For many college basketball players, life is all about being the best athlete he can be. It becomes the main focus of his life. At times, it takes away from other things that should be more important. However, for one Ouachita Tiger basketball player, this is not the case.
Senior guard Rowan Ledbetter has been blessed with many talents on and off the court. He is using these talents in ways that not only benefit him, but also the world around him.
“Athletics as a whole is a great teacher for life,” Ledbetter said. “I have learned so much about myself and about my relationships with others.”
Ledbetter is a very gifted athlete, but he has a great passion for learning as well.
“Time management has been a learning process,” Ledbetter said. “I have to make time for my studies.”
Being a senior business management and finance major has given Ledbetter plenty of options for the future because of experiences he has had through Ouachita.
“I had the great opportunity to do missions work oversees in Europe this past summer, and I absolutely loved it,” Ledbetter said. “I hope to go into the business world when I graduate, and I may possibly try to work for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while I’m working on getting my graduate school paid for as well.”
Ledbetter credits his college coach Charlie Schaef with giving him more motivation to succeed.
“We have a great relationship, and he is a good motivator,” Ledbetter said. “We both hate to lose at anything and having that common ground has helped to establish our strong ties.”
Ledbetter played in all 30 games last season. He averaged just over five points a game, and he had a career high 18-point performance against Delta Sate.
Throughout his basketball career from Pulaski Academy High School in Little Rock to Ouachita, Ledbetter has had the opportunity to both start and be a reserve, usually in a sixth man role.
“It really doesn’t matter to me if I start the game or begin it on the bench,” Ledbetter said. “Either way, I try to bring as much energy and enthusiasm as I can to the floor.”
Playing for the Tigers has given Ledbetter the chance to be in some of the most impressive venues in college basketball. Games against Texas A&M and Kentucky are some of the most memorable for Ledbetter.
“Playing at these big schools has been a dream come true, and it makes all of my team’s hard work worth it,” Ledbetter said. “Being able to play at Kentucky in front of 23,000 people was just awesome.”
This season Ledbetter hopes to continue having an impact on his teammates. “I hope this year we will not only win conference, but I want a national championship as well,” Ledbetter said.
Along with his athletic and academic pursuits, Ledbetter has also found time for another very special part of life.
For the past eight months, he has been in a relationship with fellow Ouachita student Trinka Newman.
“Trinka is one of the most unbelievable girls I have ever met,” Ledbetter said. “She has an unbelievable heart for people and for God, and I can see it in everything she does. She is so passionate about life, and that rubs off on me.”
Ledbetter’s relationship with God is the most important part of his life.
“Because of my faith, and the drive Christ has set in me, I want to do my best in every aspect of my life,” Ledbetter said.
Without God, Ledbetter knows he would not have the abilities he has been blessed with.
“I am very thankful to have the opportunity, ability and talent to play,” Ledbetter said. “Through all of this, I can give glory to His name.”
No matter where Ledbetter ends up after graduation, he knows he has to work hard at what he does.
“Because of athletics, I have learned the importance of commitment, and I know how to make the sacrifices needed to be successful,” Ledbetter said.
Being biblically grounded is one of the keys to Ledbetter’s success.
“Colossians 3:23 comes to mind,” Ledbetter said. “For whatever you do, do it heartily, as if doing it for the Lord.”
