Iowa State’s recent athletic success has sent school spirit soaring, not only across campus, but nationally as well.

Tom Kroeschell, assistant athletic director for Media Relations, said the nationwide attention Iowa State has been receiving can be credited to the success of the ISU wrestling, gymnastics and men and women’s basketball teams.

“Our unprecedented success brought us unprecedented exposure,” he said. “That kind of overlapping success in various sports means that you’re going to be hitting different parts of the population.”

Kroeschell said some examples of this exposure are the recent articles in Sports Illustrated, The Washington Post and ESPN featuring ISU athletics.

He said Iowa State’s athletic Web site has also been a popular spot, reporting 321,483 visits during the month of March. He said this is an incredible response considering other high-profile schools such as UCLA and Ohio State received only 200,000 to 300,000 visits.

“It makes us feel wonderful,” said Marc Harding, director of Admissions, adding that Iowa State’s athletic success has helped to raise some awareness among potential students.

“It should help us with students who are already considering ISU,” he said. “It gives them some extra incentive.”

Although the admissions department has received some requests for applications due to the sports coverage, Harding said it has not been dramatic since many students have already decided on a college to attend next year.

He said while a school’s athletic success may be a factor in choosing a college, most students’ decisions are based on the academic program instead of sports.

Tom Mitchell, president of the ISU Foundation, also said the spotlight on Iowa State has made a difference in the public’s attitude.

“People have a very good feeling towards ISU,” he said. “They are more generous in making philanthropic gifts.”

Mitchell said alumni donations to the university were already up this year, but the athletic success added an extra dimension.

“We are talking to them about the university program as a whole,” he said. “[But] athletics has certainly added a very important ingredient towards creating a positive environment for philanthropic support.”

Harding said the athletic success has been very beneficial in showcasing the programs at Iowa State, both athletic and academic.

“People are noticing that,” he said. “And that’s wonderful public relations for the university.”