NCAA DIVISION III WEEK STORY (NCAA.ORG)
MIAC DIVISION III WEEK PAGE

During the week of April 9-15, the NCAA and its partners are celebrating Division III Week. Division III Week is an opportunity for all individuals associated with a Division III institution to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community. During the week, every Division III school and conference office is encouraged to conduct a type of outreach activity that falls into one of three categories: academic accomplishment; athletic experience; or leadership/community service/campus involvement.

Cory Polta (SR, Spring Lake Park, Minn.) is a four-year letterwinner as a member of the Augsburg College men's basketball team. During his four-year career, Polta has captured numerous accolades for his play, earning All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors in 2010-11, All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors in 2011-12, All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team honors in 2011-12, and MIAC Athlete of the Week and D3hoops.com Team of the Week recognition in 2011-12.


Polta figures prominently in Augsburg's men's basketball record list, ranking second in school history with 126 career blocked shots, 11th in career field-goal percentage (.513), 12th in career rebounds (578) and tied for 22nd in career scoring (904). He is only one of three players in school history to record 900 career points, 550 career rebounds and 100 career blocked shots.

For the past three years, Polta has participated in the Air Force ROTC program through the University of St. Thomas. In the winter of 2012, Polta was nominated for the prestigious Wooden Citizenship Cup for his academic and athletic success over the course of his four-year career. Polta is an accounting/finance double major, who currently holds a 3.31 grade-point average. He will enter the Air Force as a commissioned officer and will serve a four-year commitment with the Air Force following his graduation from Augsburg this spring.

Q: What have been the benefits to participating in a D-III athletic program?
A: I developed some great habits and life skills by participating in a D-III program. I have greatly increased my competitiveness, sharpened my time management skills, developed a healthy lifestyle in regards to my physical fitness, gained invaluable leadership experience, and developed a  social network of genuinely good people.

Q: What will you take away from your Augsburg athletic experience?
A: The relationships I've developed with my teammates and coaches, and all the positive memories we've made over the past four years.

Q: What does it mean to you to be an Auggie?
A: To be disciplined and to be constantly improving.

A:  I would tell them to make the best decision on where they want to go to school, and try your best to stick to it. I think the value and reward of committing to a program for all four years of your eligibility is often overlooked, and Augsburg is a great place to develop your abilities both as a student and as an athlete.

Q: Why did you choose Augsburg?
A: The school size and location. After I visited the school a couple of times and met some of the people, I got a good feel for the atmosphere. I really liked how Augsburg itself was a small community, yet its location -- being adjacent to the heart of downtown Minneapolis and the fact that it's neighboring the U of M (University of Minnesota) -- gave it a "large university" feeling with lots of things to do for entertainment. I knew I would never get bored, and I knew that I would never have to sit through large lecture halls where nobody else knows that you exist. For me, that was a win/win.