persistent and never let stereotypes
define your limits. There will be moments when people doubt your abilities or
underestimate you, but those moments should fuel your motivation rather than discourage you. Stay committed to your goals, trust your work, and continue showing up even when it’s difficult. By staying consistent and believing in yourself, you not only prove others wrong, but you also create space for more women to be confident and successful in sports.

What has been your favorite or most interesting class taken at Clemson?
My favorite and most interesting class at Clemson has been PSYC 2030: Fundamentals
of Psychology. This class helped me better understand human behavior, mental processes, and how the mind influences performance. As both a psychology major and a student-athlete, the course has been especially meaningful because it connects directly to motivation, focus, and mental resilience in sports.

Oneka Wilson – Track and Field

Major: Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management
Hometown: Portland, Jamaica

What does it mean to be a woman in sports?
Being a woman in sports means pursuing passion and excellence while often overcoming inequality and stereotypes. It’s about empowerment, resilience, and claiming space in a traditionally male-dominated field.

What aspect of sports science have you found most interesting or impactful in your athletic experience?
As a track athlete, nutrition has been the most impactful. Eating properly helps fuel training, improve recovery, and maintain consistent performance.

What is your advice for aspiring women in sports?
Believe in your ability, advocate for yourself, and don’t be afraid to take up space. Stay disciplined, build a strong support system, and remember that your presence in sports matters.

What has been your favorite or most interesting class taken at Clemson?
My favorite class at Clemson has been my PRTM EDGE class because I met a lot of new people and made friendships that are still strong today.

By Nathan Inman

On January 24, the American motorsports season officially kicked off with the running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. Among the attendees at the event was Tyson Tucker, team principal of Clemson Tiger Racing (CTR).

CTR is Clemson’s student-run endurance motorsport team, giving students of all majors and backgrounds a chance to work on a race car, and even potentially drive one. Tucker recently sat down for an interview with the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute to explain the history of the organization and give insight into what this semester looks like for the team.

CTR was founded in 2023 and has continued to grow ever since. Over the previous two years, CTR has participated in track days, which are solo test runs with no real competition, to build up to their goal of endurance racing. This month, that goal comes to fruition.

“This February will be our first ever wheel-to-wheel race,” Tucker said. “That’s kind of our biggest thing for this semester. We’ve been promising this is the point we want to get to, and now we’re actually able to do that, which is really awesome.”

The event will take place on February 28 at the Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina. The journey to the track has not been easy, though; as anyone familiar with the racing scene would attest to, entry into motorsports can be a costly endeavor. For that reason, teams in all facets of racing rely on sponsorship to fund their programs, and CTR is no different.

Most recently, CTR signed its newest sponsorship with Celsius to become the official energy drink of the team. Tucker explained that the continued growth of the organization is what has allowed CTR to sign deals such as this one. When he first joined the team, Tucker said there were maybe 25-30 members. As of the Spring semester, CTR is home to 100-plus students.

“It has grown immensely over the last couple of semesters, which is amazing,” Tucker added. “It’s allowed us to do a lot of really cool things, and with some of these new members we’re bringing, we’re able to reach more sponsors.”

As the organization has grown, students with prior racing experience have been able to help prepare the team for the upcoming event. From karting to Spec Miata, there are several team members with a background in racing who hope to have the team set up for success later this month.

In addition to drivers with on-track experience, CTR is also partnered with the Collegiate Racing Series (CRS), which was co-founded by Jack Hobbs, a recent Clemson graduate and founding member of Clemson Tiger Racing. CRS partners with organizations from schools across the country, providing students with educational tools to learn about race craft, fundraising and managing a race team. Along with these resources, CRS also leases Miata race cars to student organizations to assist them in getting their program started.

With the chance to earn hands-on experience with a race team and connections to a large network within the industry through the Collegiate Racing Series, Tucker says CTR can provide amazing opportunities for students looking to find their way into motorsports. Students interested in joining or learning more about Clemson Tiger Racing can find more information on TigerQuest, or at clemsontigerracing.com.

By Katie Gerbasich

‘Awesome’ is now a four-letter word for many female students: AWSM, or the Association of Women in Sports Media. AWSM is dedicated to empowering and supporting women interested in sports media. The Clemson chapter, advised by Department of Communication Assistant Professor and Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute Faculty Fellow Rikishi Smith-Rey, Ph.D., is part of the nationally recognized AWSM network of schools. 

“I’m really excited to be with them now, because I feel like I have a lot to bring to them, whether it’s sharing my network or what I know about sport and media,” Smith-Rey said. 

Department of Communication student Erin Mason has always had a passion for supporting women in sports. She joined AWSM as a first-year student, dreaming of the day she could work in the industry.

“Growing up around sports, I saw how male-dominated the field was and witnessed women in sports be doubted and pushed to the side,” Mason said. “Seeing this made me want to make a positive impact on women in the industry and women looking to break into the industry.” 

 She initially described the club in her first year as having only a couple of meetings a semester, featuring guest speakers. Now, as president, she has helped AWSM expand. 

“Watching this club grow over the years has been truly amazing,” Mason said. “Now, AWSM has over 140 active members, bi-weekly meetings, as well as drop-in meetings and other events. We provide professional development opportunities & resources consistently to all active members.”

A highlight for Mason has been the launch of its new athletic credentialing program last semester. Members now have the opportunity to apply for an accredited photo or press pass for athletic events. Following the event, members must promptly create and publish media.

The organization worked with Jeff Kallin, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications, to establish the importance of getting students in front of cameras and working with cameras in front of coaches. Additionally, having to learn what the sports world is like, with a quick turnaround on product time. AWSM covered 46 events across 55 different credentialed members last semester. 

 “It’s a competitive process to be able to get a pass, but we have someone at every single sporting event,” Smith-Rey said. 

Community Outreach Chair, Caity Eng, has been managing the credentialing experience.

“Our members have put in so much hard work, and it has been so wonderful to see them shine, whether it is their first sports photography or reporting experience, or to expand their current skills and portfolio,” Eng said. 

“Seeing and hearing about everyone’s passion for sports media and their time working on the sidelines and the press box has been so fulfilling.”

Last semester, the club participated in a professional photoshoot utilizing the Nieri Family Student-Athlete Enrichment Center’s studio. Members received a camera workshop before the event. Exclusive experiences like this are what Smith-Rey believes make the organization unique. 

“These students wouldn’t ever really have that opportunity if this association didn’t exist,” Smith-Rey said. “I love that it’s specific to females to give them a voice and a chance to grow.” 

Female students across all majors can connect through the common thread of sport. 

“You see business students talking with sports communication students, talking with engineering students, and it’s a really cool way for them to be like, ‘Oh, I didn’t think we had anything in common, but you love sports, and I love sports,’” Smith-Rey said.

Looking ahead, the organization hopes to continue strengthening its relationship with Clemson Athletics to make a greater impact on students’ professional development and the community. 

“In such a male-dominated field, women in sports must stick together, support one another no matter what, and unite on issues that pertain to us,” Mason said. “As female representation continues to grow in the sports industry, I hope to be a voice and supportive figure for women in the industry.”

By Katie Gerbasich

Happy New Year, from the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute. For the Spring 2026 semester, RHBSSI welcomed three new and two returning student interns. Additionally, through the UPIC Beyond the Game program, two student-athlete interns will join the group. These students bring a multitude of experiences that will help drive new ideas that support the Institute’s mission. 

Evy Lane, Communications Lead

Evy Lane is a senior Marketing major and Spanish minor from Piedmont, South Carolina. In her fourth semester with the Institute, she will serve as the Communications Lead, which entails creating a content calendar and editing or posting blogs across RHBSSI social media handles. Lane has two cats, Otto and Lottie, whom she adores dearly.

Katie Gerbasich, Writer/Editor

Katie Gerbasich is a senior Sports Communication major and Women’s Leadership minor from Houston, Texas. In her third semester with the Institute, she will be assisting the team in detailing the stories of sports science endeavors. Gerbasich has prior experience with Clemson Baseball’s Sports Analytics team and has written sports articles for Tiger View Media.

Nathan Inman, Writer/Editor

Nathan Inman is a junior double majoring in Sports Communication and Marketing from Spartanburg, South Carolina. He has been involved with The Tiger student newspaper for three years and was recently appointed Assistant Sports Editor. This semester, Inman looks forward to continuing to grow as a writer and collaborating with the rest of the team.

Sofia Cordi, Events Lead

Sofia Cordi is a senior at Clemson University pursuing a B.S. in Management with an emphasis in Human Resources, a concentration in Entrepreneurship, and a Global Leadership Certificate. She serves as the Events Lead intern for The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute, where she supports the planning and execution of events that foster collaboration, innovation, and community engagement across sports science and performance disciplines.

Previously, Sofia worked with Incora Health, a women’s health startup developing patented smart earrings that capture real-time biodata, where she supported community engagement, content strategy, and cross-functional initiatives. Her experience also includes work with Kognitos, a generative AI company in healthcare automation, and Clemson’s Brook T. Smith Launchpad. Sofia is passionate about innovation, strategic planning, and building meaningful connections through events and community-focused initiatives.

Katie Colton, Graphic Designer

Katie Colton is a Graphic Communications major with a minor in Brand Communications from York, South Carolina. This past year, she worked with Clemson Creative Inquiry and Undergraduate Research’s Decipher Magazine. Colton traveled to Italy over winter break.

Shanque Williams, Beyond the Game Intern

Shanque Williams is a sophomore Psychology major with a minor in Business Management. Williams is a track and field athlete from Jamaica. She’s excited to meet the team and begin working.

Kevin Collins, Beyond the Game Intern

Kevin Collins is a senior Economics major with a Minor in Business Administration from Waldorf, Maryland. He competes in shorts sprints with track and field.