Lessons Learned in Athletics Prepared Diviney for the Working World
Published: May 29, 2026
Author: Dave Bell
As one of the founding members and co-captains of Greenville University’s men’s gymnastics team, Donovan Diviney has experienced the highs and lows of launching a new program. But this spring, as a GU senior, he and his teammates enjoyed the fruits of the blood, sweat, and tears they had endured during the past four years.
With grit and solid gymnastic talent, the upstart Panther team won its conference title and finished 10th at the NCAA Championships in Champaign, IL.
“It was a fairy-tale season,” said Diviney, who competes on the parallel bars, the high bar, and the pommel horse. “We accomplished everything we set out to do – winning the conference and placing in the NCAA championships,” he said. “It was a very satisfying way to end my career.”
But the recent graduate has been just as meticulous about preparing for his career, now that the chalk has settled and he’s no longer doing acrobatic flips high above the mats.
This summer, the Aubrey, Texas, native begins a management training internship at The Lodge at Primland, an exclusive resort in the Meadows of Dan in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
“I want to serve the guests and make it a great experience at the lodge,” Diviney said. “It’s an incredible opportunity, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me.
“When I was interviewing for the program, it meant something to them that I had been an athlete in college,” he added. “They appreciated the discipline it takes to balance the demands of a sport with schoolwork.
“I shared with them that being an athlete had taught me how to create structure in my life,” he said. “I learned how to manage my time to complete the requirements in both areas. Plus, as a captain, I learned how to lead and motivate people.”
Diviney said that his experience at Greenville prepared him well for the work he will be doing. Though his career goal is to work in the hospitality industry, he felt that majoring in marketing would be a good fit. And after taking a couple of marketing classes, he was sold.
“In hospitality, the whole focus is on the guests and their experience,” he said. “It’s our job to make things as perfect as possible for them. I enjoy doing that sort of thing – getting their rooms ready, helping them get settled, and making sure things go smoothly for them. While doing those client-focused things, we’re also marketing the company brand.
“Though it will be in a very different setting, I feel my three years of experience as a captain of the gymnastics team prepared me well for this role,” he added. “I learned to watch my teammates as they performed, and coach them on the technical things I saw that would help them improve."
Marketing Professor Jane Bell also had high praise for Diviney.
“He always tackled his studies with the same energy and tenacity that he showed in gymnastics,” she said. “In the classroom, he was willing to learn and take coaching. And now, in this prestigious internship, which he secured through quality networking, he’ll be able to learn new things in the workplace as well.”
Similarly, he’s anxious to learn from the veteran staff members at The Lodge of Primland.
“This is a great opportunity to shadow people who really know what it takes to work at a prestigious place like the Lodge,” Diviney said. “I’ll try to soak up all that they do to make things amazing for the guests.”
So, how did an accomplished athlete from Texas end up at a start-up program at Greenville University? He gives a lot of the credit to GU coach Zach Peters, a former gymnast from the powerhouse program at the University of Nebraska.
“When he contacted me about coming to Greenville, I knew right away that he was the kind of coach and man I wanted to be around,” Diviney said. “Of course, he wants us to be amazing gymnasts, but he also wants us to be growing in our faith, exercising self-discipline, and taking responsibility for our actions. I felt like this was the place God wanted me to be.”
As he moves from the college ranks and prepares to enter the working world, Diviney offers advice to younger athletes seeking to follow in his footsteps.
“First, remember to cultivate a genuine faith,” he said. “There’s a distinctive culture here at Greenville that pushed me to learn more about God. I couldn’t have done everything I’ve done without the Lord.
“And second, don’t focus just on the outcome,” he added. “It’s cool to accomplish things and win championships, but what’s more important is the person you become as you chase those dreams. The character qualities and the work habits you establish through athletics will stay with you throughout your life.”
