When the College of Lake County (CLC) women’s basketball team secured their first ever national tournament bid with a victory over Kankakee Community College, the players felt like it was unbelievable.

“It didn’t feel real in the moment,” Kennedee Clark said, a sentiment echoed by teammate Mariya Sisco, who admitted she didn’t know how to react right away. Their coach, Tanner Morris, knew the feeling well, having been to the tournament twice before. “It doesn't really hit you until you get there,” he said. “Being there feels amazing, but you don’t really process it until you’re in the moment.”

The lack of a reaction can also be summarized best by Maren McCallister: “Coming into the season, getting to nationals was one of our goals.”

In Morris’s three years as the head coach, the team has improved from three wins to a program-record 27, so hopes were high for postseason success. The Lancers won the conference for the first time in 33 years and had individual accolades with a National Player of the Week (Clark), Conference Player of the Year (McCallister), national assist leader (Sisco) and Morris was named the conference Coach of the Year.

This season’s success is just one example of how student-athletes have a chance to excel both on and off the court as part of CLC’s 13 athletic programs.

Many high school athletes see four-year schools as the only option to continuing their athletic career. However, community colleges provide many of the same opportunities for student-athletes, plus some added benefits.

“Having spent 16 years coaching at the community college level, I can confidently say there isn’t a significant difference between two-year and four-year collegiate athletics,” Morris said. “College sports are college sports—athletes at both levels train, compete and push themselves to excel.”

Playing sports at a community college allows for more action right away. At this level, freshmen and sophomores take on key roles much earlier, whereas at a four-year institution, it’s more common to see juniors and seniors dominating the playing time.

For student-athletes, CLC provides not only an opportunity to compete at a high level but also to build a strong academic foundation. The ability to balance athletics and academics is crucial, and CLC offers resources to help students excel in both. Being at a smaller school can make the adjustment period easier as students take many of the same classes they would during their first two years at a larger university.

“I like having the smaller class sizes,” Sisco said. “If you need one-on-one time with your instructor, they’re more available to help you.”

Academic success advisors are a great resource for helping student-athletes create a schedule that works with their athletics. Athletes like Clark, Sisco and McCallister schedule all their classes in the morning so they can get to practice in the afternoon.

“CLC has helped me not only with affordable tuition but also by improving both my court skills and academics,” Clark said.

While the Lancers came up just short in the first round of the tournament, the season will go down as one of the best in school history.

For more information:

• Learn about CLC athletics