Charlotte Frere arrived at Augustana College with a clear intention. 
 
“I came in knowing that I wanted to prioritize schooling,” she said. Even as she grew into a national champion in track & field, her identity remained anchored by academics. “I came to play school and do track on the side,” she said, and that mindset has carried her through demanding seasons.
 
Frere embodies the spirit of Division III athletics, where passion, purpose, and balance intersect. At Augustana, she has become both a decorated athlete and a standout student, earning back-to-back national titles in the discus in 2024 and 2025 and recognition as an Academic All-American. Her story is a testament to the rigorous yet rewarding path of a Division III student-athlete – one defined by self-discipline, community, and the freedom to excel in multiple arenas.
 
A System That Supports the Whole Student
Managing a pre-health course load while competing at a high level requires more than determination; it takes an environment that believes in the student first. “We have things in place that require you to go to class so many days and be present,” Frere said. When travel or competition forces her to miss a class, relationships with professors make the difference. “They trust that even if I get an alternative assignment or notes from someone else, I’ll still succeed in the class,” she added. That mutual respect has allowed her to thrive academically while pursuing championships.
 
The support extends beyond the classroom. Coaches understand the demands of her schedule and teammates help keep her accountable. “Sometimes it makes for long days,” she said, “but it all ends up panning out in the end.”
 
The High Point and What Followed
Frere’s defining moment came in her sophomore year when she won her first national title. Yet the victory itself wasn’t what stayed with her most. “I reflect (the most) on my sophomore year when I won my first national title,” she said, “but it wasn’t that I won – I was confident that I could, didn’t know for sure that I would.” What impacted her most was returning to campus and feeling the outpouring of support. “It was overwhelming,” she said. “That feeling of community – of all the people in my corner – was what I remember most.”
 
Even more than the championship, Frere is proud of the recognition she earned in the classroom. “I was more proud to become an Academic All-American than I was to become a national champion that year,” she said. “It spoke to a lot of the unseen time I put in, the hours in the library, the hours in the weight room. It all combined and encapsulated more of me than just winning a title.”
 
What Keeps Her Going
Frere’s consistency comes from within, but it’s fueled by those around her. “Obviously, self-discipline and goals are important,” she said, “but what it really comes down to is the support I have from so many different angles – academically, from my coaches, from my teammates.” On days when she questions whether to finish the last rep or rewrite a paper, her environment lifts her up. “Being around people who share similar mindsets and goals picks you up on the low days,” she said.
 
Representing Division III on Campus and Beyond
Frere knows her success offers visibility for what it means to be a Division III student-athlete. “People notice when I’m gone often and still doing well in class,” she said. “I’ve had people come up to me and ask, ‘How are you doing this?’” Her answer is honest and practical: “There’s no secret. You just have to grind it out.”
 
She has also used athletics to build relationships across campus. “Sports is its own community,” she said. “There are groups that leave campus late, groups that get there early. Having that extra community leads to so many connections and opportunities.” From playing basketball her first two years to joining a Greek group, athletics opened doors that helped Augustana feel like home. “You walk to class and know a lot of the people you’re passing,” she said.
 
Staying Close to Home
Growing up in Sherrard, Ill., Frere chose Augustana in part because it offered the kind of environment where she knew she could succeed. “I graduated with 80 or 90 kids,” she said. “I knew I wanted something like that for undergrad because it proved to show me success in high school.”
 
Staying near family mattered, too. “A lot of my family lives in the area,” she said. “I knew I was signing up for a lot – two sports my freshman year and a pre-health major – so I wanted to make sure I was in an environment where I would continue to thrive.”
 
What Comes Next
As she nears the end of her undergraduate journey, Frere is preparing for the next phase. “One of the sacrifices of being a student-athlete has been my clinical experience,” she said. “I’m planning to take a gap year and then apply to PA school.” Athletically, she’s keeping her options open. “It’s a day-by-day thing,” she said. “I just want to enjoy the moment and soak it all in.”
 
Defining Division III
If she were speaking to a recruit, Frere would describe Division III as a place where people truly see you. “It provides an environment for you to be seen and valued,” she said. “In other divisions, there’s more money, more publicity and sometimes athletes get overlooked. Here, the closer relationships help you thrive.”
 
She’s also quick to correct misconceptions about Division III academics. “It’s rigorous, especially if you truly care about both,” she said. “You have to be willing to commit and grind to find success.”
 
Frere’s journey is proof of what’s possible when a student-athlete finds the right fit. She has built a life where excellence in the classroom and on the field are not competing interests, but complementary ones—each strengthening the other. That balance is the heart of Division III, and it’s the story she carries forward.