Story 6

           Educational success along with athletic success is what every student-athlete strives for, and that’s what Anoka-Ramsey is all about. Three years ago, Anoka-Ramsey Community College added an addition to the faculty board, athletic director, Dave Alto.

                “I believe that main reason we are so successful today is the dedication,” Alto alleged. Alto joined into the community knowing what kind of potential was in store.

                In 2009 Dave Alto resigned from another position as Athletic Director at Spring Lake Park High School to pursue his interest further.  Going into Alto’s 11^th year as an Athletic Director he believes Anoka-Ramsey has a lot to offer, “Every coach along with every player, year in and year out has put a lot of time into what they are doing,”

                Alto’s commitment is put into that Anoka-Ramsey program. ARCC has been known to have a strong athletic program throughout many years, and without the teams main focus, academics, none of this could be possible. Alto along with the rest of his staff give the athletes many opportunities to make this possible; student center with additional tutoring and a required amount of weekly study hours.

                High standards, with no way around those expectations seem to be working in the eyes of Alto. “We have high expectants for every student-athlete and with them knowing they can’t get around those expectations; they devote themselves to their school work.”

                According to Alto the best way to be a success, is keeping eligibility.  That’s not always an easy thing, “You’re always going to come across this problem at some point in time,” referring to students that are struggling to get the job down in the classroom. Anoka-Ramsey holds each student-athlete to high principles, principles they cannot work around.

                “Being they are student-athletes, student comes first. Their education is the main priority.” For Anoka-Ramsey to keep its reputation, they will have to strive to continue both attributes.

Every athletic program wants to have National Champions and a winning season which Anoka-Ramsey has been capable of doing. What can only make it better is a good education.

“…it’s on the students that use that resource. All the coach’s keep very close attention on how their athletes are keeping up in the classroom, and any sign of them falling behind our first advice is extra help.”