SWC professor also apart of track team
Angela Chelik is the first professor to be named as Southwestern College’s “Inspirational Athlete of the Year.” But to achieve that honor, she had to become a full-time student again.
There were a few obstacles for the 40-year-old Chelik, who has been an exercise science professor at SWC for the past nine years. First, she immersed herself back into the rigorous track and field lifestyle after a 25-year hiatus and took on a full course load. Her sacrifices and ambition are what overwhelmingly sold track and field head coach Tonie Campbell on her winning the accolade.
“I think she really deserves it,” Campbell said. “Because of her dedication and what she sacrificed, and the leadership exampled out there on the field.”
Chelik prides herself on having good time management and organizational skills. But what helped her the most throughout this journey was support from her husband.
“Having a support network really is helpful,” said Chelik. “He basically ran everything in our lives for the last four months.”
She said the camaraderie on the track and being an older athlete also made her feel comfortable about deciding to compete.
“I wanted to be coached by Tonie and Adam (Henderson) who are amazing instructors,” said Chelik. “I just kind of wanted to see what it would be like to fine-tune a skill later in life.”
Since Chelik did not attend base training in the fall, she suffered from injuries early on in the season. Campbell was impressed with her recovery time.
“In my opinion, she came back faster than a lot of athletes normally would,” said Campbell. “I think that’s a good testament to the way she eats and trained, as well as took care of her body.”
Chelik found her physical injuries more of a test of her mental fortitude. A pulled quadricep, took a toll on her enthusiasm for track because she was not able to train.
While injuries can have a negative effect on an athlete’s psyche, Chelik was able to use the mental frustration as a learning experience.
“That’s all bad energy,” Chelik said. “If I wanted it to heal, I needed to be more accepting of the process of letting your body do its thing.”
Chelik said being an athlete now helped her step into the shoes of a student and learn from her instructor. She now wants to become a coach.
“To see the quick changes in people’s performance and the psychology about it and training the mind as much as the physical body, that’s what coaches do,” said Chelik. “It was so fun to just see, and learn from them.”
Campbell agreed and said her experience can have a positive effect on her as a teacher. “She’s really going to be a dynamic professor that Southwestern is blessed to have.”
Chelik’s student Francine Sotelo, 33, said she can relate to Chelik because she is also an older student. Chelik’s passion for the things she loves and her willingness to give back is inspiring, Sotelo said.
“She is a woman who knows exactly what she wants and the determination it takes to get there,” Sotelo said. “Her passion and energy shine through, she wants to be there.”
Chelik said she wants to send a message that it is never too late to set goals and challenge yourself, even later in life.
“You are in control of your destiny,” Chelik said. “If you want something, go for it, reorganize your life and make it happen.”
