Women's Cross Country | 9/29/2021 4:44:39 PM
Amanda Burrichter is in her third season as a member of the women's cross country and track and field teams at Houghton College in 2021-22. She is a two-time All-Empire 8 first team selection as a cross country runner and won both the mile run and 3,000-meter run at the 2021 Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championship. She also won the 1,500-meter run at the 2021 Empire 8 Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
A native of Fillmore, NY, Burrichter also serves as Houghton's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President. She currently has a 3.67 grade-point average as a exercise science and pre-physical therapy major, with a minor in psychology.
Amanda Burrichter - Empire 8 Gives Back
Institution: Houghton College
Sport/Position: Cross Country/Track & Field/Distance Runner
Academic Major(s): Exercise Science, Pre-Physical Therapy
GPA: 3.67
Class Year: Junior
Academic Honors/Clubs:
- SAAC President
- Pre-Health Professions Club
Community Service Roles: I help at my church’s youth group and volunteer at the Houghton blood drive.
Why did you join SAAC? What was your goal when joining?
I joined SAAC because I wanted to be able to support my teammates and voice any issues they were having, especially with the student-athlete balance. I think it is important that even though we are a smaller team on campus they still feel like their voice can be heard. It is also a great opportunity to get involved with the other teams and work together to raise awareness for different things.
What projects are you currently working on in your campus community?
- Raising awareness for mental health within Houghton athletics
- Breast cancer awareness opportunities (October)
What’s the biggest challenge you are facing with these projects? COVID restrictions, only virtual, fundraising, etc.?
The unknown of how next week will look like has been the main challenge. We had some plans for a special Olympics bocce tournament, but it got cancelled a few days prior because of some complications. You never know when someone will test positive and cause a change in plans. Even just having meetings puts people at risk at being close contacts and could cause an athlete to miss a game or meet.
How do you stay connected with your college community under COVID guidelines?
Even though COVID has changed how things are done on campus I think Houghton has done an amazing job at keeping everyone connected.
What is Your Proudest Community Service Achievement?
Last spring Houghton's SAAC worked to raise awareness for down syndrome. With the COVID restrictions in place at the time, we were limited in what we could do. Houghton's SAAC was able to make a video highlighting the story of a young man who is Houghton’s first student with down syndrome. All of our teams participated by wearing blue and yellow and crazy socks during a specific practice. The field hockey team was able to partner with their opponent and both teams were able to wear blue and yellow during their game on March 21, which is World Down Syndrome Day.
What Roles have your Cross Country and Track and Field Played in your Personal Development?
I have been running for as long as I can remember. I can’t think of a time when I wasn’t competing or training in some way. It has taught me what it means to work hard, persevere, manage time, and so much more. Having to wake up at 5 a.m. to get my runs in and doing workouts in the snow because it’s just what you do to get it done. I learned early on that making excuses is not an option and if you want the results you must put in the work and then some. Having multiple hip complications, I’ve learned the importance of patience. I think most importantly running has taught me so much about my faith.
Why Did You Decide to Attend Houghton?
When looking at colleges I knew I wanted to go to a faith-based institution and when I visited Houghton, I felt like it was home. I visited other schools and I didn’t feel like I was meant to be there. Coach Hager also greatly influenced my decision, I love the Cross Country and Track program and coaches’ intentionality with each athlete. He really cares about what he is doing and knows what he is doing.
How has Playing Collegiately and in the Empire 8 Prepared You For Life After College?
Running in the Empire 8 has allowed me to continue competing while still focusing on my academics. I have been able to learn how to balance schoolwork and athletics. I hope that after college I will continue to be able to balance whatever comes my way. Competing collegiately has its ups and downs and I hope that as I continue to face hard situations, I can look back on all that I accomplished and preserved through in college and use that as encouragement to keep working hard.
Favorite Athletic Memory from Your Time in College: Winning Houghton's first Cross Country Championship as a freshman in 2019.
What is Your Ultimate Professional Goal?
My goal would be working as a physical therapist, possibly helping runners or children. I would also love to continue running and possibly coaching as well.
Favorite Professional Athlete: Ryan Hall
Favorite Movie: The Princess Bride
Favorite TV Show: Friends
Last TV Show You Binge Watched: New Girl
Favorite Food: Buffalo Chicken Dip
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked
One Thing Most People Do Not Know About Me: I spent this past summer in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota as a Wilderness Expedition Guide.
Advice to Younger Student-Athletes on Why You Chose to Play a Collegiate Sport and Why Playing A Sport and Getting Involved With SAAC is So Important/Beneficial?
Competing collegiately has greatly enhanced my Houghton experience. Having my team to support me through the highs and lows and their constant support is amazing. Having something outside of academics to look forward each day has been amazing and helped me not get caught up in academics. SAAC has allowed me to be involved with something more than just myself. Running is a fairly individual sport, SAAC has allowed me to take more time to be intentional with my teammates and get more involved with the other teams on campus.
The Empire 8 Conference's “Empire 8 Gives Back” Series features a student-athlete from one of its member institutions who promotes community service and serves in a leadership role within his or her athletics teams or SAAC.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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