For several Central Michigan University student-athletes, tattoos are more than just a permanent mark on their bodies. They are symbolic for something greater.

The American tattoo business has grown into a $2.3 billion industry. Thirty-six percent of Americans aged 18-25 have at least one tattoo, according to a Pew Research Center report.

The Athletes

Silas DeKalita

Year: Junior

Sport: Track (Distance)

Hometown: Clio

Number of Tattoos: Five

Why tattoos?: “Even when I was a kid I thought they were cool and a lot of people in my family have tattoos. My brother owns a tattoo shop, so I was exposed to them for a very long time. I thought they looked cool and it’s a good way for personal expression.”

Favorite tattoo: Chest tattoo that reads: Trials of miles, miles of trials

Meaning: “The words hanging on the banner are a running quote from a book called, “Once a Runner,” which is the best running novel of all-time. It’s an attitude toward training. It’s all about getting out there every day and training hard. It takes months and years to get to where you want to be. You have to accept that and be in it for the long haul. I look at it every day and I get reminded of what I have ahead of me, what I’ve done already and why I do what I do.”

Melvin Harris III

Year: Junior

Sport: Track (Jumps)

Hometown: Grand Rapids

Number of Tattoos: Five

Why tattoos?: “All of my tattoos are mainly based on my Native American heritage, so it’s just a way for me to express the gratitude I have for my culture and it’s a way to show it off.”

Favorite(s): Chief skull on chest, dreamcatcher on left arm

Meaning: “The chief skull is my favorite right now because it’s my newest one. I’ve always had a dreamcatcher. I had my first dreamcatcher made by my cousin when I was little. I always had it above my head when I was sleeping.”

Malik Peacock

Year: Junior

Sport: Track (Sprints)

Hometown: Ypsilanti

Number of Tattoos: Three

Why tattoos?: “It’s a way of expressing my meanings of life and symbolizing my family.”

Favorite (s): Tattoos on arms that honor siblings who passed away

Meaning: “I have around 15 different siblings, and we call ourselves the Peacock Army. Losing them was like losing a soldier. It’s a way of honoring them and keeping them with me and watching over me. Sometimes I actually hear a voice and feel like they’re looking down on me and they’re actually with me when I’m on the track competing.”

Diavonte Smith

Year: Senior

Sport: Track (Sprints/Jumps)

Hometown: Stone Mountain, Georgia

Number of Tattoos: 17

Why Tattoos?: “It’s a way to express my creativity. I suck at music, I can’t sing, I can’t draw. I always had that cool idea to express myself with my tattoos.”

Favorite: Three-piece tattoo on left bicep, chest and right bicep that reads, “Faith Over Fear.”

Meaning: “It’s always a reminder to me that no matter what type of situations I get into, as long as your faith is strong and as long as you have that in you, nothing can stop you.”

Sean Martens

Year: Sophomore

Sport: Baseball

Hometown: Clarkston

Number of Tattoos: Two

Why Tattoos?: “It’s a way to express certain things that you can’t say. I’m not very artistic, so it’s kind of a way to show a little bit of art. If something important happens in life, it’s a way to remember it.”

Favorite(s): Angel tattoo that reads, “Guided by Angels” on left arm. Bible verse Philippians 4:13 on shoulder and chest.

Meaning: “(The angel tattoo) is more of a memory of all the people who have got me to where I am, kind of like a guardian angel type-thing. The scripture reminds me no matter how tough things get, God’s always there and you can always do stuff with his strength.”

Donny Kyre

Year: Junior

Sport: Football

Hometown: Olivet

Number of Tattoos: Eight

Why Tattoos?: “They tell who I am. They tell my story. They’re pretty cool because they’re permanent and you can’t get rid of them and that’s what I like.”

Favorite (s): Polynesian sleeve on right arm, Ojibwa/Chippewa tattoo on back

Meaning: “The Polynesian sleeve represents the warrior side of me. I’ve been a part of the Chippewa family and the Chippewas football team for the last four years and it’s had a really big impact on my life, so I wanted to get something about it.”

Aleah Swary

Year: Sophomore

Sport: Women’s basketball

Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Number of Tattoos: Three

Why Tattoos?: “It’s an art, and as a society we’re becoming more accepting of people.”

Favorite: Neck tattoo that says, “Faith.”

Meaning: “I went through a lot of struggles in high school and I never found God until last year, and He’s made a huge impact on my life ever since. I see all of the work He’s done in my life. I can’t see it, and I have faith in things that I can’t see or things I can’t understand. I can’t see it but I know it’s there.”

Amani Corley

Year: Sophomore

Sport: Women’s basketball

Hometown: Southgate

Number of Tattoos: Three

Why Tattoos: “Just looking at someone, you can’t really tell their story or where they came from. I feel like when they get a tattoo and it has a meaning to them, you can figure out where they came from, so people will be more accepting to that.”

Favorite: Compass on right arm

Meaning: “In high school I went through a lot of troubles and it’s kind of like (me) finding myself. It shows me how far I’ve come.”

Reyna Frost

Year: Freshman

Sport: Women’s basketball

Hometown: Reese

Sport: Women’s basketball

Number of Tattoos: Two

Why Tattoos?: “Tattoos are a good way of expressing yourself and helping you through things and showing other people you’re stronger than what they think and it’s more than just a look.”

Favorite: Three-arrow tattoo on back right shoulder that says, “Sisters forever.”

Meaning: “I have an older sister and a little sister and my older sister has a matching one and my little said she wants to. Its three arrows and we each picked our own design of the arrows and it just shows how close we are and how we hope each other through things. They are Native American arrows so it represents our culture too.”

Kylee Dobbelaere

Year: Junior

Sport: Track (Throws)

Hometown: Marlette

Number of Tattoos: Three

Why Tattoos?: “My tattoos are stamps of my success. Every day I get to see them and remind myself how far I've come and what I'm still working towards to achieve. They are kind of like constant reminders and motivation to achieve my goals as a collegiate athlete.”

Favorite(s): Determination tattoo, fearless tattoo with a hammer

Meaning: “My determination tattoo's meaning is, being determined to catch my dreams during my time as a collegiate athlete. I also added maroon and gold beads to my tattoo because I'm forever a Chippewa. My second tattoo was inspired by me breaking the CMU school record in the hammer last season.”

Kavon Frazier

Year: 2015 alumnus

Sport: Football

Hometown: Grand Rapids

Number of Tattoos: Not sure of actual count of the tattoos.

“It’s definitely over $1,000, but I definitely got a great price. I have some connections back in Grand Rapids, so I was getting stuff done for a lot cheaper than everyone else. I’d say it’s closer to $2,000.”

Favorite(s): “All of my tattoos mean something. I got my first tattoo when I was a sophomore in high school.”

Meaning: “They all mean a lot. I wouldn’t have gotten them if they didn’t mean anything. The one I just got on my forearm says ‘in Jesus’ name I play.’ I wouldn’t be in the position I am right now if it wasn’t for God. I got Derrick Nash’s jersey on my ribs. He meant a lot to me when he was here. He was basically my brother, so you know I had to get him. I got a tattoo for my grandma on my arm when she passed away. Another one is for my boy Andre (Davis), he passed away a few years back when I was a sophomore up here. I got my mom and my sister’s name on my chest because they mean a lot.”