Division III sports teach the importance of communication, teamwork, and perseverance. The Illinois Wesleyan women’s basketball team is a prime example of this. Two of their players shared the lessons they’ve learned throughout their time with the team with the Argus.
Luigi Lam is one of the team’s two first-years this season. Lam previously played basketball in Hong Kong for her school, Wa Ying College, captained a U18 team that competed in the FIBA Asia Cup and even coached a team in Hong Kong.
“Playing in the States has been my dream since I was 10,” Lam said. “This journey is about more than just basketball. It’s about experiencing different cultures, meeting people from around the world, and building lasting connections.”
Lam did have offers from other, larger schools, but she chose IWU because of its successful history. The team has had 15 NCAA Division III playoff appearances in the last 30 years and won the National Championship in 2012. Lam learned about the school through an alum connected to her team in Hong Kong, who set up a meeting with the IWU coaches.
Lam says that this year has been the best first season she could’ve asked for. She said she has learned more about communication and competition through her time with the IWU basketball team.
“I love working with this team because we are always competitive, which is one of the most important factors in making both the team and each individual player better,” Lam said
Lam is also an art major at IWU and runs an Instagram account to share and sell her art. Division III schools tend to allow athletes more freedom to explore other passions than a Division I program might, while still competing at a high level.
Lam’s first season with the Titans has come to a close, and her eyes are on the future. “I’m really looking forward to the upcoming seasons. I hope to contribute more to the team, keep making history like our upperclassmen did, and continue their legacy,” Lam said.
Senior guard Lauren Huber is a biology major at IWU, on the pre-physicians assistant track. She currently holds the program’s all-time scoring record, with exactly 1,700 career points by the end of her final season. In her four years, she earned multiple conference honors, the WBCA coaches All-American Award, and played in the Division III All-Star game, but Huber took more than just awards from her time on the team.
Huber says that the relationships she has built with her coaches and teammates have been one of the most rewarding parts of her time at IWU. Her team taught her to stay present, to make sacrifices, and that success comes from working as one.
“This team has meant everything to me. The IWU basketball program is more than just a team, it’s a family. From the coaches to my teammates, every single person has poured so much into making this program special, and I feel incredibly blessed to have been part of it,” Huber said.
Beyond her success on the court, Huber says the team has taught her how to face challenges with commitment, discipline, and resilience. “This team has shown me what it means to be fully committed to something bigger than myself.”
“Cutting down the net after winning the conference tournament championship wasn’t just about hoisting a trophy, it was about looking around and seeing the people who made it all possible. The joy and pride in that moment weren’t individual; they belonged to everyone in that gym,” Huber said.
The women’s basketball team will return to the Shirk Center next winter. While Huber is moving on, her legacy and achievements will go down in Titan history to inspire more young players like Lam.
Lam and Huber are just two stories of what Division III can offer, but each athlete has their own story and lessons that they take away. No matter the sport or the team, Division III sports can still be a rewarding experience for any athlete.
