NASHVILLE - A 20-year-old tradition that dates to 2003 continued this week as the Tennessee State University athletic department and its teams helped assist in Freshmen Move-In, which began this week for the Class of 2027.  
 
Student-athletes and coaches from the men's and women's track & field, softball, men's basketball, football, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's golf teams met the incoming freshmen and their families to help them unload their vehicles and move into Wilson Hall.
 
Head men's and women's golf coach Parrish McGrath has been involved in the event for over a decade. "Freshmen Move-In is one of the truly special occurrences in a student's experience," McGrath echoed. "You only get to move in the first time once. It's so much fun greeting the students and their families and making sure they receive a positive first impression."
 
McGrath's team was equally excited to help. "Move-In was great!" stated sophomore men's golfer, Carter Walton. "Coming together as a team to help others is what we care about. TSU is one big family and helping others with a smooth transition is what we strive for".
 
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president and junior softball athlete, Ryla Traylor, and her teammates assisted as well. "My freshman year, I had my entire family (9 people) come up in a camper to move me in, and I don't know how I would've gotten settled and felt comfortable without them," Traylor said. "I love that we get to welcome the freshmen to our TSU family and be there to help them in their journey."
 
There were new faces there as well. Dawnyell Fletcher, Director of Student-Athlete Services, who joined the athletic department last year, was able to assist for the first time. "It was exciting to see Tigers helping Tigers, "Fletcher stated. "What better way to start off the year than to welcome others into the Big Blue family and show what it means to be a Tiger."
 
Community engagement is one of three pillars of the TSU athletics' Becoming program. For more on the program, please visit https://tsuathleticfund.com/becoming/index.html.