I think it is fair to say that when most people think of Division III college athletics they do not think about the challenging travel requirements.

I know that Division I athletes do have some tough travel, but take into account that, for the high level schools, they fly and often get to a destination the day before. On the other hand Division III athletes will get on a bus for several hours and then be expected to play a game.

I am going to use UW-Platteville as an example. The Pioneers’ shortest bus ride to play a WIAC contest, according to mapquest.com, is a 2 hour, 113.63 mile trip to UW-Whitewater.

The trip to La Crosse is actually shorter in mileage, but due to not being able to travel on four lane highways, takes about 10 minutes longer than the Whitewater trip.

The most extreme trip any Pioneer team will take according to mapquest.com is a 7.5 hour, 415 mile trip to Hancock, MI. Hancock is the home to Finlandia University and the UW-P men’s soccer team makes that trip.

The only trips that Pioneer teams are able to stay in a motel for are Superior and Finlandia. Seven, 5, 4 and 3-hour bus rides are nothing to shake your head at.

Two weeks ago I was able to travel to UW-Stout on the Pioneer men’s basketball team bus for their WIAC tournament opening game. The four-hour ride there was not easy to endure but the four-hour ride home after an 8 p.m. start to the game and a buzzer beater to end the season was brutal.

After being on that trip with the team I have a brand new appreciation for not only what the Pioneer men’s basketball team does, but for everybody that is involved with UW-P athletics and makes these trips.

Hopefully this provided some insight for you on what the Pioneer athletic teams go through as far as travel is concerned. The travel requirements tell me, and should tell everybody, that Division III athletics is where athletes, coaches, officials and fans truly love what they do.