Colleges Rally to Support Displaced Student-Athletes Amid Hurricane Devastation

In the wake of the catastrophic Hurricane Helene, which left a trail of destruction across the region, colleges and universities have stepped up to provide a lifeline for student-athletes displaced from their campuses. From housing and feeding teams to facilitating their continued athletic pursuits, these institutions have demonstrated the power of community and the resilience of the college sports ecosystem.

A Heartwarming Display of Collegiate Camaraderie

Asheville Finds Refuge in Charlotte

UNC Asheville soccer player Xander Naguib and his teammates are among the many student-athletes who have been forced to evacuate their campus due to the hurricane's devastation. With their off-campus apartment flooded and the university closed for the next 10 days, Naguib and his peers have found a temporary home at UNC Charlotte, where they will be housed, fed, and able to continue their athletic training and competition.UNC Charlotte's athletic department, led by Director Mike Hill, reached out to their counterparts at UNC Asheville to offer assistance in the wake of the disaster. Asheville's Athletic Director Janet Cone gratefully accepted the offer, and the Charlotte campus has opened its doors to host Asheville's men's and women's soccer teams, as well as their volleyball squad. The student-athletes will have access to the university's facilities, medical resources, and a supportive community to help them weather the storm."We want them to feel comfortable," said Chris Thomasson, Charlotte's Executive Associate Athletic Director for Internal Affairs. "A lot of people worked hard to make it happen. And our coaching staffs have been terrific. It's interesting, on the field or the court our coaches are fierce competitors, but when they heard Asheville needed help they were like, 'whatever we can do — anything.'"

Colleges Across the Region Step Up

UNC Asheville's student-athletes are not the only ones finding refuge on other campuses. The university's tennis teams will be living and practicing at High Point University, while the swim teams will stay at Gardner-Webb University. The golf teams will head to Wofford College next week.This outpouring of support extends beyond UNC Asheville, as colleges and universities across the region have opened their doors to assist their peers. Tusculum College, Lees-McRae, Western Carolina, North Greenville, Appalachian State, and Montreat are among the institutions whose campuses were also impacted by the hurricane, with their sports facilities and schedules severely disrupted.In response, these schools have rallied together to provide temporary housing, training facilities, and logistical support for the displaced student-athletes. From rival schools like Carson-Newman and Lincoln Memorial University hosting Tusculum's teams, to the University of Tennessee welcoming Tusculum's volleyball squad, the collegiate community has demonstrated a remarkable level of camaraderie and compassion.

Restoring a Sense of Normalcy

As the student-athletes navigate the uncertainty and disruption caused by the hurricane, the support they have received from their fellow institutions has been a lifeline. For Xander Naguib and his UNC Asheville teammates, the opportunity to continue playing the sport they love has been a source of comfort and stability during this challenging time."If we are able to play, that's all that matters," Naguib said. "I feel thankful and blessed to have a place to stay and do what I love."UNC Asheville's Athletic Director Janet Cone is working tirelessly to ensure that all of the university's student-athletes are placed at other campuses, including the basketball teams, as part of a "logistical puzzle with a whole lot of pieces." Despite the immense challenges, Cone remains optimistic that the fall sports teams will be able to play close to a full schedule, even if the games are held away from their home campus.The resilience and compassion displayed by the collegiate community in the face of this disaster is a testament to the power of sports to bring people together and provide a sense of normalcy in times of crisis. As the region continues to recover, these acts of collegiate camaraderie will undoubtedly serve as a source of inspiration and hope for the student-athletes and their communities.