How Greenville University Athletics Prepares Students for What Comes Next

Published: May 06, 2026

Author: Liz Dowell

At any given athletic event at Greenville University, the scoreboard reflects the outcome of the game but not the full story. Here, athletics is about more than competition; it’s about developing character, deepening faith, and preparing student-athletes for what comes next.

Photos by Photographer Andres Esquivel-Garza

Student-athletes balance early morning lifts, afternoon classes, evening practices, and late-night study sessions. They learn discipline on the field, but they also discover something deeper at GU: purpose, resilience in the face of challenges, and direction for life beyond competition.

For many students, athletics may initially provide a pathway to college, but it often becomes the beginning of a much larger journey—one in which students discover who they are within a Christ-centered environment.

Elias Velasquez ’26, a member of the Panthers football team, came to Greenville from Florida looking for a place that felt like home. After losing his father during his freshman year, he found support from his team.

“The football team really helped me get through it,” Velasquez said. “They reminded me that I wasn’t alone. They made this place feel like family.”

Stories like Velasquez’s demonstrate how athletics at Greenville extend far beyond competition. Through mentorship, faith, and community, students learn how to move forward — even in their most difficult moments.

For Raven Vance ’27, a criminal justice major and member of the women’s cross-country team, Greenville became a place where faith and identity grew stronger together.

“It’s not all about the sport,” Vance said. “It’s about the people, the love of Christ, and just the love in general.”

While student-athletes experience this growth firsthand, coaches see it from a different perspective. For them witnessing that transformation and playing a role in helping student-athletes grow into Christ centered leaders-is the most meaningful outcome.

Roy Muholland, who has served GU athletics for 27 years as both a women’s basketball coach and now men’s golf coach, says the most rewarding part of coaching is seeing students grow in their faith.

“When I look at what has been accomplished in the relationships that have been built and lives that have been changed, it is amazing,” Muholland said. “It really is about what you see happening in the lives of students.”

That sense of purpose helped Xela Davis ’26, a former women’s basketball student-athlete, discover her calling in sport management.

After arriving at Greenville, Davis began exploring opportunities in sports communication and professional internships, which helped her learn her calling.

“I didn’t really know who I was outside of a sport,” Davis said. “But being here helped me figure out what was best for me as an individual.”

Experiences like these point to a broader truth: Greenville athletes are not only competing — they are preparing.

For Jaden LeTellier ’27, a member of GU’s powerlifting team, that preparation led somewhere unexpected. After joining the team, LeTellier broke state records and qualified for international competition in Norway.

“I had no idea I could do that,” LeTellier said. “My coach helped me see potential I didn’t even know I had.”

Opportunities often emerge in surprising ways. Andres Esquivel-Garza ’27 discovered a passion for photography through his involvement with GU men’s gymnastics, eventually earning the opportunity to photograph the 2025 Xfinity USA Gymnastics Championships.

“If it weren’t for the GU Gymnastics teams, I would have never been able to develop my skills or build my portfolio,” he said. “The platform GU gave me helped me grow as an artist.”

Across teams and seasons, one theme continues to emerge: the lessons learned and experiences gained through athletics prepare students for life.

Through practices, competitions, internships, mentorships, and friendships, Greenville athletes gain confidence to pursue careers in fields ranging from sports media to law enforcement, coaching, ministry, and business.

Head men’s gymnastics coach Zach Peters, who recently led the program to NCAA competition, has seen firsthand the impact of launching opportunities for student-athletes.

“Greenville choosing to start this program changed my life,” Peters said.

“Many of our athletes might not have had the opportunity to compete in college without it. Being able to compete at this level, represent our faith, and do what we love — it truly feels like a dream come true.”

A Greenville University, athletics is more than a four-year commitment – it’s a launching point. Students discover strengths they didn’t know they had as they learn to lead, serve, and persevere.

Student athletes graduate from GU prepared not only for their next game, but for their next calling.

And long after the final whistle blows, the impact continues.

Hear about Greenville University's impact first hand from an athlete, Taylor Tucker. Her story showcases the importance of investing in students.